Mar 3, 2004
Guidant to Host Investor Briefing at 2004 American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session

Company Will Announce Final Results of Studies Evaluating New Stroke Prevention Technology at Late-Breaking Clinical Trials Session

Indianapolis, Ind. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease, today announced that it will host an investor briefing at this year''s American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans on Tuesday, March 9, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (12 p.m. Central Time).

The briefing, hosted by Guido J. Neels, group chairman, Office of the President, Guidant Corporation, will feature a broad discussion of the company's business. Scheduled to discuss heart failure, sudden cardiac death and related therapies during the briefing are Fred McCoy, president, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Guidant Corporation; and Joseph M. Smith, M.D., Ph. D., F.A.C.C, chief medical officer, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Guidant Corporation. Scheduled to discuss the Guidant-sponsored ARCHeR trials and carotid artery stenting are Beverly A. Huss, president, Endovascular Solutions, Guidant Corporation; and William A. Gray, M.D, director of Endovascular Care at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., and an Executive Committee member overseeing the ARCHeR trials.

The investor briefing will be webcast live and will be accessible through Guidant''s Web site at www.guidant.com/webcast. The Web cast will be archived for future on-demand replay. Additional financial information concerning Guidant is available at www.guidant.com/investors.

ARCHeR Trial Results Presented

Long-term results of the ARCHeR series of clinical trials will be presented as part of a late-breaking clinical trial session at ACC. William A. Gray, M.D., will present final one-year results for the ARCHeR 1 and ARCHeR 2 trials, and final 30-day data for the ARCHeR 3 (formerly called ARCHeR RX) trial on Sunday, March 7 at 11:15 a.m. Eastern Time (10:15 a.m. Central Time) in the Morial Convention Center, Hall A.

The ARCHeR (ACCULINK for Revascularization of Carotids in High-Risk Patients) trials were designed to evaluate carotid artery stenting as a minimally invasive treatment for high-risk patients with carotid artery disease who, because of their co-morbidities or other factors, would have had poor outcomes with carotid endarterectomy, the traditional invasive surgical method of treatment. Patients with carotid artery disease are at risk for stroke, the nation''s third leading cause of death and number one cause of disability in adults.

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 12,000 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.