N E W S   R E L E A S E

For information contact:
Joni Morford, Communicore
714/721-8081
jmorford@communicore.com


ORQUEST PRESENTS FIRST ANIMAL DATA ON OSSIGEL¨ FRACTURE 
HEALING TREATMENT

Study Shows Ossigel Accelerates Fracture Healing


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE......September 9, 1996......Seattle, Wash......Scientists 
from Orquest, Inc. presented results from an animal study of Orquest's Ossigel¨ 
fracture treatment at the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research annual 
meeting today.  The results showed that fractures treated with Ossigel healed more 
quickly than those left untreated.

In the study, fractures were created in the fibula (leg bone) of rabbits.  The 
mechanical strength of the healing fractures was measured at 23 and 30 days post-
surgery.  At 23 days, the mechanical strength of fractures treated with Ossigel was 
73 percent greater than the strength of those left untreated.  At 30 days, the 
mechanical strength of treated fractures was 77 percent greater than that of 
untreated fractures.

"Ossigel was shown to accelerate fracture healing by promoting the formation of a 
strong, healthy fracture callus," said James Poser, Ph.D., Orquest's Vice President for 
Research and Development.  "We are optimistic that Ossigel will be a useful 
minimally invasive treatment in fracture management."

Ossigel is a proprietary bioengineered matrix that combines basic fibroblast growth 
factor (bFGF) and hyaluronic acid.  A single dose of Ossigel is injected into the site 
of recent fractures to accelerate healing.  Hyaluronic acid is a highly biocompatible, 
elastic, gel-like material found naturally in the body that provides an environment 
conducive to bone formation.  Ossigel combines hyaluronic acid with bFGF, a 
growth factor that occurs naturally in bone that stimulates the proliferation of cells 
necessary for vascularization and bone growth.  Injection of Ossigel into the site of a 
fresh fracture stimulates development of the fracture callus, an important event in 
the early stages of normal fracture healing.

Approximately six million bone fractures occur annually in the United States, of 
which many could benefit from treatment with Ossigel.  Fracture healing, even in 
uncomplicated cases, involves a period of convalescence ranging from two to eight 
months, during which mobility can be limited to the point where occupational and 
recreational activities may be impossible.  Ossigel is intended to accelerate the healing 
of fractures, thus reducing the period of convalescence.  Orquest plans to file a 
request to conduct human clinical trials of Ossigel to the U.S. Food and Drug 
Administration in early 1997.

Orquest, Inc., a private company based in Mountain View, Calif., was founded in 
1994 with the vision of developing and marketing bioengineered matrices that 
promote bone and cartilage regeneration in targeted applications.  The company's 
innovative products promote the natural regeneration of bone and cartilage for the 
treatment of orthopedic conditions related to degeneration, disease, and trauma.  
Ossigel joins Healos¨--a synthetic bone graft alternative--in Orquest's line of 
bioengineered matrices for bone regeneration.


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