17/08/17: Kangaroo Tendon Collaboration Announcement

ASX Media Release

Allegra signs collaboration agreement to explore development of a xenograft kangaroo tendon

Tendon and ligament reconstruction remains a persistent clinical challenge and is an extremely common problem that faces today's Orthopaedics surgeon. Surgeons are often faced with the fundamental problem of graft choice when it comes to this ligament or tendon reconstruction. What today's patient and surgeon are looking for is a reliable graft, with no donor site issues and restoration of function and often with a primary objective of returning to sport.

The kangaroo has a reputation for strength of tendons and its Achilles tendon has impressive biomechanical abilities. Initial studies at the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney (Royal North Shore Hospital) have proven that this novel kangaroo tendon is 3x stronger and 2x stiffer than the human ACL tendon. This tendon has morphology, collagen architecture and arrangement, and composition typical of human tendons.

Allegra in collaboration with BLT aims to provide the market with an off-­‐the-­‐shelf tendon to repair torn or ruptured anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments of the knee, rotator cuffs of the shoulder, collateral ligaments of the elbow, tendons in the hands and feet. Market intelligence suggests there is a significantly high demand for such a product offering.

Allegra's Chief Executive Office. Jenny Swain, commented that "Allegra's strategy is to be at the forefront of Australian innovation and to partner with forward thinking organisations. This kangaroo tendon project aligns with our objective of bringing leading edge products to market. We believe that the kangaroo tendon can produce substantial penetration into the current algorithm of treatment options for tendon and ligament reconstruction for surgeons and their patients"

Kangaroo tendons

Contact details:

Justyn Stedwell - Company Secretary T: 03 9191 0135

We aim to help bring the freedom and happiness of pain-­‐free movement to people's lives. We achieve this through providing the best possible solutions for patients, from world-­‐wide industry leading orthopaedic products through to Australian innovations.

Allegra's principal product, the Active Total Knee, has significantly improved the quality of life for many people and remains a focussed product line. The company is pleased to continue to build upon its extensive portfolio of patents. It has extensive research relationships with universities, companies and surgeon inventors, including its global licensee to the composite biocompatible ceramic material known as Sr-­‐HT-­‐ Gahnite from the University of Sydney.

Allegra also has a well-­‐ developed range of products for distribution from international suppliers covering all specialities from foot and ankle to upper limb.