Nov 18, 2009 (PR Newswire Europe via COMTEX) ----

BIOCOMPATIBLES INTERNATIONAL PLC
   
   ("Biocompatibles" or the "Company")
   
   Acquisition of Cancer Diagnostic Product and related Intellectual Property
   
   MoleMateTM - enables early detection of cancerous moles
   
   Farnham UK, 18 November 2009: Biocompatibles plc, the medical technology
   company, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the inventory and
   intellectual property assets of Astron Clinica Limited ("Astron") (in
   administration). The gross assets acquired are GBP200,000 and the purchase has
   been funded out of existing cash resources.
   
   Astron's principal products, MoleMate(TM) and MoleView(TM)
   broaden the product
   portfolio of Biocompatibles' Oncology Products Division and are non-invasive
   melanoma visualisation, diagnostic and data storage systems that are sold to
   General Practitioners, Dermatologists and cancer screening clinics.
   
   The technology is already in use, principally in Australia and in the UK and
   will be progressively launched into more territories during the course of 2010.
   The current year financial implications are covered within Biocompatibles'
   financial guidance, which was updated on 4 November 2009.
   
   The technology has been evaluated in three clinical trials which have recruited
   more than 1500 patients assessed with MoleMate. In the most recent, a
   substantial UK primary care trial, the rate of Sensitivity (True Positives) and
   Specificity (True Negatives), the key yardsticks of diagnostic tests, were 96%
   and 83% respectively (1); and compared favourably on both measures with benchmark
   rates from GPs using conventional techniques of 67% and 75% respectively.
   
   Crispin Simon, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
   
   "Most people are aware of the benefits of timely cancer screening. Melanoma is
   relatively easy to screen yet typically fatal if detected late. This technology
   delivers accurate results at an affordable cost in a location, such as a GP's
   surgery, that is convenient to patients."
   
   Mr Per Hall, FRCS (Plast) Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery,
   commented:
   
   "Mole-Mate(TM) is essentially an `optical biopsy' - an appealing
   concept to
   doctors and patients."
   
   Dr Graham Campbell, Galston Medical Centre, New South Wales, Australia, added:
   
   "MoleMate gives you more information to base your judgement on. Previously I
   may have looked at a mole and put off doing anything. In one or two cases, when
   viewed through MoleMate they have been nastier than I thought and they were cut
   out."
   
   (1) Hunter et al: Data presented at British Association of Dermatologists, July 2006
   
   
   -ends-
   
   A short video explanation of MoleMate (2m 30s) is available to download at
   http://siascopy.biocompatibles.com
   
   Contact:
   
   Biocompatibles +44 (0)1252 732732
   
   Crispin Simon, Chief Executive
   
   Ian Ardill, Finance Director
   
   Anna Keeble +44 (0)7879 818876
   
   Julian Walker +44 (0)20 7357 9477
   
   Notes to editors
   
   MoleMate(TM) is a non-invasive melanoma visualisation and diagnostic
   device,
   specifically designed for General Practitioners and other medical professionals
   not specialising in the diagnosis of malignant melanoma. It enables them to
   more efficiently and accurately make a decision to excise a lesion, or refer
   the patient to a Dermatologist or to immediately reassure the patient that
   their lesion is not suspicious.
   
   General Practitioners, without a MoleMate, but who are willing to assess a
   suspicious lesion, currently typically use a seven-point test. MoleMate allows
   GPs to base their decisions on more extensive observations and the application
   of a clinically-validated software-based assessment system, thereby improving
   the quality of diagnosis and, ultimately, patient outcomes.
   
   MoleView(TM), like MoleMate, is a non-invasive visualisation
   and diagnostic device
   but with added features designed for Dermatologists and other skin specialists.
   
   Biocompatibles International plc (www.biocompatibles.com)
   
   Biocompatibles International plc is a leading medical technology company in the
   field of drug-device combination products.
   
   The Oncology Products Division supplies medical devices from facilities in
   Farnham, UK and Oxford, CT. These include Drug-Eluting Bead Products which are
   used in more than 35 countries for the treatment of primary liver cancer (HCC),
   liver metastases from colorectal cancer, and other cancers; and Brachytherapy
   products (Radiation-Delivering Seeds) which are used in the treatment of
   prostate cancer. Our distribution partners include AngioDynamics Inc., Terumo
   Corporation and Eisai Co. Ltd. We have a clinical collaboration agreement with
   Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc.
   
   Our Licensing Division includes CellMed, in Alzenau, Germany, which is
   developing a Drug-Eluting Bead product for the treatment of stroke, based on
   proprietary stem cell technology; a GLP-1 analogue for the treatment of
   diabetes and obesity partnered with AstraZeneca; and a cosmetic Dermatology
   Bead partnered with Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH. We also have a PC Licensing
   agreement with Medtronic Inc. in the field of Drug-Eluting Stents.
   
   This news release contains forward-looking statements that reflect
   Biocompatibles' current expectation regarding future events. Forward-looking
   statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ
   materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors
   including the success of Biocompatibles' research strategy, the applicability
   of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of
   clinical studies and the uncertainties related to the regulatory and
   commercialisation processes.
   
   Hunter et al: Data presented at British Association of Dermatologists, July
   2006
   
   
   
   END
   

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