SPIRIT II Results Highlight Strength of Boston Scientific Stent Portfolio

SPIRIT II Results Highlight Strength of Boston Scientific Stent Portfolio

September 05, 2006

- International Data Suggests Low Revascularization Rates for Both TAXUS(TM) Stent and PROMUS(TM) (XIENCE(TM) V) Stent

    NATICK, Mass. and BARCELONA, Spain, Sept. 5
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:
BSX) today welcomed the results of Abbott's SPIRIT II
clinical trial, which reaffirmed the safety and efficacy of
the market-leading TAXUS(TM) stent, and provided promising
data on Abbott's XIENCE(TM) V everolimus-eluting coronary
stent system (which will be marketed by Boston Scientific
as the PROMUS(TM) stent[1]). Designed as a non-inferiority
trial, SPIRIT II is the first head-to-head randomized trial
of two different drug-eluting stents in which one company
will market both products. Results were presented at the
annual European Society of Cardiology/World Congress of
Cardiology 2006 in Barcelona, Spain.

    "SPIRIT II adds to the extensive body of clinical
evidence from randomized trials that reinforce the
excellent safety and efficacy of the TAXUS stent system,
and provides solid traction for growth of the PROMUS
stent," said Jeff Goodman, President of Boston
Scientific International. "The TAXUS stent continues
to demonstrate exceptional deliverability and the proven
clinical outcomes that make it the leading drug-eluting
stent in virtually every market where we offer the
product."

    After presenting the data, Prof. Patrick Serruys, the
principal investigator of the trial, stated, "While
PROMUS met the trial's primary non-inferiority endpoint of
in-stent late loss, larger confirmatory trials will be
required to validate the safety and effectiveness shown to
date."

    SPIRIT II is a randomized, multi-center,
non-inferiority trial designed to evaluate the XIENCE V
everolimus-eluting coronary stent system, manufactured and
sold by Abbott, and marketed by Boston Scientific as the
PROMUS stent, against the TAXUS(TM) Express2(TM)
paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system in the treatment
of coronary artery disease. The primary endpoint was
in-stent late loss at six months. The study reported an
in-stent late loss of 0.11mm for the XIENCE V Stent, and
0.36mm for the TAXUS stent, which is consistent with TAXUS
stent results in previous trials. Secondary endpoints
included ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization
(TLR), which was 1.8% for the XIENCE V stent and 3.9% for
the TAXUS stent.

    About Boston Scientific

    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:
http://www.bostonscientific.com or
http://www.publicaster.com/info/bostonscientific/esc2006/
.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements.
The Company wishes to caution the reader of this press
release that actual results may differ from those discussed
in the forward-looking statements and may be adversely
affected by, among other things, operational improvements,
and other factors described in the Company's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    [1]PROMUS(TM) stent: CE Mark pending. Not available for
sale in the European Economic Area. Not for use or
distribution in the United States.

    For more information, please contact:

     Geraldine Varoqui
     Boston Scientific PR Manager International
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 

     Tracy Paul
     BSC press office
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  Boston Scientific Corporation