ABIOMED Appoints Kathleen M. Walsh Vice President for Human Resources.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

DANVERS, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Aug. 6, 2001

ABIOMED, Inc (NASDAQ:ABMD) announced today that Kathleen M. Walsh has joined the Company as Vice President for Human Resources. Ms. Walsh will be responsible for management of all aspects of ABIOMED's human resources function, and will lead the development of the Company's human resource strategies, programs and policies.

"I am enthused and excited to welcome Kathy Walsh as a member of ABIOMED's management team," said David M. Lederman, Ph.D., the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. "As we look toward continued growth through clinical progress with our AbioCor(TM) Implantable Replacement Heart, expansion of our BVS(R) advanced heart assist system business, and introduction of other new product lines, human resources management will present multiple challenges and will be critical to our continued success. Kathy Walsh has the skills, experience and leadership capabilities we need to build a human resources department capable of supporting ABIOMED through our next stage of growth, and beyond."

Ms. Walsh comes to ABIOMED with 20 years of experience in the Human Resources field working with biotechnology, manufacturing, sales and retail companies. She was most recently Vice President for Human Resources for the MacDermid Graphic Arts Division of MacDermid, Inc. (Billerica, MA). Prior to that, she held senior management positions at Polyfibron Technologies, Inc. (Billerica, MA) and the former Amicon Division of W. R. Grace & Co. (Danvers, MA).

Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, ABIOMED, Inc. (pronounced "AB'-EE-O-MED") is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical products designed to assist or replace the pumping function of the failing heart. The Company's AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart is being implanted in patients as part of an initial clinical trial conducted under an Investigational Device Exemption from the United States Food and Drug Administration. The AbioCor, which is intended to extend and improve the lives of patients with irreversible end-stage heart failure, has not been approved for commercial distribution, and is not available for use or sale outside of the initial clinical trial. ABIOMED currently manufactures and sells the BVS, a heart assist advice for the temporary support of all patients with failing but potentially recoverable hearts.

This Release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding continued growth, clinical progress with the AbioCor, BVS expansion and the introduction of new products. ABIOMED's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements based upon a number of factors, including uncertainties associated with development, testing and related regulatory approvals, anticipated future losses, complex manufacturing, high quality requirements, dependence on limited sources of supply, competition, technological change, government regulation, future capital needs and uncertainty of additional financing and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date of this Release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.