German Court Finds Medtronic Infringes Edwards' Transcatheter Valve Patent

IRVINE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 07/12/13 -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, announced that the District Court of Mannheim, Germany, today found that Medtronic infringes Edwards' Spenser patent for transcatheter heart valve technology. The court granted an injunction prohibiting the sale of CoreValve and CoreValve Evolut systems in Germany, a recall of these products, and an accounting for past damages.

"We are very pleased with the court's ruling. Edwards will continue to vigorously enforce our intellectual property to ensure continued innovation in the treatment of patients with severe aortic stenosis," said Larry L. Wood, Edwards' corporate vice president, transcatheter heart valves.

Edwards filed this case in August 2012 and it relates to three patents, including the Spenser patent EP 2 055 266 B1, which is in effect until Oct. 2022. The Spenser patent is in place in other European countries, including France, Italy, Spain, and others.

The validity of the Spenser patent is separately being contested at the European Patent Office. Today's decision is appealable, and it is enforceable when Edwards provides the required bond to support the injunction.

About Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company partners with clinicians to develop innovative technologies in the areas of structural heart disease and critical care monitoring, enabling them to save and enhance lives. Additional company information can be found at www.edwards.com.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the possibility for an injunction and recall of devices, and the timing and potential results of future court decisions. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including but not limited to, unexpected delays in, or outcomes of, court proceedings in Mannheim and developments in the European Patent Office. These factors are detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences and the stylized E logo are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation.