New Technology Has Potential to Improve Quality of Life for Hemodialysis Patients VANCOUVER, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPINASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:ANP), a global specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company, today announced positive preclinical data related to its Vascular Wrap(TM) paclitaxel-eluting mesh and Lifespan(R) graft technology platform at The Western Vascular Society 2006 Annual Meeting in La Jolla, California. "We are excited by the potential of the Vascular Wrap paclitaxel-eluting mesh product in a variety of indications, including AV access for hemodialysis patients," said Dr. William Hunter, President and CEO of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals. Although synthetic grafts are currently used in approximately 40 percent of hemodialysis patients who require a permanent vascular access, primary patency rates remain poor. Most graft failures are caused by growth of scar tissue inside the graft (neointimal hyperplasia) at the location where the graft is connected to the vein (the graft-vein anastomosis), and there are no proven treatments that effectively prevent it. The purpose of this preclinical study was to evaluate the effect of the Vascular Wrap(TM) bioabsorbable mesh containing paclitaxel on inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia in an animal model of dialysis access failure. In this study, neointimal hyperplasia was reduced by a minimum of 87.6% in animals who received a paclitaxel-eluting mesh compared with animals who received no mesh. "We are encouraged by the results of our preclinical data, and believe that we may be able to offer a better treatment option for hemodialysis patients," said Dr. Rui Avelar, Chief Medical Officer of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals. "These results, complemented by the extensive experience with paclitaxel in cardiovascular applications, have given us further confidence as we look to start our clinical studies in hemodialysis access." Earlier in August, Angiotech announced the intent to launch a clinical trial in the United Kingdom to determine if hemodialysis patients who receive the Vascular Wrap paclitaxel-eluting mesh/Lifespan graft combination product experience fewer graft failures than those patients that receive the graft alone. Angiotech expects to enrol the first patient in the UK-based clinical trial this fall. The company also intends to conduct a similar trial in the U.S. Both trials are expected to be about 24 months in duration, with enrolment taking approximately one year. The goal of the studies is to provide Angiotech with sufficient data to submit to regulatory authorities for the approval to market the products in the United States and Europe. About the Study and Presentation Dr. Ted Kohler, MD, MSc, of the Veteran Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, is the principal investigator of this study, and presented the results today at the Western Vascular Society 2006 Annual Meeting held at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Hotel in La Jolla, California. Commercially available grafts were surgically placed between the left common carotid artery and right external jugular vein in 40 animals, which were randomized to receive either no mesh or a 3 cm by 6 cm mesh placed around the graft-vein anastomosis containing one of four doses of paclitaxel (0.0, 0.3, 0.7 or 1.2 (micro)g/mm2). Animals in both control groups developed significant neointimal hyperplasia at the cross-section taken perpendicular to the graft at its most distal end: 10.5 +/- 6.8 mm2 and 6.4 +/- 3.2 mm2 in the no mesh and zero-dose mesh groups, respectively (P = .28). Compared with the zero-dose mesh group, neointimal area was significantly reduced in all paclitaxel mesh groups: 0.9 +/- 1.4 mm2, 1.3 +/- 1.5 mm2 and 1.2 +/- 1.4 mm2 in the three dose groups, respectively (P