ANPI Angiotech Pharmaceuticals - Common Shares (MM)

Angiotech partner says physician feedback is extremely positive as it completes initial launch of TAXUS(R) Liberte(TM) paclitaxel-eluting stent system - Next-generation technology impresses Singapore course - VANCOUVER, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP) corporate partner, Boston Scientific ("BSC"), announced today that it has completed the initial launch of its TAXUS(R) Liberte(TM) paclitaxel- eluting coronary stent system. On January 17, BSC announced that it had launched the next-generation stent system in 18 countries. The new product is now fully launched in those countries. According to BSC, early physician feedback has been extremely positive, including reaction from physicians doing live cases at the 14th Annual Singapore LIVE course. "I had the opportunity to use the new TAXUS Liberte stent system during the recent Singapore LIVE course," said Maurice Buchbinder, M.D., of the Foundation for Cardiovascular Medicine in San Diego. "Despite somewhat challenging anatomy, the TAXUS Liberte stent system performed very nicely, crossing the lesions with ease and conforming to the anatomy very well. The angiographic results were superb. The TAXUS Liberte stent system is a significant advance in drug-eluting stent platform technology, which will enhance percutaneous therapy for more complex coronary anatomy." BSC received the CE Mark for the bare metal Liberte stent system in December 2003 and plans to launch the TAXUS (drug-eluting) Liberte system in Europe later this year. In August 2004, BSC announced enrollment in the ATLAS clinical trial, a pivotal study designed to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the TAXUS Liberte stent system. BSC's first- generation drug-eluting stent system, the TAXUS(TM) Express2(TM) paclitaxel- eluting coronary stent system, is the worldwide leader in the coronary stent market. BSC acquired worldwide exclusive rights from Angiotech to use paclitaxel to coat its coronary stent products and has co-exclusive rights to other vascular and non-vascular products. Vancouver-based Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on drug-coated medical devices and biomaterials, is dedicated to enhancing the performance of medical devices and biomaterials through the innovative uses of pharmacotherapeutics. To find out more about Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP), please visit our website at http://www.angiotech.com/. Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "anticipates," "believes," "may," "continue," "estimate," "expects," "may" and "will" and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which the Company operates; technology changes; competition; changes in business strategy or development plans; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; existing governmental regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; and other factors referenced in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the Canadian securities regulators. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statements. CONTACTS: Todd Young, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (Analysts & Investors) (604) 221-7676 ext 6933 Rui Avelar, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Analysts) (604) 221-7676 ext 6996 Eric Starkman, Starkman & Associates (Media) (212) 252-8545 ext 12 DATASOURCE: Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Todd Young, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (Analysts & Investors), (604) 221-7676 ext 6933; Rui Avelar, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Analysts), (604) 221-7676 ext 6996; Eric Starkman, Starkman & Associates (Media), (212) 252-8545 ext 12

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