ANPI Angiotech Pharmaceuticals - Common Shares (MM)

Angiotech partner announces 30-day safety data from its TAXUS V drug-eluting stent clinical trial VANCOUVER, BC and WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP) corporate partner, Boston Scientific ("Boston"), today announced 30-day safety data from its TAXUS V clinical trial. The trial is assessing the slow-release formulation of the TAXUS(TM) Express2(TM) paclitaxel-eluting stent system in 1,172 patients at 66 sites in the U.S. TAXUS V expands on the TAXUS IV pivotal trial by studying a higher-risk patient population, including patients with small vessels, large vessels and long lesions requiring multiple overlapping stents. Boston made the announcement at the annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics symposium in Washington, D.C. The TAXUS V trial - which includes the use of multiple stents as well as single stents - is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of a paclitaxel- eluting coronary stent in reducing restenosis in de novo lesions 10 - 46 mm in length and 2.25 - 4.0 mm in diameter. It has a primary endpoint of nine-month target vessel revascularization (TVR). The results support early safety, as demonstrated by a low overall MACE (Major Adverse Cardiac Events) rate of 4.4 percent at 30 days, which is consistent with results from previous TAXUS clinical trials. Thirty-day MACE was 3.7 percent in Group X and 5.1 percent in Group Y (the study remains blinded through the primary endpoint at nine months). The TVR rate was 0.7 percent in Group X and 1.2 percent in Group Y. Stent thromboses were also low, with a rate of 0.5 percent in Group X and 0.7 percent in Group Y. Boston Scientific has acquired worldwide co-exclusive rights from Angiotech to use paclitaxel to coat its coronary stent products and 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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