Angiotech Pharmaceuticals: Boston Scientific Announces Preliminary Results of its TAXUS III Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent Clinical Trial.

Business Editors

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 19, 2002

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPI)(TSE:ANP) was notified today by Boston Scientific Corporation ("BSC") that BSC announced preliminary, six-month results of its TAXUS III paclitaxel-eluting stent clinical trial.

TAXUS III is a single-arm registry examining the feasibility of implanting up to two paclitaxel-eluting stents for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. Enrollment of 30 patients was completed in July 2001.

BSC stated that the trial's main focus is safety, and the primary endpoint is 30-day MACE (Major Adverse Cardiac Events; including death, myocardial infarction and revascularization). This group represents patients with complex vascular disease having recurrent occlusion in a stent, who tend to have an increased probability of restenosis.

The study reported a seven percent 30-day MACE rate (one myocardial infarction and one target vessel revascularization unrelated to the stent study), both of which occurred during the stent placement procedure. No early stent thromboses were reported. Systemic paclitaxel levels were undetectable at 30 days, consistent with the data from TAXUS I.

BSC also reported that six-month data demonstrated a 17 percent MACE rate (four target lesion revascularizations, one target vessel revascularization -- without any deaths or coronary artery bypass grafts). This rate compares favorably with brachytherapy, without the associated risks and complexities. Analysis of the patterns of restenosis is underway to determine the optimal lesion criteria and implant technique to improve outcomes.

"These results offer further promise that paclitaxel-eluting stents can be used safely and effectively in the treatment of in-stent restenosis," said Professor Eberhard Grube, M.D., Siegburg Heart Center, Siegburg, Germany. "I am particularly encouraged by the comparatively low MACE rates, low target lesion revascularizations, and the lack of early and late stent thrombosis. From my own experience, optimal placement to avoid geographic miss reduces restenosis by ensuring uniform drug delivery. I look forward to future TAXUS stent trials, which will provide additional data on their potential for treating coronary artery disease."

"These results expand on results from the TAXUS I trial and offer further evidence of the safety of TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stents in treating coronary artery disease," said Jim Tobin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Scientific. "We were also pleased with the efficacy data reported from this high-risk group. The feasibility results represent dramatic improvement over revascularization rates that have historically been as high as 50 percent. These findings offer as much hope as any seen to date."

Final clinical six-month angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data on TAXUS III is scheduled to be presented in May at the Paris Course on Revascularization, as stated by BSC.

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