Ortoviva Distractor Gains CE Certification

Press release
November 26, 2008

LinkMed's portfolio company Ortoviva, a Swedish innovator of surgical
instruments, has gained CE approval for their Distractor system, which improves
and simplifies the insertion of disc prostheses in the spinal column. CE
approval means that the entire European market is now open for the company.
LinkMeds owns 49 percent of the company.

Strong demand exists for truly effective instrument solutions that can help
surgeons to simply and accurately implant an artificial disc without
complications. The lack of proven instruments has limited the sphere of both
suitable patients and surgeons. As a result, many people have been forced to
continue suffering from back problems, and some may even undergo spinal-fusion
procedures that are entirely unnecessary. "Now we can provide a simple set of purpose-built instruments to facilitate
deployment of disc prostheses and thus improve the probability for helping more
patients return to a painless and normal life," says Ortoviva CEO, Stan
Mikulowski.

From a functional perspective, the instruments in the Ortoviva Distractor
solution hold and separate the two vertebrae adjacent to a damaged disc. This
ability to mechanically control position and orientation enormously simplifies
disc insertion. "CE certification ensures that Ortoviva and the Distractor solution meet the
most rigorous EU requirements. We're already seeing growing interest from
clinical specialists as well as disc-implant manufacturers to start using the
solution in this rapidly growing market. Before the end of the year we will
begin live patient clinical trial programs and we plan to submit an application
for FDA approval in the U.S. early in 2009," says Stan Mikulowski.

Ortoviva develops instruments for spinal surgery that facilitate the deployment
of artificial discs. The company was founded in October 2006 by LinkMed and a
group of experts in bio-materials, spinal surgery and medical devices.

To see how Distractor works, go to: http://www.ortoviva.com/media/Distraktor.wmv

For more information contact:
Stan Mikulowski, CEO Ortoviva AB and
Tel: 01146 8 50 89 39 42

Also visit www.ortoviva.com and www.linkmed.se.

LinkMed develops life-science companies in collaboration with innovators and
other financiers. By contributing entrepreneurship and capital, LinkMed has
created a portfolio of one subsidiary and eleven associated companies, four in
drug development and biotechnology and seven in diagnostics and medical
technology. LinkMed's role changes as its portfolio companies develop. The
emphasis moves from operational to strategic and the entrepreneurship role
evolves into active Board work. The company's principal owners are FastPartner,
Koncentra Holding, and the founder Ingemar Lagerlöf. The LinkMed share is listed
on the OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm in the small-cap sector (ticker:LMED).

Ortoviva Distractor Gains CE Certification

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