May 27, 2004
Guidant Receives European Approval for Two New Products for Treating Heart Disease

MULTI-LINK MINI VISION Coronary Stent System and VOYAGER Coronary Dilatation Catheter Enable Physicians to More Easily Treat Patients with Complex Coronary Artery Disease

Indianapolis, Ind. and Brussels - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) today announced Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark approval and launch of the MULTI-LINK MINI VISION(tm) Coronary Stent System, the company''s first cobalt chromium stent designed for treating coronary artery disease in small vessels. The company also announced CE Mark approval and launch of the next-generation VOYAGER(tm) Coronary Dilatation Catheter.

"These two approvals continue Guidant''s leadership in developing innovative technology for interventional cardiology," said Dana G. Mead, Jr., president, Vascular Intervention, Guidant Corporation. "Both the MULTI-LINK MINI VISION Coronary Stent System and the VOYAGER Coronary Dilatation Catheter are highly deliverable devices that will enable physicians to more easily treat patients with complex coronary artery disease. Our proprietary cobalt chromium technology provides significant value to physicians and we believe that this new stent system will build upon our market-leading position in the European metallic stent market."

Cobalt chromium technology addresses the challenges of small vessel stenting by allowing stents to have a thinner strut stent design and excellent deliverability. With the introduction of the MULTI-LINK MINI VISION Coronary Stent System, cobalt chromium stents are now available in a wide range of sizes in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Guidant expects to launch the MULTI-LINK MINI VISION Coronary Stent System in the U.S. market and other geographies later this year. Small vessels are defined as those with diameters of less than 2.5 mm; approximately 25 percent of atherosclerotic lesions occur in such vessels.

"The deliverability of these two new products offer significant benefits to interventional cardiologists. Cobalt chromium and the highly flexible stent and delivery system give the MULTI-LINK MINI VISION superb characteristics for successful treatment of vessels as small as 2.0 mm in diameter," said Eulogio Garcia, M.D., of the Hospital Universitario Gregorio Maranon in Madrid. "Guidant''s VOYAGER Coronary Dilatation Catheter is also highly deliverable, incorporating several new technologies for enhanced performance."

Guidant''s coronary dilatation catheters can be used both for traditional angioplasty procedures and to expand the artery prior to stent implantation. Both the over-the-wire VOYAGER(tm) OTW Coronary Dilatation Catheter and rapid exchange VOYAGER(tm) RX Coronary Dilatation Catheter will launch immediately in Europe, and the devices will be introduced in Asia, the Middle East and Latin American countries shortly thereafter. Following receipt of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, Guidant recently launched the VOYAGER OTW Coronary Dilatation Catheter in the United States. The company anticipates FDA approval of the VOYAGER RX Coronary Dilatation Catheter later this year.

Guidant Corporation is a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease. The company pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. Driven by a strong entrepreneurial culture of 12,000 employees, Guidant 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 includes forward-looking statements concerning future sales of the product in Europe, as well as product launches in additional locations.The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including market acceptance of the product, regulatory timelines and approvals in the US and elsewhere, and other factors identified on Exhibit 99 to the company''s most recent 10-Q. Actual results may differ materially. The company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.