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Smith & Nephew PLC: Smith & Nephew Announces Portfolio Addition for Surgeons Managing Traumatic Injuries

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^{Published in Health and Fitness on Wednesday, December 23rd 2009 at 6:40 GMT by Market Wire}  

LONDON--(Marketwire - December 23, 2009) - Smith & Nephew (NYSE: [ SNN ]) (LSE: SN) Advanced Wound Management division, announces the agreement to partner with Gunze Limited, Japan and exclusively distribute PELNAC dermal replacement in Japan, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. PELNAC is a collagen matrix with silicone top layer for use on full thickness injuries such as burns and trauma. It helps promote the regeneration of damaged dermal layers as an alternative to using the patient's own dermis which may not be available with extensive injuries. PELNAC will be available from Smith and Nephew in Japan from January 1st, 2010, with South Africa and Australia following shortly after.

"I am delighted that we can add PELNAC to our portfolio," said Leon Hoare, President - Advanced Wound Management, Asia Pacific. "It provides a solution to the needs of many plastic and burn surgeons who deal with serious injuries and helps to support the patients with a good cosmetic outcome."

"The addition of PELNAC enhances our wound care offering for burns and trauma injuries," commented Roger Teasdale, President, Smith & Nephew Wound Management. "We are very pleased to be working with Gunze and look forward to the opportunities that lay ahead for both businesses."

For more information regarding Smith & Nephew, please visit our Web site at [ http://www.smith-nephew.com ]

* Trademark of Smith & Nephew

™Trademark of Gunze Limited

Notes for Editors

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specializing in Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2008 were nearly $3.8 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.