Dec 12, 2005
Guidant Announces European Approval of Innovative Heart Failure Lead

Advanced Lead is Designed to Enable Physicians to Overcome Challenging Left Ventricular Anatomy

Indianapolis, IN and St. Paul, MN - Guidant Corporation (NYSE: GDT) today announced Conformité Européenne (CE) Mark approval of its ACUITY® Steerable heart failure lead. This product is Guidant''s latest left ventricular (LV) lead designed to help physicians reach the goal of performing fast and predictable implants.

"In my experience, the ACUITY Steerable lead with the use of the stylet has enabled me to place the lead where I want to have it even in very difficult anatomies," said Dr. Martin Desaga, Amper Kliniken Dachau, near Munich, Germany.

Since Guidant introduced bipolar left ventricular leads in Europe in 2002, physicians have rapidly and overwhelmingly adopted this technology. Approximately 90 percent of procedures involving a cardiac resynchronization therapy product from Guidant''s RENEWAL® family of devices now also include bipolar leads.

"Guidant has a track record of recognizing the needs of physicians and the patients that they serve," said Fred McCoy, president, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Guidant Corporation. "This important addition to our heart failure lead family underscores our commitment to meaningful innovation."

"Delivery of the LV lead where you prescribe it, and not where you can get it, is one of the most critical aspects of any cardiac resynchronization therapy system implant," said Dr. Stephen Mester, Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, Florida, who served as principal investigator for the ACUITY Steerable clinical trial.

Guidant expects to launch the ACUITY Steerable lead in the United States in 2006, pending Food and Drug Administration approval.

Guidant Corporation pioneers lifesaving technology, giving an opportunity for better life today to millions of cardiac and vascular patients worldwide. The Company 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.