Smith and Nephew Continues to Deliver Against its Strategic Priorities

LONDON, March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business, continues to deliver on its strategic priorities by introducing new and innovative products from its Orthopedics and Endoscopy business units at this year's American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ("AAOS") Annual Meeting.  Smith & Nephew's presence at this year's Annual Meeting will feature the launch of several new products, as well as advances in Smith & Nephew's current portfolio, and representatives from Smith & Nephew Orthopaedic's medical education platform, KLEOS, will be on hand.  The combined success of Smith & Nephew's Orthopaedics, Endoscopy, Advanced Wound Management and Biologics & Clinical Therapies businesses reflects Smith & Nephew's continued focus on providing its customers with innovative technologies, comprehensive medical education and superior customer service.

"Despite a difficult economic environment, 2009 was a year of strong underlying growth for Smith & Nephew.  This was a direct result of Smith & Nephew's dedication to our customers and the products we provide them with," said David Illingworth, Chief Executive of Smith & Nephew.  "We continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies that both advance our existing products and position us to introduce new ones, fulfilling our commitment to improve surgeon and patient options. We are excited to showcase these advances and new product lines at the AAOS Annual Meeting."

Management in attendance at this year's meeting will include Dave Illingworth; Joe DeVivo, President Orthopaedics; Mike Frazzette, President Endoscopy; Mark Augusti, President Biologics & Clinical Therapies; and Tom Dugan, President North American Business, Advanced Wound Management."

Mr. Illingworth continued, "We have extremely talented people leading our global businesses and we welcome the opportunity to meet with surgeons and other customers at our booth. We also have Orthopaedics' medical education platform, KLEOS, at this year's meeting, which includes industry-leading educational activities, such as MOBILAB, surgical skills courses, and our new telementoring program.  We look forward to sharing our new products and ideas at our booth."

For more information on surgeon presentations and product demonstrations, please visit Orthopaedics, Wound Management and Biologics at booth 1629 and Endoscopy at booth 1643.

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit www.smith-nephew.com.

About Us

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising 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 2009 were nearly $3.8 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.

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SOURCE Smith & Nephew