Ortec International Inc. Announces Formation Of Stem Cell And Regenerative Medicine Scientific Advisory Board

NEW YORK, April 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ortec International, Inc. , a company focused on development and commercialization of products applicable to regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy, today announced the formation of its Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Scientific Advisory Board, focused on advancing the clinical development of the Company's newly acquired proprietary fibrin derived advanced biomaterial technologies: Fibrin Micro Beads (FMB's) and Fibrin based peptides, (Haptides(TM)). FMB's have demonstrated the ability to efficiently recover adult stem cells from mixed cell populations as well as allow for their growth, proliferation and potential reimplantation into the patient, and Haptides(TM) have demonstrated the ability to enhance cell attraction and attachment allowing for the potential development of products for tissue regeneration and cosmetic tissue augmentation. Daniel R. Marshak, Ph.D., highly accomplished in the field of stem cell biology and human cell research, has been appointed as the Board's Chairman. Over the coming months, Ortec expects to expand the Board.

Commenting on the appointment, Ron Lipstein, Vice Chairman and CEO of Ortec, stated, "We are quite fortunate that Dr. Marshak has agreed to chair our stem cell and regenerative medicine Scientific Advisory Board. We look forward to Dr. Marshak's guidance in charting the development and commercialization pathway for our newly acquired advanced biomaterials and in generating products that can make a significant contribution to stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine."

Dr. Marshak added, "I am excited to help build Ortec International's Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Advisory Board, which will play a guiding and directing role in the clinical development of novel technology in biomaterials and stem cells."

From 1994 through 2000, Dr. Marshak was Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer for Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., a U.S. biotechnology company developing adult stem cell products for the regeneration of diseased or damaged tissues. From 1986-1995, he was Senior Staff Investigator at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Long Island, New York, where he and the members of his laboratory conducted research in signal transduction, cellular growth control and differentiation. Concurrent with that appointment, he was Assistant Professor, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, where he taught graduate biochemistry.

Dr. Marshak currently serves as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Biotechnology, for Cambrex Corporation , where he coordinates technology licensing and corporate collaborations in the biosciences, and participates in strategic planning for the corporation. Dr. Marshak joined Cambrex in 2000, and through 2001, led R&D worldwide for the Bioscience sector. Cambrex provides products and services in Life Sciences, with 13 operating sites in the U.S. and Europe and offices worldwide. Cambrex is a leader in providing human cells, cell culture media and reagents, ararose, endotoxin tests and bioassays, contract production and other custom services to the pharmaceutical industry and the biological research markets. Concurrent with his position at Cambrex, Dr. Marshak also holds an appointment as Adjunct Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Marshak has extensive research experience in the growth control of human cells. He has authored more than 100 scientific publications, including one textbook, and he has been editor of five monographs. The most recent monograph, Stem Cell Biology, was published in 2001 by The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Dr. Marshak is a graduate of Harvard University where he earned a B.A. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. He earned his Ph.D. from The Rockefeller University in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and conducted postdoctoral research in Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Marshak has received several awards for scientific and academic achievements, and is an inventor on five issued U.S. patents.

About Ortec International, Inc.

Ortec International, Inc. (ORTN) is a company focused on advancing regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy through the development and commercialization of innovative products by combining advanced cell technology and advanced biomaterials. Ortec's lead product is OrCel(R) (Bilayered Cellular Matrix). Ortec's current focus is the application of OrCel(R) to heal chronic and acute wounds. OrCel(R) is composed of a collagen sponge seeded with allogeneic epidermal and dermal cells. These cells secrete growth factors and cytokines normally found in acute human wounds and are believed to have a beneficial role in promoting tissue repair.

A pivotal clinical trial evaluating a cryopreserved version of OrCel(R) in the treatment of venous leg ulcers has been completed and a Pre Market Approval (PMA) application has been filed. Ortec is currently near completion of patient enrollment in a confirmatory trial as a clinical supplement to its PMA filing. Ortec has already obtained FDA approvals for use of a non-frozen version of OrCel(R) in the treatment of Epidermolysis Bullosa and donor sites in burn patients. In addition, the FDA has granted Ortec approval to initiate a pivotal (Phase III) trial evaluating OrCel(R) for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Through its recent merger with Hapto Biotech, Ortec acquired two fibrin derived advanced biomaterial technologies, Fibrin Micro Beads (FMB's) and Haptides(TM). FBM's have the potential to play a significant role in advancing stem cell therapy having demonstrated the ability to efficiently recover adult stem cells and allow for their growth, proliferation, and potential reimplantation into the patient. Haptides(TM) utilize proprietary synthetic peptides that mimic the mechanism of cell attachment to fibrin. These peptides have demonstrated the ability to significantly enhance cell attraction and attachment providing the potential to use Haptides(TM) in the development of product opportunities applicable to the cosmetic tissue augmentation, wound healing, orthopedics, and drug delivery markets.

For more information, visit Ortec's website at http://www.ortecinternational.com .

This news release may contain "forward-looking statements" for the purposes of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3B-6 under The Exchange Act. Without limitation, statements regarding expected FDA approvals, clinical trial results, product performance, expectations with respect to sales, gross margins, research and development expenditures, earnings per share, capital expenditures, collaborations, or other expansion opportunities would be "forward-looking statements." These statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "believes" or similar expressions in connection with any discussion of future financial and operating performance. The forward- looking statements contained herein involve risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including but not limited to, global economic trends, competitive pricing or product developments, government legislation and/or regulations, technology, manufacturing, legal and patent issues, suppliers, capital availability, personnel changes, cancellation or delays in renewal of contracts, and lack of suitable raw materials or packaging materials. Investors are cautioned to review risk factors in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Elite Financial Communications Group, LLC Dodi Handy, 407-585-1080 or via email at ortn@efcg.net

Ortec International, Inc.

CONTACT: Dodi Handy of Elite Financial Communications Group, LLC,+1-407-585-1080 or via email at ortn@efcg.net

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