ANPI Angiotech Pharmaceuticals - Common Shares (MM)

Angiotech shareholders elect three new directors VANCOUVER, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI; TSX: ANP) is pleased to announce that Dr. Glen Nelson, Mr. Edward Brown, and Mr. Arthur Willms, were elected to the Company's board by shareholders at the Annual General and Extraordinary Meeting held yesterday. Dr. Nelson was Vice Chairman of Minneapolis-based medical technology company Medtronic, Inc. from 1988 until his retirement in 2002. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc. Dr. Nelson was a practicing vascular surgeon and presently holds the position of Emeritus Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Minnesota. He also remains a member of the Dean's Council of Harvard University and The Johns Hopkins Medicine Board of Visitors. Mr. Brown is a founding partner of Caxton Health Acquisition Fund LLC, a newly formed investment fund. Prior to this, Mr. Brown spent 16 years in health care investment banking, most recently as a Managing Director for Credit Suisse First Boston in San Francisco. During his career, Mr. Brown completed transactions for and advised a broad range of companies in the health care industry, with a focus on the life sciences sector. Mr. Willms currently serves on the boards of several organizations, including Westcoast Energy Inc., Union Gas Ltd., Pacific Northern Gas Ltd., PeBen Oilfield Services Ltd., BC Lotteries Corporation, Accenture Business Services and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. From 1971 to 1999, Mr. Willms held various positions at Westcoast Energy Inc., culminating in President and Chief Operating Officer from 1992 to 1999. Shareholders also elected long standing board members David Howard, Hartley Richardson and William Hunter. In addition, shareholders approved the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Accountants to serve as auditors of the Company until the close of the next annual general meeting. The directors were also authorized to fix the remuneration of the auditors. Two changes were approved which were as a result of the recent adoption of the new Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), including the removal of the pre- existing company provisions and the deletion and cancellation of the existing articles of the Company and the adoption of new articles for the Company. 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:ANPI)(TSE: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. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: --------------------------- Analysts: Rui Avelar, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (604) 221-7676 ext 6996 Investors: Ian Harper, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (604) 221-7676 ext 6933 Media: Eric Starkman, Starkman & Associates (212) 252-8545 ext 12 DATASOURCE: Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CONTACT: Analysts: Rui Avelar, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (604) 221-7676 ext 6996; Investors: Ian Harper, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (604) 221-7676 ext 6933; Media: Eric Starkman, Starkman & Associates, (212) 252-8545 ext 12

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