Smith & Nephew plc Announces German District Court's Findings on Infringement Case

DUSSELDORF, GERMANY--(Marketwire - May 06, 2010) - Smith & Nephew plc's Advanced Wound Management division (LSE: SN) (NYSE: SNN) announced today that the German District Court in Düsseldorf has found that the adhesive wound care dressings of Smith & Nephew's ALLEVYN Gentle Border product line infringe on EP 0 633 757, held by Mölnlycke Health Care AB.

"We are disappointed with this finding and continue to believe that the products of the ALLEVYN Gentle Border line do not infringe on any valid patent claim," said Roger Teasdale, President of Advanced Wound Management at Smith & Nephew. "This finding does not make a ruling on the actual validity of the patent, which Smith & Nephew has applied to have revoked in Germany. Furthermore, this decision has no impact on any market outside of Germany and has no bearing on Smith & Nephew's ability to sell any of the other products from the ALLEVYN dressing line in the German market. In addition, we are rolling out a new version of ALLEVYN Gentle Border in Germany, with equivalent performance to the current version."

The enforcement of this decision will be subject to the findings of the German Federal Patent Court on the validity of the patent. Smith & Nephew previously asked the German Federal Patent Court to declare the patent in question invalid. A court date for the nullity request has not yet been set.

Notes about ALLEVYN Gentle Border

The Smith & Nephew ALLEVYN Gentle Border range is a clinically proven solution that is particularly effective on fragile or sensitive skin, reducing patient anxiety without compromising care. ALLEVYN Gentle Border is part of the larger ALLEVYN product line which is designed to cater to a wide range of wound types, providing better physician choice and patient comfort.

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.

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