OFFICIAL RELEASE

Ash Access Technology, Inc.’s, Investigational AAT-023 Therapy Produces Impressive Anti-Biofilm Results in Pre-clinical Lab Tests

The Ability of AAT-023 to Completely Eradicate Biofilm and Deliver Broadspectrum Antimicrobial Efficacy Creates a Powerful Combination in the Fight against Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections

Friday, May 13, 2005 2:07 PM EDT - - - (Lafayette, Indiana) Ash Access Technology, Inc. revealed additional pre-clinical laboratory results that demonstrated significant anti-biofilm properties for its flagship investigational therapy, AAT-023. Earlier this month, the company reported impressive, broad spectrum antimicrobial efficacy as compared to a heparin arm against similar bacterial strains in other pre-clinical testing. The ability of AAT-023 to completely eradicate both gram positive and gram negative strains of bacteria associated with CRBSI infections as well as eliminate biofilm strengthens the product’s potential profile in making a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of patients using catheters for vascular access in chronic and acute settings.

“We are very pleased with these initial anti-biofilm results and plan to conduct additional AAT-023 studies in the future,” explained Roland K. Winger, Vice President of Engineering and Quality Assurance. “Since biofilm creates a friendly environment to host harmful bacteria associated with catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI), a key objective in the design of AAT-023 was to prevent any biofilm growth. AAT-023’s anti-biofilm attributes help us better understand the potential this therapy has in the prevention of deadly and costly infections.” (A table of some of these first anti-biofilm results are shown below.)

Biofilm Antimicrobial Effectiveness:
S. aureus Biofilm Colonization
Inhibition and Elimination

“These results just add to our growing excitement about the impact we expect AAT-023 to make towards saving lives threatened by catheter-related bloodstream infections,” said Robert B. Truitt, President and CEO of Ash Access Technology, Inc. “By preventing biofilm buildup in catheters, and removing bacteria's favorite colonization grounds, we would expect to see a significant reduction in the number of infections, better treatment results as well as a dramatic reduction in the billions of dollars estimated to be lost to these infections every year. We intend to conduct our pivotal clinical trial for AAT-023 in the coming months in hemodialysis patients who are using a central venous catheter for their vascular access, however, we also see tremendous applications of this technology in a wide array of patient populations such as oncology patients and in other acute care settings throughout a hospital.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the magnitude of CRBSI in the U.S is significant with an estimated 200,000 to 400,000 episodes annually. Studies have shown that mortality rates associated with CRBSI range from 12 – 25% while annual healthcare costs for treating these infections may exceed $2 billion.

Ash Access Technology, Inc. is a privately-held company founded to develop antimicrobial and vascular access technologies, devices and methodologies to combat the deadly and expensive problem of catheter-related bloodstream infections, with an emphasis on prevention. Dr. Stephen A. Ash, Chairman and Director, Research and Development, is a practicing Nephrologist with the Arnett Clinic in Lafayette, Indiana, and is a world-recognized researcher and patent holder in extracorporeal devices, sorbent chemistry, and vascular and peritoneal access devices. Ash Access Technology is located in Lafayette, Indiana in the INOK Business Center.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which if not based on historical facts, involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from the results or events stated in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain events not within the Company's control.