Guidant adding endovascular grafts to MIS group's stable via $170 mil. EVT merger.

GUIDANT EXPANDING VASCULAR MIS BUSINESS VIA $170 MIL. EVT MERGER, a definitive agreement for which was announced Oct. 6. The stock- swap merger with Endovascular Technologies would advance Guidant's effort to build a stable of minimally invasive devices for use by vascular surgeons. EVT has several Ancure endovascular grafts in development for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), two of which are in late-stage clinical trials.