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The BD™ Bifurcated Needle has two tiny prongs that hold the smallpox vaccine, a design identical to that used by the World Health Organization in its successful global program that eradicated smallpox disease in 1977. Unlike that device, however, the BD needle is individually sterilized and hard-packaged for safety and biodefense stockpiling needs and is adapted for ease of use by health workers. Since June 2002 when BD's design was FDA-cleared, the bifurcated needle has been used for research studies and healthcare worker training.

These new orders are part of BD's collaborative efforts with governmental agencies and public health organizations to prepare for potential biological warfare immunization needs and to advance immunization practices.

"Since September 11th, BD's goal has been to help governments around the world prepare for mass public immunization for smallpox and other life-threatening bioterror agents," said Zeil Rosenberg, BD's Worldwide Business Leader for Immunization. "It is critical to have adequate supplies of the bifurcated needle available in the event worldwide immunization for smallpox becomes necessary."

In addition to using its resources and capabilities to create the manufacturing systems needed to make the bifurcated needle, BD has been working on other biodefense products. Through private/public partnerships, BD is developing an advanced information technology platform that can facilitate the implementation of mass immunization programs. In collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Institute for Infectious Disease (USAMRIID), BD is also developing new low-dose vaccine-delivery technologies, with the goals of enhancing the therapeutic effectiveness and extending the worldwide supply of biodefense vaccines in the future.

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding BD's performance, including future revenues, products and income, or events or developments that BD expects to occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements are based upon current expectations of BD and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: competitive factors; pricing and market share pressures; uncertainties of litigation; BD's ability to achieve sales and earnings forecasts, which are based on sales volume and product mix assumptions, to achieve its cost savings objectives, and to achieve anticipated synergies and other cost savings in connection with acquisitions; changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions; increases in energy costs; fluctuations in costs and availability of raw materials and in BD's ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships; changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates; delays in product introductions; and changes in health care or other governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed in this press release and in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statements.