Osteotech's Plexur(R) Technology to Be Used in Craniofacial Reconstruction Program Funded by the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerativ...( EATONTOWN N.J. May 2 /- Osteotech...)

EATONTOWN, N.J., May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Osteotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTE), a leader in the emerging field of biologic solutions for regenerative healing, announced today that its Plexur(R) Technology will be used in a Craniofacial Reconstruction Program led by Dr. Jeffrey Hollinger of Carnegie Mellon University. This program, which was prepared under the auspices of the New Jersey Center for Biomaterials and Dr. Joachim Kohn of Rutgers University, is part of a multi-institutional effort funded by a $42.5 million grant from the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM). AFIRM was recently created by the United States Department of Defense to provide funding for the development of regenerative technologies that can be used to treat the most critically injured service members, as well as civilian patients.

The reconstruction program looks to create a new Plexur(R) Biocomposite made of allograft bone fibers or particles and utilizes a novel biodegradable polyurethane to facilitate healing and improve outcomes. This new Plexur(R) Biocomposite will be developed through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Hollinger, Dr. Scott Guelcher at Vanderbilt University, and Osteotech's scientific team. Osteotech has had a long-standing working relationship with Dr. Hollinger and Dr. Guelcher.

Sam Owusu-Akyaw, Osteotech's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are very pleased and proud that our Plexur(R) Technology will be used in this research effort at Vanderbilt University and Carnegie Mellon University. The need is great for regenerative solutions to treat serious traumatic injuries to the skull due to wartime injuries. Our Plexur(R) Technology has the potential to offer new solutions in reconstruction of the
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