The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) today announced one-year follow-up data from the landmark HORIZONS-AMI trial demonstrated that Angiomax_ (bivalirudin) significantly reduced cardiac-related death by 43 percent (p=0.005), improved overall survival by 31 percent (p=0.029) and reduced major bleeding complications by 39 percent (p< 0.0001) compared to heparin plus a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) in patients undergoing angioplasty.

Angiomax showed an absolute reduction of 1.7 percent in cardiac-related death and 1.4 percent in all-cause death at one year. The findings were presented at a latebreaking session of the 20th Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF).

"The findings from this large landmark trial represent a giant step forward in the treatment of heart attacks by demonstrating that this drug and device regimen produces a significant reduction in the risk of cardiac mortality, improves overall survival and reduces major bleeding complications," said the study's principal investigator Gregg W. Stone, MD, CRF Chairman, Professor of Medicine and the Director of Research and Education at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. ʺThese data again demonstrate that bivalirudin is a better treatment option than conventional therapy for STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI. This strategy could save thousands of lives each year if incorporated globally into routine practice.ʺ

The HORIZONS-AMI trial compared Angiomax to heparin plus a platelet GPI in 3,602 patients presenting with the most severe form of heart attack, known as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing a primary PCI strategy. Of patients in the Angiomax arm, the majority (93%) received Angiomax monotherapy.

"The one-year mortality data from HORIZONS-AMI underscore the importance of the reduction of bleeding and its ability to improve both short- and long-term outcomes, including mortality," said Roxana Mehran, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, Joint Chief Scientific Officer of the Clinical Trials Center at CRF and Director of Outcomes Research, Data Coordination and Analysis at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.

Results at one year showed that Angiomax:

-- Significantly reduced the incidence of cardiac-related death by 43 percent (2.1% vs. 3.8%, HR 0.57 [95% CI 0.38-0.84]; p=0.005),

-- Significantly reduced all-cause death by 31 percent (3.4% vs. 4.8%, HR 0.70 [95% CI 0.50-0.97]; p=0.029),

-- Significantly reduced the incidence of net adverse clinical events, a composite of major adverse cardiac events or major bleeding, by 16 percent (15.7% vs. 18.3%, HR 0.84 [95% CI 0.71-0.98]; p=0.03),

-- Significantly reduced rates of major bleeding by 39 percent (5.8% vs. 9.2%, HR 0.61 [95% CI 0.48-0.78]); p< 0.0001),

-- Demonstrated no difference in rates of major adverse cardiac events (11.9% vs. 11.9%, HR 1.00 [95% CI 0.83-1.21]; p=0.98).

"These impressive results underscore the importance of bivalirudin therapy, which could become the worldwide standard of care in treating STEMI patients undergoing PCI," commented Bernhard Witzenbichler, MD, Professor of Cardiology and Pneumology at the University of Berlin and the top enroller in the HORIZONS-AMI trial.

These data also support results of previous studies showing an association between reduced major bleeding in angioplasty patients with greater long-term survival. Nearly 25,000 patients have been studied in Angiomax clinical trials to date.

Angiomax has been shown to result in less bleeding and similar rates of composite ischemia compared to heparin plus GPI in patients undergoing angioplasty for stable angina, unstable angina and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

ʺThe totality of data demonstrates that Angiomax consistently improves outcomes across a broad spectrum of patients undergoing PCI,ʺ said John Kelley, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Medicines Company. ʺThese data are representative of The Medicines Company's approach to critical care medicine, which is to provide drugs that reliably and cost-effectively deliver meaningful clinical advantages for patients in need. Angiomax is an innovative and valuable solution for critical care professionals treating heart attack patients undergoing PCI.ʺ

About the HORIZONS-AMI Trial

HORIZONS-AMI, co-funded by a grant from The Medicines Company, is the largest study to focus on the appropriate use of anticoagulation medications and stents in patients experiencing STEMI and undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as angioplasty. The landmark trial was a prospective, single-blind, randomized, multi-center study conducted in 11 countries. Patients undergoing angioplasty were randomly assigned to receive either Angiomax® (bivalirudin) with provisional use of GPI or heparin plus GPI. Patients enrolled in the HORIZONS-AMI trial also were assigned randomly to receive either TAXUS drug-eluting stents or a bare-metal stent.

