Angiotech's licensee, Cook Medical, enrolls first renal artery disease patient in clinical trial of new drug-eluting stent

European trial explores treating renal artery blockages with a balloon expandable paclitaxel-eluting renal stent

VANCOUVER, April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP) today announced Cook Medical, a license holder of Angiotech's paclitaxel technology, has enrolled the first patient in its landmark Formula(TM) PTX(R) clinical trial. The trial is the first of its kind to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a paclitaxel-eluting stent to treat renal artery disease, the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. The multi-center, randomized trial plans to enroll 120 patients at sites across Europe. The trial utilizes Cook's Formula Renal Stent, which is designed with a very low profile that may help it cross tightly blocked vessels for placement into diseased renal arteries.

"Following Cook Medical's success with the Zilver PTX, we chose to be involved in the clinical trial for the Formula PTX Balloon Expandable Renal Stent," said Professor Dierk Scheinert, Angiology and Cardiology Specialist at participating hospital, Park-Krankenhaus Leipzig-South. "Given the early success of the US REFORM clinical trial evaluating the Formula Balloon Expandable Stent, we remain very excited about the potential of a drug-eluting renal stent. Providing physicians with a greater range of devices will ultimately help patients receive the best possible treatment options."

About Renal Artery Disease

Renal artery disease is a narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the kidneys. Plaque (fatty deposits and calcium) can collect within these arteries, reducing blood flow to the kidneys. The kidneys may then send signals to the body for more blood, increasing your blood pressure. This high blood pressure, coupled with the atherosclerosis, greatly increases stress on the heart, and could also lead to a stroke. The restriction of blood flow from the renal artery can also decrease the ability of the kidneys to filter and remove the waste and fluids from the body, leading to possible renal insufficiency and kidney failure.

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About Angiotech Pharmaceuticals

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and medical device company. Angiotech discovers, develops and markets innovative treatment solutions for diseases or complications associated with medical device implants, surgical interventions and acute injury. To find out more about Angiotech (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP), please visit our website at www.angiotech.com.

About Cook Medical

Founded in 1963, Cook Medical pioneered many of the medical devices now commonly used to perform minimally invasive medical procedures throughout the body. Today, the company integrates medical devices, drugs and biologics to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes. Since its inception, Cook has operated as a family-held private corporation. For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com.

SOURCE Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.