Boston Scientific Announces Preliminary Information Related to Sales of TAXUS Stent System
(March 22, 2004) -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced preliminary information related to U.S. sales of its TAXUS™ Express2™ paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system. The Company received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on March 4th to market the TAXUS system in the United States, and it recorded its first sale on March 8th.

Preliminary net sales from Monday, March 8th through Friday, March 19th (10 selling days) were approximately $42 million. At its February 23rd analyst meeting, the Company estimated TAXUS system sales of between $52 million and $75 million for the period of March 1st through March 31st (23 selling days).

The Company estimates the current adoption rate for drug-eluting stents in United States to be approximately 65 percent. The adoption rate represents the number of drug-eluting stents sold as a percentage of total stent sales.

The Company shipped a total of approximately 92,000 units through March 19th; this figure represents both revenue units and non-revenue units. The Company said that for most of this period it was serving approximately 450 accounts. On March 18th, the Company began shipping product to open an additional 200 accounts. There are approximately 1,200 cardiac catheterization laboratories in the United States.

"We are very pleased with the enthusiasm with which the TAXUS system has been received, particularly the positive physician feedback on its performance," said Jim Tobin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Scientific. "The launch has been exceptionally well executed and marked by unconstrained supply in all sizes."

The information in this news release is being provided to ensure fair disclosure to all investors in accordance with the Fair Disclosure regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company plans to provide similar information periodically in the coming months.

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The Company wishes to caution the reader of this press release that actual results may differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and may be adversely affected by, among other things, risks associated with new product development and introduction, clinical trials, regulatory approvals, competitive offerings, intellectual property, litigation, operational improvements, the Company's overall business strategy, and other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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