Feb 11, 2002
Guidant Announces U.S. and European Launch of Advanced Pacing Lead

Designed for Ease of Handling

Indianapolis, Ind. and St. Paul, Minn. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease, announces the U.S. and European launch of its newest, most advanced pacemaker lead, the FLEXTEND(tm) pacing lead.

"We expect that FLEXTEND''s ease of use and premium features will translate into strong market acceptance," said Fred McCoy, president, Guidant Cardiac Rhythm Management. "We are pleased to offer this top-tier technology to our physician-customers for the benefit of their patients."

Pacing leads are specially insulated wires that deliver therapy from the pacemaker to the heart as well as sense arrhythmias and send information to the device. Designed for ease in handling, the FLEXTEND lead allows the physician to extend or retract a corkscrew like tip, or helix, which then attaches to the heart.

Built upon Guidant''s history of proven lead design, the FLEXTEND pacing lead delivers low pacing thresholds for long-term pacing performance. The FLEXTEND lead expands Guidant's reputation for highly reliable pacing leads into the extendableetractable lead market. The FLEXTEND lead is a significant new addition to Guidant's pacing systems, which include the PULSAR MAX(tm) II, DISCOVERY(tm) II and INSIGNIA(tm) pacemaker families.

"FLEXTEND complements Guidant''s other pacing lead models to create an array of choices to meet the needs of each physician and each patient," said Guido J. Neels, president of Guidant Europe, Middle East, Africa and Canada.

The FLEXTEND pacing lead received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval on February 7, 2002. Guidant will launch the product in the U.S. and European markets immediately.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to 7 million cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The company, driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 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.