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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