Since March 2003, Terumo Europe NV is the exclusive European distributor of Biocompatibles International plc for Bead Block™. The introduction of DC Bead™ enhances and develops the cooperation between Terumo Europe and Biocompatibles International. DC Bead™ will be introduced by Terumo sales and Marketing teams in Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Greece. Within 9 months, Terumo Europe aims to precise DC Bead™ utilisation, dosing, clinical indication by working in close-cooperation with European interventional radiologists. DC Bead™ is a microsphere specifically designed and prepared to be loaded with drug (doxorubicin in the present ongoing PRECISION clinical studies) in order to be injected through a catheter during an embolization procedure. DC Bead™ is indicated for use in TACE (Trans-Arterial Chemo-Embolization) of HCC (Hepatic Cell Carcinoma). Its concept is to selectively reach the malignant tumor with more active drug inside the tumour and with a very limited systemic effect in comparison with conventional TACE procedure. Thanks to its complete range of medical devices for embolotherapy (guide-wire, micro-catheters and microspheres), Terumo Europe N.V., Interventional Systems, wants to become a European leader on the Embolotherapy market.

About Terumo

Terumo Europe N.V. is an affiliate of Terumo Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, a premier global medical company with 2003 annual sales in excess of $2 billion. Terumo Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of medical products including cardiovascular systems, disposable medical devices, therapeutic catheters, I.V. solutions, blood bags, diabetes care systems, and medical electronic products in more than 160 countries. Terumo global sales for year-end March 31st, 2004 were $2.0 billion, of which $764 million was outside Japan. Further information is available at www.terumo-europe.com

About Biocompatibles International plc

Biocompatibles is a medical device company focused on the treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer and benign tumors. The Company's proprietary biomedical polymer systems provide medical devices with enhanced biocompatibility and offer a platform for drug delivery. Further information is available at www.biocompatibles.com

DC Bead™

DC Bead™ is a precisely calibrated, compressible, visibility-tinted microsphere made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), an established material in embolization therapy, and licensed from BioCure Inc. (BioCure Inc is a private medical device company, spun off from Novartis' CibaVision subsidiary, and headquartered in Norcross, Georgia USA). DC Bead™ has CE mark approval for loading with doxorubicin and use I treatment of malignant hypervascularized tumours. The concept of DC Bead™ microspheres is to allow local, controlled and sustained delivery of a chemotherapy agent in combination with embolization. Interventional radiologists use embolization therapy to block blood flow to tumours or vascular malformations.

For more information

Gaia Banks, European Communication Manager - info@terumo-europe.com