Nov 15, 2002
Guidant to Highlight New Advances in Heart Failure Management During 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association

Indianapolis, Ind. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, today announced that it is providing support for a special Continuing Medical Education (CME) symposium sponsored by the University of Rochester. The program, entitled "Advances in Heart Failure Management: Drugs and Devices," will be held on Saturday, November 16, in conjunction with the American Heart Association''s 75th Scientific Sessions.

"Heart failure is a growing health care challenge, and is the only major cardiovascular disease still increasing in both incidence and prevalence," said Fred McCoy, president, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Guidant Corporation. "This symposium will address the magnitude of this challenge and will identify various treatment options, including the role of device therapy in the treatment of heart failure."

The symposium is chaired by two of the nation''s foremost authorities in heart failure management - Eugene Braunwald, M.D., Distinguished Hersey Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Arthur Moss, M.D., Professor of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine. The event is not part of the official Scientific Sessions 2002 as planned by the American Heart Association Committee on Scientific Sessions Program.

Mid-Quarter Investor Briefing

As previously announced, Guidant will host a mid-quarter investor briefing during the American Heart Association meeting in Chicago, Ill. The briefing will take place on Tuesday, November 19, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. EST. The briefing will be webcast live.

John Capek, Ph.D., president, Vascular Intervention; Fred McCoy, president, Cardiac Rhythm Management; and Keith Brauer, vice president, finance and CFO, will provide an overview of Guidant''s business.

A live webcast of Guidant''s briefing will be accessible through Guidant''s website at www.guidant.com/webcast or at CCBN's individual investor center at www.companyboardroom.com. The webcast will be archived on both websites for future on-demand replay.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of more than 10,000 employees, develops, manufactures and markets a broad array of products and services that enable less invasive care for some of life's most threatening medical conditions. For more information visit www.guidant.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: For more information about Guidant, including its products and services, please visit the company''s newsroom at www.guidant.com/newsroom.