Acquisition

Smith & Nephew Plc
25 November 2002


                 COMPLETION OF DERMAGRAFT ACQUISITION

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 25, 2002 - Smith & Nephew (London Stock
Exchange: SN. NYSE: SNN), the global advanced medical devices company, announces
that it has completed the $12 million acquisition of the Dermagraft(R) and
TransCyte(R) joint venture from Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc.



Enquiries:


Christopher O'Donnell, Chief Executive                 Tel: [phone]
Smith & Nephew plc

Peter Hooley, Finance Director                         Tel: [phone]
Smith & Nephew plc

Angie Craig, Corporate Affairs Director                Tel: [phone]
Smith & Nephew plc

David Yates/Jonathan Birt                              Tel: [phone]
Financial Dynamics





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