VERTEBRON Inc. Announces A Long-Term Strategic Alliance With The Intermountain Tissue Center For Domestic Distribution Of Structural Allograft And Demineralized Bone Matrix Products STRATFORD, Conn., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VERTEBRON Inc. (VERTEBRON) has entered into a strategic alliance with Intermountain Tissue Center (ITC) for product development, marketing and distribution of structural bone grafts in addition to demineralized bone matrices within North America. ITC, located in Salt Lake City, UT, is the largest bone and tissue provider within the Mountain Region and is accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). ITC will work with VERTEBRON to develop a series of allografts and demineralized bone products which will complement VERTEBRON's broad portfolio of spinal implants within North America. VERTEBRON, located in Stratford, CT, has developed revolutionary spinal implant technologies, including artificial discs, cervical plates and pedicle screw systems to participate in both the over $2 billion fusion market and rapidly expanding motion preservation market, which is expected to exceed $3 billion by 2010. Allograft bone, which is over a $500 million market, remains the structural material of choice because of its biologic and integration properties with host bone. Partnering with AATB accredited tissue banks that maintain extremely high quality standards is crucial to providing patients with the best quality tissue available. Hosam Afifi, President and CEO of VERTEBRON stated, "VERTEBRON is proud to be strategically aligned with the Intermountain Tissue Center. ITC's support and broad portfolio of tissue forms complements our ability to better serve North American spine surgeons with fusion procedures, providing both spinal implants and allograft adjuncts. In addition to our existing relationship with Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, for distribution of specified bone grafts and synthetic constructs within certain international markets, we are especially delighted to be also partnering with ITC for distribution within North America. This alliance further adds to VERTEBRON's balanced approach in offering state of the art options addressing both fusion and motion preservation to meet the procedural demands of surgeons both domestically and internationally." Jan Pierce, Executive Director and COO of Intermountain Tissue Center, added, "ITC believes tremendous synergies exist coupling structural allografts and demineralized bone products with VERTEBRON's product portfolio consisting of fusion and motion preservation products. Opportunity for growth within North America (with both allograft and demineralized products) can be realized through our strategic relationship with VERTEBRON and their premier network of domestic distributors. In addition to innovative allograft designs, interesting access and delivery concepts may also proactively resolve some existing surgical concerns." VERTEBRON is a privately held medical device company that has developed spinal implant technologies, including artificial discs (motion preservation), cervical plates, pedicle screw and interbody (fusion) systems through the vertical integration of spinal, orthopaedic and total joint technologies. VERTEBRON's advanced motion preservation devices, fusion technologies and breakthrough spinal implant designs will be strategically marketed to establish the company as a leading provider of innovative next-generation solutions. The comprehensive product offering provides surgeons with simplified surgical techniques, enhanced intra-operative flexibility and reliable instrumentation. For more information, please visit http://www.vertebron.com/. The Intermountain Tissue Center is a non-profit service organization dedicated to providing the highest standards in the procurement and processing of tissues and cells while enhancing lives through cellular therapies, tissue transplantation, innovation and research. ITC's standards require all tissues to be aseptically recovered and processed, using sterile standard operating procedures, which are then bacteriologically tested and confirmed to be free of pathogenic microorganisms prior to acceptance. ITC's quality and safety standards consistently meet or exceed the requirements of the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and the current regulations published by the FDA. For more information, please visit http://www.itcutah.org/. This release may contain forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, projections of future performance and regulatory approvals, subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are subject to change based on known risks detailed from time to time in VERTEBRON's business plan and offering documents and other known and unknown risks and various other factors, which could cause the actual results or performance to differ materially from the statements made herein. Contact: Anan Natarajan, VERTEBRON Inc., +1-203-380-9340 DATASOURCE: VERTEBRON Inc. CONTACT: Anan Natarajan, VERTEBRON Inc., +1-203-380-9340 Web site: http://www.vertebron.com/

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