ANPI Angiotech Pharmaceuticals - Common Shares (MM)

An Innovative Chronic Dialysis Catheter With Patented Triple Arterial Lumen Design VANCOUVER, March 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP) today announced that it will introduce and exhibit its innovative HemoStream(TM) chronic dialysis catheter at the 2008 Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Annual Scientific Meeting to be held in Washington, DC from March 15-18, 2008. "It's exciting to participate at SIR and showcase the addition of another 'best-in-class' device offered by Angiotech. We also anticipate that the HemoStream(TM) could be a great candidate for our combination drug-device technologies, such as Angiotech's innovative 5-FU anti-infective platform," said George Leondis, General Manager, Angiotech Interventional. Incidences of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis are a rapidly growing challenge in healthcare worldwide. When kidneys fail, function of the kidneys can be partially replaced using a process called hemodialysis. Hemodialysis involves drawing blood out of the body, filtering it through a large machine and then returning filtered blood back to the body. Chronic dialysis catheters, such as HemoStream(TM), are used as long term vascular access for hemodialysis. HemoStream may also be used as a temporary access while more permanent options mature or become ready for use, such as a surgically created AV fistula. A dialysis catheter, such as HemoStream(TM), is used for vascular access and is a vital connection between the patient and the hemodialysis unit. When kidneys fail, the function of the kidneys can be partially replaced using a process called hemodialysis. Hemodialysis involves drawing blood out of the body, filtering it through a large machine that draws off the impurities and then returning the filtered blood to the body. When patients are placed on hemodialysis, they will require placement of a catheter into a large vein which is then connected to a hemodialysis machine. Some of the potential benefits of the HemoStream(TM) catheter include: - Patented Triple Arterial Lumen Design: Ensures functional flow rates in the event that two lumens become completely occluded. - Transition: Provides atraumatic over-the-wire insertion without the need for a peel-away sheath. - 360 degree Arterial Tip Configuration: Eliminates catheter "side- walling" against vessel. In April 2007, Angiotech entered into an agreement with Rex Medical, LP, which granted Angiotech an exclusive license to market and distribute the HemoStream(TM) catheter worldwide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given clearance to begin marketing the HemoStream(TM) chronic dialysis catheter in the United States. Angiotech will be exhibiting in Booth #233 at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiologists to be held March 15-18th, 2008 in Washington, D.C. More information about the meeting can be found on the Society of Interventional Radiology website at: http://www.sirweb.org/annualMeeting/annualMeetingHome.shtml About Angiotech Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company with over 1,600 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 (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP), please visit http://www.angiotech.com/. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical 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. Forward-looking statements may involve, but are not limited to, comments with respect to our strategies or future actions, our targets, expectations for our financial condition and the results of, or outlook for, our operations, research development and product and drug development. 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. Many such risks, uncertainties and other factors are taken into account as part of our assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements and include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which we operate; market demand; technological changes that could impact our existing products or our ability to develop and commercialize future products; competition; existing governmental regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations; adverse results or unexpected delays in drug discovery and clinical development processes; decisions, and the timing of decisions, made by health regulatory agencies regarding approval of our technology and products; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization activities or consummate acquisitions; the accuracy of our estimations of the size of the market, and the potential market, for our products in specific disease areas; sales numbers and future guidance publicly provided by Boston Scientific Corporation regarding sales of their paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent products; and any other factors that may affect performance. In addition, our business is subject to certain operating risks that may cause the actual results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this report to differ materially from our actual results. These operating risks include: our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; our ability to successfully complete preclinical and clinical development of our products; changes in business strategy or development plans; our failure to obtain patent protection for discoveries; loss of patent protection resulting from third party challenges to our patents; commercialization limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; our ability to obtain rights to technology from licensors; liability for patent claims and other claims asserted against us; our ability to obtain and enforce timely patent and other intellectual property protection for our technology and products; the ability to enter into, and to maintain, corporate alliances relating to the development and commercialization of our technology and products; market acceptance of our technology and products; our ability to successfully manufacture, market and sell our products; the ability of Boston Scientific Corporation to successfully manufacture, market and sell their paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent products; the continued availability of capital to finance our activities; our ability to achieve the financial benefits expected as a result of the acquisition of American Medical Instruments Holdings, Inc. ("AMI"); and any other factors referenced in our annual information form and other filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities or the SEC. Given these uncertainties, assumptions and risk factors, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect future results, events or developments. (TM)HemoStream is a trademark of Rex Medical, LP used under license by Angiotech. CONTACT: Angiotech Contact: Deirdre Neary, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (604) 222-7056, DATASOURCE: Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Angiotech Contact: Deirdre Neary, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (604) 222-7056,

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