CryoLife Signs Distribution Agreement for Inclusion of BioGlue(R) Surgical Adhesive in Hernia Repair Kit with Proxy Biomedical Surgi...( Hernia repair is one of the most co...)

Hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures

worldwide

ATLANTA, Ga., Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), a biomaterials, medical device and tissue processing company, announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement allowing Proxy Biomedical Limited to include CryoLife's BioGlue(R) Surgical Adhesive into a hernia repair kit. In addition to BioGlue, the kit includes a surgical mesh from Proxy Biomedical's line of proprietary synthetic polymer surgical meshes. Initially, Proxy Biomedical will distribute the kits in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Germany.

"Hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures worldwide. BioGlue is already approved for this particular indication in international markets, and we believe that BioGlue, coupled with Proxy Biomedical's proprietary meshes, will give surgeons a unique option for the repair of hernia and other fascial defects," stated Steven G. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of CryoLife, Inc.

"We believe that BioGlue provides a highly competitive method for atraumatic surgical mesh fixation. BioGlue has been used effectively for several surgical procedures, and we look forward to providing the product in kit form with our series of next generation surgical mesh products. BioGlue offers a simple and effective solution for surgical mesh fixation with enhanced procedural value," stated Peter Gingras, managing director of Proxy Biomedical Limited.

Currently, the most common methods of hernia mesh fixation include sutures and tacking systems. Between 10 and 20 percent of patients complain of pain resulting from hernia repair, most often associated with the fixation method. It is anticipated that the use of BioGlue, as an adjunct to sutures and tacking systems, will help minimize this incidence of postoperative pain.

BioGlue is distributed directly by CryoLife Euro
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