Press Releases

(ROSWELL, GA. and LOUISVILLE, COL. – June 3, 2003) -- Kimberly-Clark Health Care today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Medivance, Inc. to acquire its patient warming business. This includes the Arctic Sun Model 100 Temperature Management System, a patented patient warming system developed by Medivance.

Under the terms of the agreement, Medivance will receive $10 million up-front, plus two deferred payments of $1.2 million each, with an additional $4.6 million possible if certain milestones are met over the next two and one-half years. Medivance will retain all of its patient cooling technologies and business.

Sold domestically by Medivance since late 2001, the Arctic Sun system has been adopted by a number of hospitals throughout the United States as the standard of care for helping to prevent hypothermia in complex surgical procedures. The consistent ability of the Arctic Sun to maintain patient temperature during surgery has been clinically proven to significantly reduce hypothermia and associated complications.

The Arctic Sun system consists of a control unit that draws temperature-controlled water through a disposable gel pad that is attached to a patient’s back during surgery.

“Kimberly-Clark already provides convenient, cost-effective solutions for the short term management of patient temperature,” said Joanne Bauer, president of Kimberly-Clark Health Care. “Precise patient temperature control, however, is a relatively new advancement in surgical procedures, and has excellent growth opportunities as hospitals continue to adopt this leading technology. Adding the Arctic Sun system to our portfolio complements our medical device business and underscores our leading position in operating room products.”

Robert Kline, president and CEO of Medivance, said, “Medivance has worked hard to develop and establish the Arctic Sun as the new standard of temperature management in complex surgical procedures. We’re extremely pleased that Kimberly-Clark, one of the most highly regarded healthcare and consumer products companies in the world, recognizes the future growth potential for this system.”

Funds received from this sale Kline noted, “will allow Medivance to further develop temperature management solutions for other critical medical applications, such as cardiac arrest, heart attack and stroke.”

About Temperature Management

A growing body of research demonstrates the role temperature management can have on patient outcomes in critical medical conditions. Hypothermia, or a drop in body temperature, often associated with complex surgical procedures, has been shown to significantly increase medical complications and costs. The prevention of surgical hypothermia has been endorsed by many professional organizations including the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN).

About Medivance

Medivance, Inc., is an emerging medical device company engaged in the development of temperature management solutions for a variety of critical medical applications including complex surgical procedures, intensive care settings, cardiac arrest, heart attack and stroke. With corporate headquarters located in Louisville, Colo., Medivance is recognized as the leading company in the emerging field of therapeutic temperature management. For more information about Medivance, visit the Medivance Web site at www.medivance.com.

About Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, one in four people around the world trust K-C's brands to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being -- brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend. For the second consecutive year, Kimberly-Clark has been named to Fortune magazine's list of "100 Best Companies to Work For In America." With nearly 64,000 employees worldwide, the company has received similar recognition in the U.K., Argentina, Australia, Korea and Thailand. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 131-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

About Kimberly-Clark Health Care

The Kimberly-Clark Health Care business, headquartered in Roswell, Ga., manufactures and markets surgical drapes, gowns, sterilization wrap and pouches, personal protective apparel and face masks, and patient care products. With the acquisition of Safeskin Corporation, Kimberly-Clark added disposable medical and surgical gloves to its product portfolio and now offers head-to-toe protection for healthcare workers. The company is also a leader in the medical device field with its lines of closed suction catheters, enteral feeding tubes and a variety of pain management products. For more information, visit www.kchealthcare.com.