ANPI Angiotech Pharmaceuticals - Common Shares (MM)

Expanding Markets for Innovative, Minimally-Invasive Facelift Product VANCOUVER, July 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP), a global specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company, today announced that it has signed an agreement with KMT Japan to sell Angiotech's Contour Threads(TM) product line in Japan, which is the ninth largest aesthetics market worldwide according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). These top ten countries combined perform approximately 68% of all global aesthetic procedures. "We continue to expand our reach in the growing Asia-Pacific market with this new distribution agreement. For the first time, people in Japan will have the option of a minimally-invasive facelift procedure performed with Contour Threads products," said Dr. William Hunter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Angiotech. To support the introduction of the Contour Thread product line in Japan, Angiotech held an initial training course which included a number of Japanese plastic and facial plastic surgeons, including Dr. Taturo Kamakura, who is one of the top cosmetic and aesthetic surgeons in Japan and founder of the Seishin Cosmetic Clinics, found in major cities across Japan. These eight physicians will act as the core Center of Excellence (COE) Training Instructors in Japan. It is expected that approximately 50 physicians will be trained and performing procedures with Contour Threads products by the end of this year in Japan. Over 2,400 physicians worldwide have been trained to perform procedures with Contour Threads. Under the terms of the agreement, KMT Japan must meet minimum quarterly sales volume commitments during the first year of the agreement, which runs through 2008. The agreement's structure allows for Angiotech to enter this new market at a relatively low cost base and brings the advantage of building and maintaining a solid base of customer contacts. The global market for aesthetics procedures generated over $15 billion in 2004 and is growing according to a study by Medical Insight, Inc. Angiotech continues to build momentum in global markets and has more than doubled the number of international distribution and independent sales agreements in place compared to this time last year. Angiotech believes that facelift procedures performed with Contour Threads products could increase the aesthetic procedure market by offering a cost-effective, minimally invasive alternative to the traditional facelift procedure. Doctors and patients alike are interested in the innovative procedure that can be performed in a doctor's office with no general anaesthesia and very little "down time" for patients. A procedure performed with the Contour Threads product is an increasingly attractive option for people looking for a refreshed, but not extreme change, which gives them subtle and natural-looking results. Further Opportunities for the Contour Threads Product Line Unlike traditional sutures, the Contour Threads product line's patented technology enables surgical sutures to self-anchor and suspend sagging tissue without the need for suture knots. Building on the success of the minimally-invasive facelift procedure, Angiotech is exploring other potential indications of the Contour Threads product line for "non-extreme" aesthetic procedures, such as breast lifts, neck contouring, and other body contouring indications. The Contour Threads product line allows Angiotech to expand this market to include those patients who desire aesthetic changes but are unwilling to have more invasive procedures, such as implant surgery. It is anticipated that the same technology used in the Contour Threads product will be adapted for general wound closure in orthopaedic, cosmetic, vascular, and endoscopic surgery. Eliminating knot-tying saves time, minimizes the risk of infection, and reduces wound leakage. Angiotech will also continue to develop its portfolio of next-generation Contour Threads products, including a biodegradable version, which will be absorbed safely and relatively quickly in the body. To learn more about the Contour Threads product, please visit: http://www.contourthreads.com/ About Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company with 14 facilities in 6 countries and over 1,500 dedicated employees. Angiotech discovers, develops and markets innovative treatment solutions for diseases or complications associated with medical device implants, surgical interventions and acute injury. To find out more about Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP), please visit our website at http://www.angiotech.com/. Note on Forward Looking Statement: Statements contained in this press release or in our other written or oral public communications that are not based on historical or current fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believes," "may," "plans," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" and similar expressions, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that 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. Forward-looking statements in this release include the statements regarding; any potential financial benefits to Angiotech to be realized from the transaction, the ability of Angiotech to find other potential uses for the Contour Threads product line, the ability to develop and commercialize any new products, the accuracy of information concerning the numbers of physicians who have been trained or have performed procedures using Contour Threads, and the accuracy of information concerning the size of the global aesthetic procedures market. These statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, among others; the timing of and safety and efficacy results from clinical trials and decisions made by Angiotech based on these results, the ability to obtain regulatory approval to develop and commercialize new products, the ability to manufacture sufficient quantities of product for development and commercialization activities and to do so in a timely and cost efficient manner, decisions by regulatory authorities related to the development and commercialization of potential products, the competitive environment for such products, the availability of resources and funding, and the risks and uncertainties associated with the business and described in Angiotech's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the Canadian securities regulators. The forward looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions, including; that other uses for the Contour Threads product line exist, that any products or therapies identified and developed by Angiotech will be able to obtain regulatory approval, that funding and resources for research and development will be available, and that there will be a market for any products successfully developed by Angiotech. 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. Angiotech(R) and Contour Threads(TM) are trademarks of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. CONTACT: Analysts and Institutional Investors: Janet Craig, VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (416) 997-9006, ; Media and Retail Investors: Jodi Regts, Manager, Corporate Communications, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (604) 221-7930, DATASOURCE: Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Analysts and Institutional Investors: Janet Craig, VP, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (416) 997-9006, ; Media and Retail Investors: Jodi Regts, Manager, Corporate Communications, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (604) 221-7930,

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