RNS Number:3197Q
Tissue Science Laboratories PLC
30 September 2003


                                                               30 September 2003


                         TISSUE SCIENCE LABORATORIES PLC

               TSL and Zimmer sign worldwide marketing agreement
                         for rotator cuff repair product


(Warsaw, Indiana and Aldershot, UK) -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ZMH) and
Tissue Science Laboratories (LSE:TSL) today announced that they have entered
into an exclusive, multi-year worldwide agreement to distribute an innovative,
nonresorbable biological patch for the repair of rotator cuff injuries in the
shoulder. The product, PermacolTM Surgical Implant, was developed and is
manufactured by Tissue Science Laboratories plc.


"With more than 250,000 rotator cuff repairs annually in the U.S. alone, this is
a substantial market segment that is growing in both primary and revision
procedures," said Zimmer Chairman, President and CEO Ray Elliott. "With the
Permacol product, we will be able to address the needs of orthopaedic surgeons
who need to augment their surgical repairs or who need a material to bridge
massive tears which are not able to be sutured together." Zimmer already
participates in the shoulder repair market with Bigliani-Flatow(R) The Complete
Shoulder Solution, one of the world's leading total shoulder replacement
systems.


Permacol Surgical Implant is a chemically crosslinked, acellular sheet of
collagen/elastin which is processed from porcine dermis. In November 2002, the
Food and Drug Administration cleared Permacol Surgical Implant for use in the
United States for treatment of rotator cuff injuries of the shoulder. It has
been available in the United Kingdom for rotator cuff repairs since 2002, and
had been previously cleared in the U.S. for incontinence treatments, hernia
repairs and plastic and reconstructive surgery of the head and face. Permacol
Surgical Implant has been used in more than 30,000 procedures worldwide.


"Some 30 percent of all rotator cuff repairs will require additional treatment
because of re-tears," said Elliott. "This indicates a strong need for a material
that can add to the mechanical strength of the surgical repair as well as a need
for a material that can act as a bridge for revision procedures." Zimmer says
that it believes Permacol Surgical Implant may offer several advantages over
current products or treatments, including greater long-term stability and better
inflammatory response characteristics, due to Tissue Science Laboratories'
proprietary processing technology. Zimmer says that it expects to launch the
product in the U.S. in 2004.


Martin Hunt, CEO of Tissue Science Laboratories, added, "We have always believed
that our technology could have a wide range of surgical applications, with
orthopaedics being an area of particular interest for some time. Having Zimmer,
a world leader in the orthopaedic market, as our marketing partner will be a
significant advantage to the launch and establishment of Permacol Surgical
Implant in this area. We very much look forward to working with Zimmer and
believe this partnership will be a significant driver for our business going
forward."


                                                ###


Enquiries:

TSL plc                                          Tel: +44 (0) 1252 333 002
Martin Hunt, Chief Executive Officer
David Jennings, Finance Director

For TSL plc: MTS Business Communications         Tel: +44 (0) 7767 66 00 40
Melanie Toyne Sewell                             mtoynesewell@btopenworld.com

Zimmer                                           
Media: Brad Bishop                               Tel: +1 574 372 4291
                                                 bradley.bishop@zimmer.com
Investors: Sam Leno, Chief Financial Officer     Tel: +1 574 372 4790
                                                 sam.leno@zimmer.com




Notes to Editors


Tissue Science Laboratories

Founded in 1995 with headquarters in Aldershot, Hampshire, TSL has used its
proprietary technology to launch successfully two different formulations of the
product and build a development pipeline that addresses the large and fast
growing surgical implant and woundcare markets. The Company floated in November
2001 and is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (LSE: TSL).

                      TSL website: www.tissuescience.co.uk


Zimmer plc

Zimmer, based in Warsaw, Indiana, is a global leader in the design, development,
manufacture and marketing of reconstructive orthopaedic implants and trauma
products. Orthopaedic reconstruction implants restore joint function lost due to
disease or trauma in joints such as knees, hips, shoulders and elbows. Trauma
products are devices used primarily to reattach or stabilize damaged bone and
tissue to support the body's natural healing process. Zimmer also manufactures
and markets other products related to orthopaedic and general surgery. Zimmer
was founded in 1927 and has more than 3,600 employees worldwide. In June, Zimmer
Holdings commenced an offer to acquire Centerpulse AG, a Zurich-based
orthopaedics company and the leader in the European market. Zimmer's offer has
since been accepted by the required number of Centerpulse shareholders and is
expected to close October 2, 2003. The combination will create the world's #1
pure-play orthopaedics company with more than $2.2 billion in combined 2002
sales and 7000 employees.


              Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at www.zimmer.com


This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics
industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms
such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans,"
"estimates," "projects," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of
such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to
differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic
changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and
services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for
our products and services, our ability to successfully integrate acquired
companies, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement
alliances, international growth, U.S. and foreign government regulation, product
liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from
third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and
general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate
and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of
such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by Zimmer with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation
to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.


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

END
AGRPUUBABUPWGMB