(February 20, 2004) -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Guidant Corporation to settle all outstanding litigation between the two companies. Boston Scientific and Guidant have pending a number of lawsuits in which each has accused the other of patent infringement. This litigation involves coronary stents, coronary stent delivery systems and dilatation catheters. All pending disputes between the companies will be immediately dismissed. In addition, the companies have agreed to cross license patents in certain specified technology areas.

"We are pleased to have reached a reasonable commercial settlement of the lawsuits between Boston Scientific and Guidant," said Jim Tobin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Scientific. "We are also pleased to have reached agreement on additional cross licenses, which will help reduce the possibility of future patent disputes between our companies. This is very welcome news, which we believe will benefit both companies and offer physicians and patients continued access to a broad range of treatment alternatives."

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The Company wishes to caution the reader that actual results may differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements and may be adversely affected by, among other things, risks associated with the litigation process, commercialization of new technologies, competitive offerings, intellectual property and other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.