Angiotech Study Shows Paclitaxel May Benefit Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Movement Disorders

[John Cottingham <jcott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The source of this article is CanadaIT.com: http://tinyurl.com/6rgdj

Angiotech Study Shows Paclitaxel May Benefit Alzheimer's and Parkinson's 
Movement Disorders
http://www.angiotech.com 
Vancouver, BC, December 23, 2004--Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: 
ANPI; TSX: ANP), today announced that a preclinical study published in today's 
early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences highlights 
the positive effects of PAXCEED(TM) on movement disorders commonly seen in 
diseases known as taupathies, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Results from 
the study reveal that injected paclitaxel (PAXCEED(TM)) appear to restore nerve 
function in an animal model. In the study, it was demonstrated that low 
(10mg/m(2)) and medium (25mg/m(2)) doses of PAXCEED(TM) had two major effects: 
1) improving axonal transport and 2) increasing the amounts of tubulin and 
microtubules, proteins and cell structures vital for nerve structure and 
conduction. 

"We are excited as this is the first experimental evidence to support the use 
of paclitaxel as a novel intervention for the treatment of Alzheimer's and 
other neurodegenerative diseases," said William Hunter, MD, CEO of Angiotech. 
"We have long believed that a microtubule stabilizing agent used systemically 
would hold great promise in these types of diseases, and we look forward to 
advancing the results of these studies into humans." 

Abnormal tau proteins are often seen as mechanisms that can lead to brain 
degeneration in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders known 
as taupathies. In all taupathies, there are neuropathologic aggregates of 
paired helical filaments and/or straight filaments composed of aberrantly 
phosphorylated tau proteins in central nervous system neurons or glia. It has 
been shown that these abnormally filamentous proteins cannot perform the 
important functions of binding and stabilizing microtubules which often leads 
to a dramatic increase in neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads seen in 
Alzheimer's. Angiotech believes that systemic paclitaxel (PAXCEED(TM)), a 
microtubule stabilizing agent, may ultimately show a therapeutic benefit to 
patients with Alzheimer's disease and other taupathies by offsetting the loss 
of normal tau function. 

Vancouver-based Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical 
company focusing on drug-eluting medical devices and biomaterials, is dedicated 
to enhancing the performance of medical devices and biomaterials through the 
innovative uses of pharmacotherapeutics. To find out more about Angiotech 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP), visit our website at 
www.angiotech.com. 

Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current fact, 
including without limitation statements containing the words "anticipates," 
"believes," "may," "continue," "estimate," "expects," "may" and "will" and 
words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the 
meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such 
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and 
other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be 
materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed 
or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among 
others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both 
nationally and in the regions in which the Company operates; technology 
changes; competition; changes in business strategy or development plans; the 
ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; existing governmental 
regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental 
regulations; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; and other 
factors referenced in the Company's filings with the United States Securities 
and Exchange Commission or the Canadian securities regulators. Given these 
uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such 
forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to 
update any forward-looking statements. 

CONTACTS: Todd Young, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals (Analysts & Investors) (604) 
221-7676 ext 6933 Rui Avelar, Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Analysts) (604) 
221-7676 ext 6996 Eric Starkman, Starkman & Associates (Media) (212) 252-8545 
ext 12 

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