UTICA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 2006--CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) today announced it entered into an agreement with W.L. Gore & Associates, a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, industrial, fabrics and medical markets. The agreement allows CONMED Endoscopic Technologies to be the exclusive distributor of the GORE VIABIL(R) Biliary Endoprosthesis in the U.S. and selected European and Asia-Pacific Markets for gastrointestinal endoscopic applications. The product is CE marked and received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be marketed for the treatment of malignant biliary strictures.

A biliary stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the biliary duct, the tube that moves bile, a chemical used in digestion, to the small intestine from the liver. Treating patients with malignant biliary strictures requires the use of a strong, yet flexible endoprosthesis that can be placed both percutaneously and endoscopically in the biliary tract. The device must also resist initial bacterial attachment and ingrowth which can adversely affect the removal of biliary obstructions.

The GORE VIABIL(R) Biliary Endoprosthesis offers an improved alternative for treating biliary malignancy. Unlike other biliary stenting options, it features a nonporous liner (FEP/ePTFE) that provides a strong, durable barrier to tissue ingrowth. The endoprosthesis' flexible nitinol stent has significantly higher radial or "hoop" strength at body temperature than typical metallic biliary stents. An easy-to-use delivery system facilitates device delivery.

John T. Cunningham, M.D., University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson, AZ, acknowledged in the U.S. Investigational Study, "This stent offers an advance in the expanding metal stent technology; the anchoring system prevents migration in either direction, and no direct ingrowths have occurred to date."

Dennis Werger, Vice President and General Manager of CONMED Endoscopic Technologies said, "At CONMED, we listen to and collaborate with physicians and industry to examine the core clinical challenges and we work together to identify the solutions. We are committed to finding and refining the right technology that places improved methods into the hands of physicians. We are pleased to bring this Gore technology to our customer base."

CONMED Endoscopic Technologies showcased the GORE VIABIL(R) Endoprothesis at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Congress of Gastroenterology.

CONMED Profile

CONMED Corporation is a medical technology company with an emphasis on surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures and monitoring. The Company's products serve the clinical areas of sports medicine-arthroscopy, powered surgical instruments, electrosurgery, cardiac monitoring disposables, endosurgery and endoscopic technologies. Surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties, including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, and gastroenterology, use our medical devices. Headquartered in Utica, New York, the Company's 3,100 employees distribute its products worldwide from several manufacturing locations.

CONMED Endoscopic Technologies specializes in the fields of gastroenterology and pulmonology with a reputation for quality and innovation. With a line of minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic specialty products for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal and pulmonary disorders, CONMED Endoscopic Technologies is a recognized technological leader in the GI and Pulmonary markets. The CONMED Endoscopic Technologies product line operates from Billerica, Massachusetts where its sales administration, marketing, research and development, quality and manufacturing administration units are located.

W.L. Gore & Associates Profile

Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, industrial, fabrics and medical markets. The Gore Medical Products Division provides creative therapeutic solutions to complex medical problems. Gore Medical provides such products as synthetic vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia repair, and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac and general surgery. With more than 18 million implants, these devices have been saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide for over 30 years.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and contingencies that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to the Company's performance on a going-forward basis. The forward-looking statements in this press release involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance or trends, to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures. The Company believes that all forward-looking statements made by it have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs or projections as expressed in the forward-looking statements will actually occur or prove to be correct. In addition to general industry and economic conditions, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure of any one or more of the assumptions stated above, to prove to be correct; (ii) the risks relating to forward-looking statements discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005; (iii) cyclical purchasing patterns from customers, end-users and dealers; (iv) timely release of new products, and acceptance of such new products by the market; (v) the introduction of new products by competitors and other competitive responses; (vi) the possibility that any new acquisition or other transaction may require the Company to reconsider its financial assumptions and goals/targets; and/or (vii) the Company's ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions.

GORE and VIABIL(R) are trademarks of W.L. Gore & Associates.

    CONTACT: CONMED Corporation
             Robert Shallish, 315-624-3206
             Chief Financial Officer

    SOURCE: CONMED Corporation