Edwards Lifesciences Announces First Human Implants of Next-Generation Transcatheter H... (elihood that thesevery ill patients will...)

Edwards Lifesciences Announces First Human Implants of Next-Generation Transcatheter Heart Valve

Date:3/5/2008

elihood that these very ill patients will seek and find appropriate treatment."

Edwards is the only company currently engaged in a U.S. clinical trial of a transcatheter aortic heart valve. The Edwards SAPIEN valve with both the RetroFlex transfemoral and Ascendra transapical delivery systems is being evaluated in the PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic traNscathetER valves) pivotal trial for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

"We estimate that for every patient who receives an aortic valve replacement, there is another who goes untreated; half of these untreated patients with severe symptoms will die within two years," said Craig Smith, M.D., chief of the division of cardiothoracic surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and the co-principal investigator for the U.S. PARTNER trial. "Soon physicians will be able to treat virtually all high-risk aortic stenosis patients with transcatheter valves, delivered transapically or transfemorally, as we continue to carefully study the long-term performance of this technology."

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards treats advanced cardiovascular disease with its market-leading heart valve therapies, and critical care and vascular technologies. In 2008, Edwards celebrates 50 years of partnering with clinicians to develop life-saving innovations. The company's global brands, which are sold in approximately 100 countries, include CardioVations, Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz. Additional company information can be found at http://www.edwards.com.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Th
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Edwards Lifesciences Announces First Human Implants of Next-Generation Transcatheter H...(elihood that thesevery ill patients will...)