PRESS RELEASES

Contacts: Marc R. Viscogliosi, Paradigm Spine, LLC (212) 583-9700 ext. 103
Chris Storer, Creative Partners (203) 705-9219 cstorer@creativepartners.com

VISCOGLIOSI BROS., LLC ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF PARADIGM SPINE, LLC - A NEW LEADER IN THE SPINE ARTHROPLASTY INDUSTRY

New York, NY: May 5, 2005 - Viscogliosi Bros. LLC (“VB”), a closely-held venture capital/private equity and merchant banking firm focused on developing and financing life-changing musculoskeletal/orthopedic technologies, has announced the official launch of Paradigm Spine, LLC (“Paradigm Spine”), the fifth spine non-fusion company founded or invested into by VB. In addition to Paradigm Spine, VB has been instrumentally involved in the founding and management of Spine Solutions, Inc. and Raymedica, Inc., as well as leading investors in Spine Next, SA and Orthonics, Inc.

Paradigm Spine, founded in 2004, is a company focused on providing indication specific posterior non-fusion solutions for orthopedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons focused on treating spinal conditions and diseases. The company’s founding philosophy is “Surgeon Centric, Indication Specific, Data Driven”, which allows focus on providing the best clinical outcomes for patients suffering from chronic back pain.

“The launch of Paradigm Spine at the Spine Arthroplasty Society (SAS) meeting in New York signifies a very important day for VB and Paradigm Spine. Our arrival here today is the culmination of many months of collaborative efforts by VB, Fixano, and Paradigm Spine. Our first priority is the patient and I am very enthusiastic about our prospects to improve patients’ quality of life,” said Marc R. Viscogliosi, Chairman and CEO of Paradigm Spine.

The Company’s initial foray is focused on two non-fusion technologies. One is the coflex™, a posterior non-fusion interspinous dynamically-functional implant, which has a long clinical history of over a decade of use and has been implanted in more than 10,000 patients suffering from low back pain and lumbar spinal stenosis.

Paradigm Spine’s second technology, the Orthobiom™, having also been in development for over a decade, was developed to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a condition in children which causes severe curvature of the spine and which is usually surgically-treated with a spinal fusion procedure. Orthobiom™ is a non-fusion alternative which will preserve the motion and growth of the child’s spine – it is a revolutionary product that could potentially help the lives of tens of thousands of children each year.

The coflex, Paradigm Spine’s core technology, is based upon the Interspinous U invented by Dr. Jacques Samani in 1994, and which was acquired by VB in its recent acquisition of Fixano, SAS. When asked about the launch of Paradigm Spine, Dr. Jacques Samani said “I believe VB’s acquisition of the Interspinous U paired with the launch of Paradigm Spine and its next generation coflex device will lead to expanded use of the technology because it is the Company’s primary focus.”

Concurrent with the founding of the company, Paradigm Spine established international operations in Wurmlingen, Germany, and formed Paradigm Spine GmbH. According to Guntmar Eisen, President International, “Paradigm Spine GmbH has built a sophisticated team of 20 people with significant experience in the spine industry, including a six-member German direct sales force, to capitalize on the results of the retrospective study and the continued research and development effort of our team.”

Commenting on the launch, Jean-Jacques Martin, founder of Fixano said, “Today marks the beginning of a new era for Fixano and the Interspinous U with the launch of Paradigm Spine. I am proud of the role that Fixano has played in collaboration with Dr. Samani in the development of the Interspinous U in the last 10 years. I am very excited to continue supporting the technology and look forward to Paradigm Spine’s success in the global proliferation of the technology.”

About Viscogliosi Bros., LLC
Established by Marc R. Viscogliosi, John J. Viscogliosi and Anthony G. Viscogliosi in New York City, in 1999, VB is the first venture capital/private equity and merchant banking firm dedicated to the $26.4 billion musculoskeletal/orthopedics device sector of the health care industry.

Today, VB is a leading independent firm, with a mission to create, build and finance companies founded on innovations developed by surgeons and uniquely focused on “life- changing” musculoskeletal/orthopedic technologies. VB has worldwide surgeon, industry and trade relationships and significant financial expertise in the musculoskeletal/orthopedic sector.

As principals of VB, the Viscogliosi brothers have a combined total of more than 35 years experience analyzing and investing in the musculoskeletal/orthopedics sector. They have pioneered innovative financial, strategic and management initiatives for companies in the sector, from start-up, seed and development stage all the way to exit, while helping thousands of people lead better lives through the orthopedic and spinal products marketed and sold by the companies they have assisted in developing and financing.
 
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