Atherotech Names Ricky Thomas Chief Financial Officer; Experienced Financial Manager to Concentrate on Company's Growth in Diagnostic Lab Market.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2004

Atherotech, Inc., a leading specialty reference laboratory and developer of the VAP(TM) (Vertical Auto Profile) Cholesterol Test, today announced the appointment of Ricky W. Thomas as chief financial officer. Thomas will spearhead fund raising, strategic planning, and interaction with the financial community as the company focuses on continued growth of its VAP Test with leading diagnostic lab providers.

Thomas brings more than 24 years of financial and accounting experience, with nearly 10 years as chief financial officer for a number of companies, including Cobb Theatres and Outdoor Communications, Inc. Thomas has experience in initial public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions, as well as interaction with venture capital partners, investors, and analysts.

According to Roseanne Varner, Atherotech's president and chief executive officer, Thomas brings impressive financial acumen and strategic financial planning skills to the company as it focuses on broad adoption of its VAP Test beyond sales directly to physician users. "We are pleased to welcome Ricky Thomas to Atherotech," Varner said. "The VAP Cholesterol Test continues to play a key role in the early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease as called for in the current National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. As a member of our senior management team, Ricky will play a critical part in helping to plan and execute our ongoing expansion into key markets, including clinical labs."

Thomas said he is pleased to join Atherotech at a time when the company is solidifying its position as the market leader in expanded cholesterol testing. "The VAP Test has become the new standard of care in cholesterol risk assessment, as evidenced by distribution agreements with the two leading national diagnostic labs," Thomas said. "I look forward to working with Atherotech to broaden all of our business prospects in 2004 and beyond."

The affordable VAP Cholesterol Test provides direct, detailed measurements of cholesterol subclasses that play important roles in the development of heart disease but are not measured by routine lipid panels. The VAP Test complies with updated NCEP ATP III guidelines, which highlight emerging risk factors and secondary targets of therapy for heart disease. It requires a small blood sample, and results are returned to physicians by fax or e-mail within 72 hours or can be accessed online. The VAP Test is available nationwide through national and regional diagnostic laboratories, and is reimbursed by most payors, including Medicare.

Atherotech, a leading specialty reference laboratory based in Birmingham, is dedicated to improving the early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases that kill nearly 1 million Americans each year. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.thevaptest.com.