Re Agreement

Aortech International PLC
18 December 2001


                          AORTECH INTERNATIONAL PLC


               Supply agreement for next generation heart valve


AorTech International plc ('AorTech' or the 'Company'), the Scottish-based
developer and manufacturer of cardio-vascular devices, announces that it has
concluded a long term supply agreement with Invibio Limited, a subsidiary of
Victrex plc for the supply of PEEK-OPTIMAO.  This material is used as a frame
for the synthetic tri-leaflet heart valve.


Eddie McDaid, Chief Executive of AorTech stated that:


'Following our successful development work with the new tri-leaflet heart
valve we will utilise PEEK-OPTIMA in conjunction with our own Elast-Eon
material.  The new tri-leaflet heart valve is currently going through the
testing required for regulatory purposes both in the US and Europe and in-vivo
trials have commenced in Minneapolis, USA.


'Concluding this long-term supply agreement with Invibio ensures continuity of
supply of PEEK-OPTIMA both during clinical trials in patients and thereafter
when we enter manufacturing.


Michael Callahan, Managing Director of Invibio commented:


'Invibio is pleased to be involved in providing PEEK-OPTIMA for use in this
exciting project and to have our material specified as part of AorTech's next
generation heart valve.  With AorTech now planning for clinical trials in
patients we are pleased to have concluded a supply arrangement which will
allow for the full commercialisation of the new heart valve.'


                                                            18th December 2001



ENQUIRIES:

AorTech International plc                                    Tel: [phone]
Eddie McDaid, Chief Executive

College Hill                                                 Tel: [phone]
Michael Padley
Nicholas Nelson