Angiotech Appoints U.S. Medical Device Executive to Board of Directors, Fills Board Seat Previously Held by Judith Donaldson.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 1999--

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (TSE:ANP) is pleased to announce the appointment of John McDermott to its Board of Directors.

Mr. McDermott is President of IMPRA, Inc., a global leader in vascular products. Mr. McDermott was promoted to his current position in conjunction with the acquisition of IMPRA by C.R. Bard, Inc. in September 1996. He is responsible for the Company's global operations and financial results.

Angiotech first worked with Mr. McDermott late last year when it entered into a CAD$30 million exclusive, worldwide license and co-development agreement with C.R. Bard and IMPRA for the use of paclitaxel and other related compounds for the perivascular treatment of stenosis associated with vascular surgery. As part of the agreement, Angiotech has received license fees and will receive future milestone payments and royalties.

"John brings a wealth of finance and management experience to our Board, as well as international experience in medical devices, and we welcome his contributions," said William L. Hunter, MD, MSc, Angiotech's Chairman and CEO. Previous to Mr. McDermott's current position, he served as IMPRA's Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and prior to that, he was IMPRA's Chief Financial Officer. Mr. McDermott also has many years of corporate and commercial banking experience.

Simultaneously with Mr. McDermott's appointment to the Board of Directors, the Board accepted the resignation of Judith Donaldson, PhD. Dr. Donaldson, who resigned in order to more aggressively pursue other interests, has served as a Director of Angiotech since 1996. "Judith has been a dedicated Board member since the days of our being a private company and we will miss her insights. We wish Judith well in her new endeavors," said William L. Hunter.

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a Canadian pharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of medical device coatings and treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases through the reformulation of the anticancer drug, paclitaxel. Three therapies are in clinical development: systemic micellar paclitaxel for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic micellar paclitaxel for multiple sclerosis and topical paclitaxel for psoriasis. Other programs include paclitaxel-coated stents and implants used in peripheral vascular surgery for the prevention or treatment of restenosis.