CVTX CV Therapeutics (MM)

PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CV Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CVTX) today announced that based on preclinical data, its proprietary biopolymer stent coating technology could potentially improve the performance of stents coated with drugs such as paclitaxel or rapamycin. The data were presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) Annual Scientific Symposium 2005 in Washington, DC. Stents are small metal mesh devices which can be inserted into clogged blood vessels to reopen them. Commercially available stents with drugs such as paclitaxel or rapamycin in the coating have been shown to reduce the frequency of restenosis, which is the reclosure of the vessel after the stent has been implanted. CV Therapeutics and its collaborators have developed a proprietary biopolymer designed to control the drug release rate more precisely. The proprietary manufacturing process used to create the biopolymer may limit or reduce cracking and peeling following implantation of the stent. "The data suggest that based on the controllable release rate and biocompatibility, the CV Therapeutics biopolymer coating technology could potentially improve state of the art drug-eluting stents," said Nicolas A. Chronos, M.D., chief medical and scientific officer at the American Cardiovascular Research Institute. Preclinical studies evaluated the drug release rates of commercially available paclitaxel or rapamycin drug-eluting stents compared to the drug release rates of stents coated with the CV Therapeutics biopolymer and the respective drug. These studies showed that a drug-eluting stent coated with the CV Therapeutics biopolymer controlled the amount of drug released over the desired time with minimal cracking or peeling of the coating. In addition, when comparing a drug-eluting stent coated with the CV Therapeutics biopolymer to a bare metal stent, these data showed similar inflammatory responses. About CV Therapeutics CV Therapeutics, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on applying molecular cardiology to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, small molecule drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. CV Therapeutics currently has three programs in commercial or late-stage development: ACEON(R) (perindopril erbumine) Tablets, Ranexa(TM) (ranolazine) and regadenoson. CV Therapeutics also has other clinical and preclinical drug development candidates and programs. The company co-promotes ACEON(R), an ACE inhibitor, for the treatment of essential hypertension and reduction of the risk of cardiovascular mortality or non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Ranexa is being developed as a novel potential treatment for chronic angina. Regadenoson is being developed for potential use as a pharmacologic stress agent in myocardial perfusion imaging studies. Ranexa and regadenoson have not been approved for marketing by any regulatory authorities. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements as to development, clinical studies, regulatory review, and commercialization of products, are forward- looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, early stage of development; regulatory review and approval of our products; the conduct and timing of clinical trials; the dependence on collaborative and licensing agreements; commercialization of products; market acceptance of products; and other risks detailed from time to time in CV Therapeutics' SEC reports, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. CV Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward- looking statements. DATASOURCE: CV Therapeutics, Inc. CONTACT: investors, Christopher Chai, Vice President, Treasury and Investor Relations, +1-650-384-8560, or media, John Bluth, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, +1-650-384-8850, both of CV Therapeutics, Inc. Web site: http://www.cvt.com/

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