Spinal Disc Licence

Aortech International PLC
01 August 2005


For immediate release                                              1 August 2005



                           AorTech International plc
                          ('AorTech' or the 'Company')

                              Spinal Disc Licence


AorTech International plc announces the signing of a non-exclusive technology
licence and material supply agreement with Pearsalls Development Limited 
('Pearsalls') of Somerset, UK for its fatigue resistant, biostable polymer,
Elast-Eon(TM).

The agreement includes a nominal up-front fee and anticipates a series of
escalating pre-commercial co-development milestone payments. If these milestones
are accomplished, the agreement may generate revenue for AorTech of
approximately £1.0 million over the development period. The agreement contains a
single digit royalty for AorTech on end product sales in the commercial phase.

The specified field of development is for spinal disc products with a focus on
the lumber spine.

The agreement anticipates that AorTech will supply moulded Elast-Eon(TM)
components to Pearsalls and contains provisions for the expansion into other
orthopaedic applications, along with incremental revenue for AorTech.

Commenting on the agreement, Frank Maguire, AorTech's Chief Executive said:

'The spinal disc replacement market is multi-billion and is projected to grow at
a rapid pace throughout the next decade. AorTech has a number of active material
technology programs underway with orthopaedic product technology companies and
is delighted that this first partnership with Pearsalls can be announced today'.



For further information please contact:


AorTech International plc                                      00 1 801 201 4336
Frank Maguire, Chief Executive

Buchanan Communications                                            020 7466 5000
Ben Willey, Lisa Baderoon, Rebecca Skye Dietrich



Notes to Editors:

AorTech International plc is a public limited company formed under the laws of
Scotland, UK and is traded on the Alternative Investment Market, a market
operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, under the trading symbol AOR.

Additional material concerning AorTech International is available on the
Company's website at www.aortech.com , or may be obtained by contacting the
Company's Investor Relations firm, Buchanan Communications Limited.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange