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Angiotech partner announces French reimbursement for TAXUS® Liberte™ paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system
February 15, 2006
VANCOUVER, Feb 15, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP) corporate partner, Boston Scientific ("BSC") announced today that it has received reimbursement approval from the French government for its TAXUS(R) Liberte(TM) paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system - the world's first next-generation drug-eluting stent system. The announcement was published yesterday in the official journal of the French government,"Journal Officiel de la Republique Francaise."
As a result of this announcement, the TAXUS Liberte stent system will now be available to patients with coronary artery disease treated in private and public hospitals throughout France.
"Until now, many French patients suffering from coronary artery disease were unable to benefit from the TAXUS Liberte stent system due to the lack of reimbursement," said Dr. Philippe Brunel, interventional cardiologist at the Nouvelles Cliniques Nantaises, Nantes, France."The TAXUS Liberte stent system offers cardiologists and patients benefits due to its superior deliverability in addition to the proven long-term efficacy of the TAXUS system. Patients with complex and small vessel disease will particularly benefit from these advanced features."
"The TAXUS Liberte stent system is specifically designed to improve deliverability and conformability for state-of-the-art clinical stent performance, which will help further improve clinical outcomes," said Jeff Goodman, President of International for Boston Scientific."These features should help substantially reinforce the market leadership position of the TAXUS stent system in France."
The TAXUS Liberte stent system is the world's first next-generation drug-eluting coronary stent system to incorporate a next-generation stent platform. It is specifically designed for drug delivery and received CE Mark approval in Europe in September 2005.
BSC has a strong record of excellence in drug-eluting stents, supported by a wealth of clinical trial data on the safety and efficacy of the TAXUS stent systems. Recent results from the TAXUS I (four years), TAXUS II (three years), TAXUS IV (three years), and TAXUS VI (two years) studies have demonstrated excellent long-term safety and efficacy with a sustained and robust benefit. Early data from the ATLAS clinical trial and OLYMPIA registry confirmed the safety profile of the TAXUS Liberte stent system.
France has one of the lowest rates of coronary artery disease in Europe, however 28 percent of deaths in French men and 34 percent of deaths in French women are still attributed to this disease. The majority of patients are treated with percutaneous coronary intervention; more than 165,000 stents are implanted annually in private and public French hospitals. Currently, half of the stents used in France are drug-eluting stents such as the TAXUS Liberte stent system.
BSC acquired worldwide exclusive rights from Angiotech to use paclitaxel to coat its coronary stent products and has co-exclusive rights to other vascular and non-vascular products.
About Angiotech Pharmaceuticals
Vancouver-based Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company pioneering the combination of pharmaceutical compounds with medical devices and biomaterials to both create novel solutions for poorly addressed disease states and improve surgical outcomes. To find out more about Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP), please visit our website at www.angiotech.com.
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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Analysts and Investors: Todd Young, Vice President Investor Relations and Communications Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (604) 221-7676 ext 6933 Media: Colleen Beauregard Waggener Edstrom Bioscience (503) 443-7863, Email: colleenb@wagged.com
SOURCE Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Analysts and Investors: Todd Young, Vice President Investor Relations and Communications, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (604) 221-7676 ext 6933; Media: Colleen Beauregard, Waggener Edstrom Bioscience, (503) 443-7863, Email: colleenb@wagged.com
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