RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- CLOSURE Medical Corporation
(Nasdaq: CLSR) today announced that Ronald Ahrens, 59,  Senior Advisor and
retired President of the Consumer Healthcare Group Worldwide for Merck &
Company (NYSE: MRK) is joining CLOSURE's Board of Directors.
    Mr. Ahrens has over thirty-one years of extensive experience in the
pharmaceutical and health care industry, with particular emphasis on the
consumer marketplace.  As President of its Consumer Healthcare Group
Worldwide, he oversaw a period of significant growth for Merck & Company, one
of the worldwide leaders in prescription drugs.  Mr. Ahrens joined Merck in
1990 as Executive Vice President of Consumer Healthcare Group International.
    Prior to joining Merck & Company, Mr. Ahrens was Consumer Group President
for North America for Bristol Myers Squibb, (NYSE:BMY), a company he joined in
1985 as President of the Products Division.  From 1973 to 1985 he held several
senior positions with Richardson Vicks, including President, Vicks Health Care
Divison.
    Commenting on Mr. Ahrens' appointment, Robert V. Toni, CLOSURE's President
and CEO, said, "We are indeed fortunate to have Ronald Ahrens join the CLOSURE
Board of Directors, particularly at this time.  His insight, knowledge, and
broad experience will be invaluable resources for our Company as we introduce
a number of new products for the consumer health care market over the next few
years."
    CLOSURE Medical Corporation, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina,
develops, manufactures and commercializes medical tissue cohesive products
based on its proprietary cyanoacrylate technology.  CLOSURE's nonabsorbable
tissue cohesive products may be used to replace sutures and staples for
certain topical wound closure applications, while its absorbable tissue
cohesive products can potentially be used as tissue cohesives for internal
wound closure and management.  Currently marketed nonabsorbable tissue
cohesive products include DERMABOND* topical skin adhesive, which is used to
replace sutures and staples for closure of certain lacerations and incisions,
OCTYLDENT* cohesive, which is used as an adjunct in the treatment of adult
periodontal disease; and the NEXABAND* line of topical cohesives, which are
used in veterinary wound closure and management.

* DERMABOND is a trademark of Ethicon, Inc.; OCTYLDENT and NEXABAND are
registered Trademarks of CLOSURE Medical Corporation.

    This release contains certain forward-looking statements which involve
known and unknown risks, delays, uncertainties or other factors not under the
Company's control which may cause actual results, performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from the results, performance, or
other expectations implied by these forward-looking statements.  These factors
include, but are not limited to the early stage of commercialization of the
Company products; the need for regulatory approval and effects of governmental
regulation; technological uncertainties and dependence on market acceptance
and marketing partners, as well as those detailed in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

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