Jun 30, 2003
Guidant Reintroduces Innovative Cobalt Chromium Coronary Stent System in Europe

European Approval Received; New Technology''s Clinical Trial Demonstrated Excellent Results

Indianapolis, Ind. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, today announced that the company has received European approval (Conformité Européene (CE) Mark) for the MULTI-LINK VISION(tm) Coronary Stent System, reflecting corrective and preventive actions Guidant took after voluntarily recalling the stent system in late March.

"Guidant is pleased to reintroduce this innovative new class of coronary stents to patients and physicians in Europe and other geographies," said Dana G. Mead, Jr., president, Vascular Intervention, Guidant Corporation. "We are committed to providing patients and physicians with safe, world-class products utilizing leading-edge technology for the treatment of heart disease."

The MULTI-LINK VISION Stent System is the company''s first cobalt chromium stent platform for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The MULTI-LINK VISION Stent System''s cobalt chromium alloy provides excellent radial strength and visibility, and allows the stent to have thin stent struts and superb deliverability. The MULTI-LINK VISION Registry has shown excellent results, including a six-month clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate of 1.9 percent. TLR is defined as a repeat procedure at the original lesion site any time during the follow-up period.

The MULTI-LINK VISION Stent System was introduced in February 2003 to a limited number of accounts in Europe and Australia, after receiving CE Mark approval in December 2002. It was voluntarily recalled in late March as an immediate response to customer observations regarding a limited number of stents becoming dislodged from the delivery system. Guidant undertook a thorough review of manufacturing processes related to the MULTI-LINK VISION and implemented specific corrective and preventive actions to address the issues that led to the recall. Patients who had received the MULTI-LINK VISION stent were not affected by the recall. The safety and effectiveness of the implanted product is supported by positive long-term clinical data.

Guidant plans to use cobalt chromium stents in future metallic stent and drug eluting stent platforms. The company expects to introduce a small-vessel cobalt chromium stent in Europe in the second half of 2003. More than three and a half million patients have benefited from Guidant stent technology since the launch of Guidant's first coronary stent system.

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 11,000 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.

This release contains forward-looking statements concerning the use of this therapy. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including continuing regulatory timelines and approvals, product developments, and the factors identified on exhibit 99.1 to Guidant''s most recent 10-Q. Actual results may differ materially. The company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statement.