PERSEUS clinical program comparing TAXUS Element Stent to prior-generation stents: 12-month results

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP) today announced that its corporate partner, Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX), announced 12-month results from its PERSEUS clinical program that demonstrated positive safety and efficacy outcomes in workhorse lesions for the platinum chromium TAXUS(R) Element(TM) Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent System compared to the TAXUS(R) Express(TM) Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent System. The results also reported a similar safety profile and statistically superior efficacy outcomes in small vessels for the TAXUS Element Stent compared to a historical control group of patients receiving the Express(R) bare-metal stent.

Analysis of the data was presented at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Sessions during a late-breaking trial session by Dean Kereiakes, M.D., Medical Director at The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Center and The Lindner Research Center in Cincinnati and the Principal Investigator for the PERSEUS clinical program.

"We are very encouraged by the one-year data demonstrating positive safety and efficacy outcomes for the TAXUS Element Stent and its innovative platinum chromium alloy," said Dr. Kereiakes. "In my experience, the TAXUS Element Stent offers increased flexibility, visibility and deliverability compared with currently available products. The PERSEUS data confirm that the proven TAXUS drug and polymer combination has been successfully transferred to the Element platform with excellent performance and comparable safety."

The TAXUS Element Stent is designed specifically for coronary stenting. The novel stent architecture and proprietary platinum chromium alloy combine to offer greater radial strength and flexibility. The stent architecture helps create consistent lesion coverage and drug distribution while improving deliverability, which is enhanced by an advanced catheter delivery system. The higher density alloy provides superior visibility and reduced recoil while permitting thinner struts compared to prior-generation stents.

The PERSEUS clinical program compares the TAXUS Element Stent to prior-generation stents in more than 1,600 patients in two parallel trials at 90 centers worldwide.