AGM Statement

Aortech International PLC
07 August 2002


                           AORTECH INTERNATIONAL PLC

                                    AGM Statement


At the Annual General Meeting of AorTech International plc, the Scottish-based
developer and manufacturer of cardio-vascular devices and biomaterials, held
today, the Chairman Eddie McDaid made the following comments:


'The year has seen continued progress with all our technologies but overall it
has been disappointing from a number of aspects.  As previously announced, we
have experienced delays in the marketing and selling of TruCCOMS(R) and the
clinical trials of our new synthetic tri-leaflet heart valve.


We have recently appointed a new Chief Executive, Bill Strachan, who has
extensive experience in the commercialising of new products and he has already
made some significant changes to the business.  We have closed our US marketing
network, reduced the company's head count, announced the consolidation of our
Australian operations and we have also taken the opportunity of his appointment
to streamline the Board and the overall corporate structure.  We are now much
leaner and fitter with a significantly reduced cost base.


'We expect the future to be quite challenging but we are confident that we now
have a management structure in place which will enable us to deliver improved
operating efficiencies and the successful exploitation of our technologies.


'The underlying heart valve business continues to grow and it is our intention
to build upon what is a solid base.  TruCOMMS(R) has been successfully launched
in Europe.  It has been adopted by 37 centres with a further 55 currently
evaluating the technology.  It is our intention to focus on Europe in the
immediate future and to re-enter the US market at the appropriate time.


'As previously reported we are in the process of assessing the performance
issues relating to some of our synthetic heart valves which were in the
regulatory testing phase and hope to report further on these results in the near
future.


' We continue to make progress with Elast-EonTM, particulary in the area of
stents and ventricular assist devices.


'Discussions are continuing with Becton Dickinson with regard to acquiring their
Critical Care Division.


'Overall we remain confident regarding the future prospects of AorTech.  We have
streamlined the business, significantly reduced costs and appointed a Chief
Executive whom the Board believes can commercialise the innovative technologies
that we have developed whilst growing the underlying business.'

                                                                 7th August 2002

ENQUIRIES:

AorTech International plc                                    Tel: [phone]
Eddie McDaid, Chairman

College Hill                                                 Tel: [phone]
Michael Padley
Clare Warren





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