Ardian

Ardian Completes $47 Million Financing Led by Medtronic

Palo Alto, CA, March 23, 2009 – Ardian, Inc., developer of a breakthrough catheter-based medical device to treat hypertension, announced today that Medtronic, Inc., one of the world's leading medical technology companies, has led a $47-million round of financing in the company. Joining Medtronic are Ardian's three existing investors: Advanced Technology Ventures, Morgenthaler Ventures and Split Rock Partners, as well as new investor, Emergent Medical Partners.

Hypertension, which affects approximately one-third of the developed world's adult population, significantly increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and chronic kidney disease and is the single most common contributor to death worldwide. Surprisingly, only 35% of hypertensive patients are satisfactorily controlled with medication. Ardian’s device allows an interventionalist to disrupt the renal sympathetic nervous system over-activity that causes hypertension by means of a 40-minute, catheter-based procedure, thereby reducing blood pressure.

'We are very excited to have attracted this strong team of investors and appreciate the confidence they have shown in funding the development of this clinically important technology,' said Andrew Cleeland, President and CEO of Ardian. 'We are particularly encouraged to have Medtronic as a new partner and see their investment as a validation of our exceptional early clinical results, and the potential of our straightforward treatment for such a pervasive and complex disease.' In commenting on the addition of Emergent Technology Ventures, headed by Dr. Thomas Fogarty, Cleeland said: 'Tom Fogarty is a legend in the cardiovascular space, and having Dr. Fogarty come in and make an investment speaks volumes for the promise of this technology.'

'Closing this financing with such great strategic partners would be impressive in the best of times, in this difficult financial environment it is even more so, ' said Mike Carusi, General Partner at Advanced Technology Ventures, “The Board is very pleased with Ardian’s ongoing evolution and looks forward to continued success”.

In another important milestone for the company, Cleeland noted that Professor Henry Krum of the Alfred Hospital/Monash University in Melbourne Australia is to present the early clinical experience with Ardian’s Symplicity® Catheter System at the upcoming American College of Cardiology’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida as a part of a late breaking clinical trials session at 9:15 AM, on March 30, 2009.

About Hypertension
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the leading attributable cause of death worldwide. In the United States alone, high blood pressure affects approximately 73 million people only two thirds of whom are treated. Close to half of all people with hypertension in treatment are not currently reaching their target blood pressure. Each incremental 20mmHg increase of systolic blood pressure above normal levels is associated with a doubling of cardiovascular mortality over a ten year period.

About Ardian
Ardian, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is a pioneering private, clinical-stage medical device company developing a novel catheter-based treatment for hypertension, chronic kidney disease and heart failure; three interdependent disease states that represent a significant, escalating global health issue. Ardian is the eighth company created by The Foundry, a leading medical device incubator based in Menlo Park, California. For more information about the Symplicity® Catheter System, Ardian or clinical trials, please visit www.ardian.com.

Company Contact:
Andrew Cleeland
President and CEO
Ardian, Inc.
Phone: (650) 496 5545
Email: info@ardianinc.com

Media Contacts:
Tom Gibson
The Gibson Network
Phone: (216) 320-1520
Email: tgibson1@ameritech.net

Ellen Martin
Phone: (510) 832-2044
Email: emm4@pacbell.net