The two primary endpoints of the trial were major bleeding and net adverse clinical events, a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (death, reinfarction, stroke or ischemic target vessel revascularization) and major bleeding at 30 days. The major secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events at 30 days.

About ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)

STEMI is the most severe type of heart attack and carries a substantial risk of death and disability. STEMI involves myocardial injury, as indicated by significant abnormalities on electrocardiogram called ST-segment elevations. Guidelines recommend that STEMI patients be treated with rapid intervention to help prevent further heart damage. According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 865,000 new and recurrent heart attacks occur every year, of which 400,000 are categorized as STEMI.

STEMI is part of a spectrum of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) caused by acute exacerbation of underlying coronary artery disease. ACS also includes non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA). NSTEMI is typically caused by partial obstruction of a coronary artery that results in some damage to heart muscle. UA is chest pain at rest or upon exertion, due to ischemia.

Stable angina is characterized by predictable chest pain during exertion that resolves at rest, and is not considered a form of ACS. Each year in the United States, about five million people present to the emergency department with chest pain, of which an estimated 1.4 million are identified with ACS.

About Angiomax

Angiomax is a direct thrombin inhibitor with a naturally reversible mechanism of action and 25 minute half-life. In clinical trials, treatment with Angiomax resulted in improved clinical outcomes with significantly reduced rates of major bleeding compared to heparin plus GPI across the entire spectrum of risk in patients undergoing PCI and numerically lower rates of 1-year mortality in patients undergoing PCI.

In the United States, Angiomax with provisional GPI is indicated in patients undergoing angioplasty, also called PCI, and in patients with, or at risk of, heparininduced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis syndrome (HIT/HITTS) undergoing PCI.

In addition, Angiomax is indicated for use as an anticoagulant in patients with UA undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Angiomax is intended for use with aspirin. The most common adverse events for Angiomax in clinical trials comparing Angiomax and heparin were back pain, pain, nausea, headache, and hypotension. The incidence of these adverse events was comparable in both the Angiomax and heparin groups in these trials. An unexplained fall in blood pressure or hematocrit, or any unexplained symptom, should lead to serious consideration of a hemorrhagic event and cessation of Angiomax administration.

Angiomax is contraindicated in patients with active major bleeding or hypersensitivity to Angiomax or its components. Please see full prescribing information available at www.angiomax.com.

About The Medicines Company

The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) is focused on advancing the treatment of critical care patients through the delivery of innovative, cost-effective medicines to the worldwide hospital marketplace. The Company markets Angiomax (bivalirudin) in the United States and other countries for use in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty and Cleviprex_(clevidipine butyrate) injectable emulsion in the United States for the reduction of blood pressure when oral therapy is not feasible or not desirable. The Company also has an investigational antiplatelet agent, cangrelor, in late-stage development and a serine protease inhibitor, CU-2010, in early-stage development. The Companyʹs website is www.themedicinescompany.com.

Statements contained in this press release about The Medicines Company that are not purely historical, and all other statements that are not purely historical, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limiting the foregoing, the words ʺbelieves,ʺ ʺanticipatesʺ and ʺexpectsʺ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Companyʹs actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Important factors that may cause or contribute to such differences include whether the Companyʹs products will advance in the clinical trials process on a timely basis or at all, whether clinical trial results will warrant submission of applications for regulatory approval, whether the Company will be able to obtain regulatory approvals, whether physicians, patients and other key decision-makers will accept clinical trial results, and such other factors as are set forth in the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Companyʹs periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, the risk factors detailed in the Companyʹs Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2008, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.