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02/23/2006
The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (Miur) approves a Sorin project for percutaneous valves and tissue reparation

The MIUR approved an innovative project presented by the Sorin Group for the restoration of cardiac function through tissue replacement and/or reparation. The project will be financed by the Fund for Investment in Basic Research (FIRB)

Milan, February 23, 2006 – The MIUR approved an important project of the Sorin Group involving the development of innovative technological platforms for the treatment of heart disease. The project has a two-fold objective: develop new valve prosthesis systems with low invasivity and cellular cardiomyoplasty methods for the reparation of heart tissue through the grafting of stem cells. Both areas are of great interest, and these new technologies could produce major benefits for large numbers of patients. More specifically, low invasivity valves could be used to treat patients who are currently inoperable (30% of the total), while cellular cardiomyoplasty would open an avenue for reparative therapy of heart failure.

Initially, the project will involve the development of a platform for valve replacement through low invasivity procedures, using rapid insertion of sutureless tissue prostheses that can be implanted with minimally invasive or percutaneous conventional surgical techniques. Such an approach would allow for extremely brief hospitalization and functional recovery periods and would drastically reduce the insurgence of clinical complications. This platform will include miniaturized extracorporeal circulation systems — one percutaneous — that will be used during implantation of the sutureless valves.

The second technological platform will focus on the use of stem cells for tissue reparation in primary cardiac pathologies, which are also the most serious. In such instances, the only available options are a heart transplant or ventricular assist devices, which, however, can only be used in patients with extremely serious conditions. In this area, the most recent advances in molecular and cellular biology have opened a new potential therapeutic window: cellular cardiomyoplasty, which could allow the reparation of damaged tissue with minimal invasivity. The project proposed by the Sorin Group will study mechanisms and methods for preparing cells that are suitable for this type of application.

The companies of the Sorin Group that will be involved in this project are Sorin Biomedica Cardio and Dideco, both of which possess an outstanding skill level in industrial biomedical innovation. For the development of the required technologies, the Sorin Group will work in tandem with research centers that can contribute international-class scientific expertise. These centers will receive directly the financing provided by the FIRB. The Animal Morphophysiology Department of the University of Turin will conduct studies on the tissues and cell populations involved in the implantation and functioning of sutureless tissue valve prostheses; the CNR/Clinical Physiology Institute of Pisa/S. Cataldo will work on imaging in connection with the delicate issue of viewing problems during implantation; and the IRCCS Cardiology Center of the Monzino Foundation of Milan will collaborate with Sorin in defining optimum insertion and positioning procedures and on minimally invasive and percutaneous approaches.

The IRCCS Cardiology Center of the Monzino Foundation, working together with the IRCCS Dermatological Institute of the Immacolata in Rome, will tackle issues related to autologous stem cells, while the CNR/Biomedical Technologies Institute of Segrate will conduct research on mechanisms for the differentiation of embryonic stem cells for the reparation of heart tissue.

The purpose of this project is to train a group of researchers with a high level of professional qualification who will focus on the study of the cardiovascular function and the design, development and assessment of next-generation biomedical devices and of the tools needed to implant them.

All of the technologies studied within the context of the project will produce a significant simplification of clinical intervention and will shorten hospital stays, thereby achieving the important objective of lowering hospital costs. It should be noted that this project is in the forefront of international research, since none of the therapeutic technologies involved is currently available.

Drago Cerchiari, Chief Executive Officer of the Sorin Group, stated: "This project is consistent with the values of the Sorin Group, which has made scientific research and technological development the engines of its growth. The companies of the Sorin Group are committed to maintaining a steady flow of innovations through interdisciplinary research and development organizations that are capable of systematically integrating the latest advances of science and technology into the Group's products: from biology to medicine, from materials science to electronics, from microelectronics to information technology. The Group's fundamental objective is to bring to market products that are increasingly effective and safe for patients while at the same time offering increasingly efficient solutions to national health systems and industry operators."

Information about the Sorin Group

The Sorin Group (Reuters code: SORN.MI), a world leader in the development of medical technologies for cardiac surgery, offers innovative therapies for cardiac rhythm dysfunctions, interventional cardiology and the treatment of chronic kidney diseases. The companies of the Sorin Group are: Dideco, CarboMedics, COBE Cardiovascular, Stöckert, Mitroflow, ELA Medical, Sorin Biomedica, Bellco and Soludia. The Sorin Group has more than 4.700 employees working at facilities in more than 80 countries throughout the world to serve over 5.000 public and private treatment centers.

Francesca Caprari
Director, Communication & Industry Affairs
Tel +39-02-6332322
e-mail: francesca.caprari@sorin.com

Marilena Giavara
Director, Investor Relations
Tel. +44-20-70038730
e-mail: marilena.giavara@sorin.com

Laura Villa
Investor Relations Manager
Tel. +39-02-6332316
e-mail:laura.villa@sorin.com