Acticoat Flex dressings with NUCRYST's SILCRYST nanocrystalline silver coatings launched in Europe

NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, a developer and manufacturer of medical products that fight infection and the Advanced Wound Management division of Smith Nephew plc announced today the European launch of Acticoat(TM) Flex3 and Acticoat(TM) Flex7. The Flex range is the newest addition to the Acticoat(TM) portfolio of dressings with NUCRYST's proprietary SILCRYST(TM) nanocrystalline silver coatings. Acticoat(TM) Flex is an antimicrobial barrier dressing designed to conform to body contours and allow for flexible movement for injuries that require sustained antimicrobial activity.

"We are pleased to support Smith Nephew in the European launch of Acticoat(TM) Flex," said David B. Holtz, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of NUCRYST. "The enhanced conformability of Flex will now be available to European clinicians to simplifying the dressing of wounds on difficult-to-protect articulating regions such as knee or elbow joints while also providing advanced antimicrobial protection."

The CE Mark Certification for Acticoat(TM) Flex was received by Smith Nephew last week following the July 510(k) clearance in the United States and market approval in Canada late last year.

"We are delighted that we can now offer our European clinicians this new version of Acticoat(TM). The feedback on Acticoat(TM) Flex from the markets where it recently became available has been excellent," commented Roger Teasdale, President of Smith Nephew Wound Management. "We are committed to improving the quality of life of the patients treated with our products like Acticoat(TM) Flex, which helps manage the risk of infection in patients with serious wounds."

About Acticoat(TM) Dressings with SILCRYST(TM) Nanocrystals

Acticoat(TM) dressings with NUCRYST's proprietary SILCRYST(TM) nanocrystalline silver coatings provide effective antimicrobial activity thereby providing an improved environment for wound closure. Acticoat(TM) dressings are now sold by Smith Nephew in over 30 countries and are used extensively for serious wounds and traumatic injury.