27th Nov 2007 09:21
Smith & Nephew Plc27 November 2007 Precautionary knee recall 27 November 2007 Smith & Nephew plc (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN), the global medical technology business,announced today a precautionary recall of knees from the TC-PLUS*, VKS* andRT-PLUS* knee ranges. Smith & Nephew has been informed by a UK supplier that alimited number of semi-finished knee implant castings have a higher thanspecified iron content. These castings were manufactured during a short periodof time in May and June this year on behalf of the company's subsidiary, PlusOrthopedics AG ("Plus"). The higher iron content in these knee products has occurred as a result of aproduction error at the supplier's factory. The finished products have beensupplied mainly to customers in Europe, with some to the US and other countries.All affected products are now being recalled as a precautionary measure. Of the affected products about 275 have been implanted and the recall process isworking to determine the status of approximately 300 additional implants; ofthese a significant proportion is expected to be located in inventory atdistributors and hospitals. The higher iron content of these implants is not expected to pose any toxicityor biocompatibility issues for patients. Many orthopaedic implants contain ironin much greater percentages. There have been no reports to date of any patientproblems resulting from the use of these implants. Smith & Nephew is carryingout laboratory testing to determine if the implants' material properties ordurability have been affected. Enquiries Investors/MediaLiz Hewitt Tel: +44 (0) 20 7401 7646Smith & NephewGroup Director Corporate Affairs Media Jon Coles and Justine McIlroy Tel: +44 (0) 20 7404 5959Brunswick - London Cindy Leggett-Flynn Tel: +1 (212) 333 3810Brunswick - New York About Us Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising inOrthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopyand Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader inarthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading globalorthopaedics companies. Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Companyprides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons andprofessional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with highstandards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 32countries around the world. Annual sales in 2006 were nearly $2.8 billion. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within themeaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Inparticular, statements regarding expected revenue growth and trading marginsdiscussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions ofour 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 identifyforward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known andunknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but notlimited to, the outcome of litigation, claims and regulatory approvals) thatcould cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew,or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performanceor achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Pleaserefer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securitiesand Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, asamended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for adiscussion of certain of these factors. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on informationavailable to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oralforward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person actingon behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by theforegoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or reviseany forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith &Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions orcircumstances on which any such statement is based. * Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain marks registered US Patent and Trademark Office. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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