Angiotech launches e-commerce website that allows customers to order Quill(TM) SRS...

Angiotech launches e-commerce website that allows customers to order Quill(TM)
SRS product line

VANCOUVER, May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP) today announced that its Quill(TM) SRS wound closure
product line is now available for purchase online in the U.S. on its website
at https://ecommerce.angiotech.com/Main/Home.aspx. The Quill SRS products are
the first Angiotech products available online and include the Polydioxanone
(PDO), MONODERM(TM), Nylon and Polypropylene product lines.
"We strive to be innovative, not just in the development of our products, but
in all aspects of our business," said Dr. William Hunter, President and CEO of
Angiotech. "We are very pleased with the development of our e-commerce site
and believe the ability to order Quill SRS products online will be much easier
and more convenient for our customers than the existing ordering methods. We
hope to add other Angiotech products to the site in the future to better serve
our customers."

About the Quill(TM) Self-Retaining System (SRS)

The Quill SRS product line represents a revolutionary technology in wound
closure made possible by bidirectional fixation within the wound. Its patented
design allows the surgeon to begin closure at the midpoint of the wound and
suture in two directions from the midpoint. Barbs within the Quill SRS product
distribute tension across the wound and eliminate the need for knots.

Forward Looking Statements
--------------------------

Statements contained in this press release that are not based on historical
fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believes,"
"may," "plans," "will," "estimates," "continues," "anticipates," "intends,"
"expects" and similar expressions, constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable
Canadian securities laws. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe
harbor" provisions of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking
statements may involve, but are not limited to, comments with respect to our
objectives and priorities for 2009 and beyond, our strategies or future
actions, our targets, expectations for our financial condition and the results
of, or outlook for, our operations, research, development, product and drug
development. 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. Many
such risks, uncertainties and other factors are taken into account as part of
our assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements and include, among
others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both
nationally and in the regions in which we operate; market demand;
technological changes that could impact our existing products or our ability
to develop and commercialize future products; competition; existing
governmental regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with,
governmental regulations; adverse results or unexpected delays in pre-clinical
and clinical product development processes; adverse findings related to the
safety and/or efficacy of our products or products sold by our partners;
decisions, and the timing of decisions, made by health regulatory agencies
regarding approval of our technology and products; the requirement for
substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand
manufacturing and commercialization activities or consummate acquisitions; and
any other factors that may affect performance. In addition, our business is
subject to certain operating risks that may cause the actual results expressed
or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release to differ
materially from our actual results. These operating risks include: our ability
to attract and retain qualified personnel; our ability to successfully
complete pre-clinical and clinical development of our products; changes in
business strategy or development plans; our failure to obtain patent
protection for discoveries; loss of patent protection resulting from third
party challenges to our patents; commercialization limitations imposed by
patents owned or controlled by third parties; our ability to obtain rights to
technology from licensors; liability for patent claims and other claims
asserted against us; our ability to obtain and enforce timely patent and other
intellectual property protection for our technology and products; the ability
to enter into, and to maintain, corporate alliances relating to the
development and commercialization of our technology and products; market
acceptance of our technology and products; our ability to successfully
manufacture, market and sell our products; the continued availability of
capital to finance our activities; and any other factors referenced in our
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and
applicable Canadian regulatory authorities. For a more thorough discussion of
the risks associated with our business, see the "Risk Factors" section in our
annual report for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the SEC on Form
10-K, and our quarterly report for the three months ended March 31, 2009 filed
with the SEC on Form 10-Q.
Given these uncertainties, assumptions and risk factors, readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Except as
required by law, we disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to
publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release to reflect future results, events
or developments.

Quill(TM) is a trademark of Quill Medical, Inc. and MONODERM(TM) is a
trademark of Surgical Specialties Corporation, both of which are wholly-owned
subsidiaries of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(C)2009 Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Angiotech Pharmaceuticals

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global specialty pharmaceutical and
medical device company with over 1,500 dedicated employees. Angiotech
discovers, develops and markets innovative treatment solutions for diseases or
complications associated with medical device implants, surgical interventions
and acute injury. To find out more about Angiotech (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP),
please visit our website at www.angiotech.com.

SOURCE Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

DeDe Sheel, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications, Angiotech
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (415) 293-4412, dede.sheel@fdashtonpartners.com