Jan 29, 2001
Guidant Organizes to Enhance Focus on New Therapies

Company Forms Endovascular Solutions and Guidant Cardiac Surgery Groups

Indianapolis, Ind. and Santa Clara and Menlo Park, Calif. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease, announced today an organization designed to better focus its relationships with physicians specializing in emerging therapies.

Guidant Endovascular Solutions Formed Around Emerging Customer Focus

Guidant has formed a new business group to develop and market products for the treatment of endovascular diseases - abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid and peripheral artery disease, and neurovascular disease. Called Guidant Endovascular Solutions, this group will work with endovascular specialists treating several types of debilitating illnesses.

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is an enlargement of the aorta, the main artery of the human body, resulting from a weakening of the vessel wall.

 

  • Strokes that may result from atherosclerosis of cerebral arteries and carotid arteries - located on either side of the neck - that carry blood up the neck to the brain.

 

  • Peripheral vascular disease, which is caused by blocked blood flow in the arteries of the legs and results in circulation problems, painful cramping and numbness during walking or exercise.

 

In establishing this new business entity, Jay Graf, Guidant group chairman, announced that Beverly Huss, previously vice president, global marketing, Guidant Vascular Intervention Group, has been promoted to president, Guidant Endovascular Solutions.

"We are pleased to have Bev take the helm of this new group as we further enhance our competitive advantage in the endovascular marketplace," said Graf. "She is a proven leader with a broad depth of domestic and international experience that will be essential in this important new role."

Huss joined Guidant's VI Group in 1986 and has since held various management positions within the group, including vice president and general manager, stents, and vice president and general manager, Latin America and Canada.

Guidant Cardiac Surgery Group Created to Focus on Cardiac Surgeons

Guidant has also created the Guidant Cardiac Surgery Group, a business unit dedicated to developing minimally invasive alternatives to traditional procedures used for performing bypass surgery. Guidant's Cardiac Surgery Group is focused on making further innovations in less-invasive therapies for patients requiring coronary artery bypass surgery.

  • Beating heart bypass procedures eliminate the need for physicians to stop the patient's heart and redirect blood flow through a heart-lung machine. Physicians performing less-invasive procedures are able to bypass clogged arteries on a beating heart, a treatment that when compared to procedures that require the heart to be stopped has been shown to potentially result in fewer complications, including lower post-operative cognitive impairment, less bleeding and shorter hospital stays.

 

  • Minimally invasive procedures to harvest the saphenous vein from the leg, commonly used in coronary artery bypass procedures to go around coronary arteries that have become blocked due to atherosclerosis.

 

Graf also announced that Nicky Spaulding, formerly vice president and general manager, cardiac surgery, is heading Guidant's Cardiac Surgery Group as president. Spaulding joined Guidant in 1994 and has held several management roles at Guidant, including director of stent research and development, and vice president of Compass business development.

"Nicky has made many significant contributions at Guidant in the critical areas of research and development and business development," commented Graf. "We are excited to have someone with his talents and experience lead our efforts as we continue to make progress in the minimally invasive cardiac surgery market."

A global leader in the medical technology industry, Guidant Corporation provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products and services for the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease.

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