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Zimmer Signs Exclusive Agreement with Revivicor for Genetically Engineered Xenograft Technology for Tissue Regeneration

Sep 20, 2005

WARSAW, Ind., Sept 20, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SWX: ZMH), a worldwide leader in the orthopaedics industry, announced today it has acquired worldwide exclusive distribution rights for genetically engineered xenogeneic tissues for regenerative therapies from Revivicor, Inc., which has an advanced transgenic technology platform for the production of tissues, cells and whole organs for human therapeutic applications. Zimmer initially plans to develop the technologies for orthopaedic applications, including the repair and replacement of damaged tendon, ligament, meniscus, cartilage, bone and spinal nucleus tissues.

Revivicor will work with Zimmer's Biologics group to adapt its proprietary genetic engineering technology for orthopaedic applications.

"This agreement positions Zimmer at the forefront of developing tissues that can be used to replace or repair damaged human cartilage, ligaments, tendons and bone itself," said Ray Elliott, Zimmer Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The Revivicor technology has tremendous potential advantages in terms of tissue viability and its ability to protect against immune rejection."

Revivicor, a Blacksburg, Virginia based private company, has built a portfolio of platform technologies based on its expertise in the genetic modification of pigs with the goal of whole organ replacement and tissue regeneration. Revivicor's scientific team produced the world's first cloned pigs and the first pigs that lack both copies of the gene responsible for triggering acute immune rejection in humans. David Ayares, Revivicor's CEO, stated, "This partnership with Zimmer positions Revivicor well for commercialization of medical device products derived from our gene-modified pigs in the orthopaedic field, while providing a solution for the inadequate supply of equivalent human tissues."

About Zimmer

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer's 2004 sales were approximately $3 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 6,500 employees worldwide.

About Revivicor

Revivicor was formed in 2003 as a spinout of PPL Therapeutics Plc, with an investment group led by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In addition to xenograft tissues for medical device applications, the company is developing a variety of therapeutic products derived from pigs including pancreatic islet cells for treatment of diabetes, whole organs such as heart and kidney, and polyclonal antibodies for broad spectrum treatment of infectious disease.

Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at http://www.zimmer.com

Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 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, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG and Implex Corp., the outcome of the Department of Justice investigation announced in March 2005 and the pending informal SEC investigation of Centerpulse accounting, 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, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including tax obligations and risks, 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 disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. 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. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291, [email protected] , Investors: Marc
Ostermann, +1-574-371-8515, [email protected] , or Sam Leno, +1-574-372-4790,
[email protected] , all of Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
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