IIN Inion Oy

RNS Number:0140R
Inion Oy
08 September 2005



          Inion receives First US Patent covering its Next-generation
                        OPTIMAPLUS(TM) Implant Platform



Tampere, Finland and Takeley, UK. 8 September 2005...Inion (LSE:IIN.L), a
rapidly growing company focused on the development of novel biodegradable
medical implants, today announces the granting of the first patent (US patent
No. 6,926,903) covering its next-generation OPTIMAPLUS(TM) implant platform.



OPTIMAPLUS(TM) materials are being developed by Inion to augment its existing
biodegradable implant technology with bioactive properties, specifically those
relating to the promotion of new bone growth. The benefits to patients of this
technology would be accelerated repair of fractures or bone loss.



Extensive clinical and preclinical work is now ongoing to support the
development and commercialisation of OPTIMAPLUS(TM) technology across the range
of Inion products. Furthermore, the Company recently received a Euro 1.9m
matching grant from TEKES, the Finnish Technology funding body, to fund 50% of a
three-year Euro 3.8m project as part of the Company's development plans for
OPTIMAPLUS(TM), which will be conducted at the Company's research facilities in
Cambridge, UK and Tampere, Finland. The remaining 50% will be funded by Inion
from the proceeds of its IPO.



Commenting on the patent grant, Dr Auvo Kaikkonen, Inion CEO, stated: "We are
delighted by the granting of this patent, which adds to our already substantial
body of intellectual property. We are working very hard with some of the world's
foremost experts to bring this technology to a much wider market, and are very
encouraged by the results we have seen so far. We believe that once the clinical
benefits of Inion OPTIMAPLUS(TM) have been established, this platform will
become central to the future growth of our company."



The key ingredient responsible for bioactivity in OPTIMAPLUS(TM) implants is NMP
(N-methyl-pyrrolidone), which is a widely used and FDA-approved solvent for
water-insoluble drugs. While initially used in conjunction with Inion's GTR(TM)
dental membrane as a plasticizer to achieve the required handling
characteristics demanded by dental surgeons, NMP was shown to promote bone
growth. Subsequent preclinical research has demonstrated significant bioactivity
in some models, with up to 100% increase in the rates of bone growth. NMP acts
by facilitating the action of natural bone growth promoters at the fracture
site.



The Inion GTR(TM) dental membrane product range is the first product to be
marketed using the OPTIMAPLUS(TM) technology platform. This product has already
received European CE marking and US FDA 510(k) regulatory clearance and is
currently on sale in the US, Europe and other significant world markets.



Inion GTR(TM) membrane is used by dental surgeons to repair bone and tissue loss
resulting from periodontal disease or trauma, in order to create a stronger
foundation in the jaw for future reconstructive dental surgery, such as the
setting of dental implants







                                     -Ends-



For further information, please contact:


Inion

Dr Auvo Kaikkonen, Chief Executive Officer             +358 3 230 6600
Tim Hirst, Corporate Communications                    +44 (0)1279 874 222


Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Mark Swallow / Helena Podd                             +44 (0)20 7638 9571





About Inion (www.inion.com)



Inion Oy is a Finnish company that specialises in the development of
biodegradable medical implants. Inion's core expertise and technology lies in
the design and manufacture of innovative biodegradable plates, screws, pins and
membranes that are used to enhance the healing of skeletal injuries (bone and
soft tissue), such as those caused by trauma or by reconstructive surgery.
Inion's implants are made from its proprietary OPTIMA(TM) family of
biomaterials, with properties tailored for specific surgical applications, in
terms of strength, flexibility and rate of degradation.



Inion has developed and launched products in four strategic business areas -
cranio-maxillofacial surgery, orthopaedic trauma, sports medicine and dental
surgery - in more than 40 countries worldwide, and has a number of international
distribution agreements in place, with among others Stryker Corporation and
Aesculap (part of B.Braun).



Inion was incorporated in early 2000 by an international team of experts in
biodegradable materials and their clinical applications, and listed on the
Official List of the UK Listing Authority in December 2004. The Company's has
operations in the UK, R&D and production facilities in Tampere, Finland, and a
US office in Oklahoma City, OK.


This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" which include all
statements other than statements of historical facts, including, without
limitation, those regarding the Group's financial position, business strategy,
plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development
plans and objectives relating to the Group's products), and any statements
preceded by, followed by or that include forward-looking terminology such as the
words "targets", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will",
"can", "may", "anticipates", "would", "should", "could" or similar expressions
or the negative thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Group's
control that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
Group to be materially different from future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the
Group's present and future business strategies and the environment in which the
Group will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause
the Group's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially
from those in forward-looking statements include those relating to Inion's
funding requirements, regulatory approvals, reliance on third parties,
intellectual property, key personnel and other factors. These forward-looking
statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Group expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions
to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to reflect any
change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. As a result
of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any
forward-looking statement.




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