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U.S. Court of Appeals Rules That Smith & Nephew Does Not Infringe KCI Patents

Posted on: Monday, 2 February 2009, 17:55 CST

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew's Advanced Wound Management division (LSE: SN; NYSE: SNN) today announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a trial court judgment that the gauze-based Versatile 1 negative pressure wound therapy system marketed by Blue Sky does not infringe KCI's patents. Smith & Nephew acquired Blue Sky in May 2007.

"Smith & Nephew welcomes the appeals court decision today that our Versatile 1 negative pressure wound therapy system does not infringe KCI's patents," said Robin Carlstein, Senior Vice President of Advanced Wound Devices at Smith & Nephew. "Today's decision affirmed our long-held belief that our gauze-based systems are a legitimate offering in the broader NPWT market. Smith & Nephew will continue operating in this important space. Most importantly, we remain dedicated to using innovative technologies to improve patients' live."

For more information regarding Smith & Nephew, please visit our Web site at www.smith-nephew.com.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specializing in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies; Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2007 were nearly $3.4 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE Smith & Nephew

Source: PR Newswire

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