Smith & Nephew Expands ACTICOAT(TM) Product Portfolio

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Advanced Wound Management Division of Smith & Nephew, Inc., a subsidiary of Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN; NYSE: SNN) will launch extensions to its ACTICOAT(TM) Silver Coated Antimicrobial Barrier Dressing portfolio at the upcoming Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring meeting April 17-19, 2010, in Orlando, FL. The new dressings will be highlighted at the Smith & Nephew booth, #301.

The ACTICOAT range of antimicrobial dressings helps in the management of wounds at risk for infection.  The antimicrobial properties last up to seven days meaning fewer dressing changes. The launch of the ACTICOAT Flex 7 Ribbon and ACTICOAT Post-Op 4x13 3/4 wound dressings extend Smith & Nephew's unique range of antimicrobial barrier dressings for use in chronic and acute wounds. The ACTICOAT portfolio utilizes Nanocrystalline silver technology to provide an effective barrier to more than 150 wound pathogens, including 188 strains of MRSA.

"ACTICOAT post op dressings may help manage the risk of post surgical infection, and the new longer size will work well for procedures associated with hip, ankle and tibial plateau fractures," said Dr. Michael Suk, Associate Professor and Division Chief, Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Florida – Shands Jacksonville.  "The conformability of the ACTICOAT Flex 7 Ribbon makes it a good choice for cavity wounds which may be difficult to dress."

"One of the core strategies of Smith & Nephew is putting the customer first. The new ACTICOAT line extensions were designed based on the demanding clinical needs of surgeons and wound care professionals," said Tom Dugan, North American President, Smith & Nephew Advanced Wound Management. "We will continue to listen to feedback from our customers in order to provide cost effective products that optimize wound care in their practice, drive value for healthcare providers, and enhance patient safety, quality and comfort."

ACTICOAT Post-Op 4 x 13 3/4

The ACTICOAT Post-Op 4x13 3/4 size was developed based on customer need for a longer post operative dressing for larger incision sites. Similar to the existing ACTICOAT post-op range, this new size has an absorbent hydrocellular foam core for cushioning and comfort, a Nanocrystalline silver coated perforated wound contact layer, and IV 3000, a waterproof top film that protects from exogenous bacteria.

ACTICOAT Flex 7 Ribbon

Based on the ACTICOAT Flex technology, the new ACTICOAT Flex 7 ribbon dressing is highly conformable and maintains contact with irregular wound surfaces and hard to dress wound areas, like cavity wounds that may have tunnelling or undermining. The antimicrobial barrier properties and the ability of the dressing to allow fluid to pass through has shown Flex 7 Ribbon to be compatible with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for a period of up to three days.

About SAWC Spring Meeting

The 23rd Annual SAWC/WHS Spring Meeting is the largest gathering of multidisciplinary wound care clinicians in the United States. It will be held from Saturday, April 17th to Tuesday, April 20th at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando, Florida.  For more information visit http://spring.sawc.net/legacy/spring09.html.

For more information about the ACTICOAT product range, please visit http://www.acticoat.com. 

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please go to 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.

™Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks Reg. US Pat. & TM Office.

SOURCE Smith & Nephew, Inc.

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