ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2006--MIV Therapeutics (OTCBB:MIVT - News; FWB:MIV), a leading developer of next-generation biocompatible coatings and advanced drug delivery systems for cardiovascular stents and other implantable medical devices, has announced that its subsidiary, SagaX, has filed three new patents with the U.S. Patent Office related to a proprietary implantable filtration device designed to help prevent common stoke complications during and after a range of common invasive heart procedures.

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SagaX is developing the Aortic Embolic Stroke Protection device (AEPD). It is designed to be implanted during invasive heart procedures and the technology may also have broad preventative applications during many minimally invasive alternatives to surgery. It may also have further applications for long term use in patients who suffer from diseases that put them at greater risk for stroke such as atrial fibrillation. The market for AEPD is estimated to exceed $1.5 to $1.8 billion by 2009.

"These patents represent significant milestones that further extend MIVT's leadership in this very important area of emerging medical technology," said Dr. Mark Landy, President of MIVT. "Strokes are devastating to so many patients and families, and their prevention would help millions of cardiac patients and doctors worldwide."

According to a recent publication of the American Heart Association (AHA), each year about 700,000 Americans experience a new or recurrent stroke. It is estimated that the direct and indirect cost of stroke in the U.S. alone now total $57.9 billion annually.

The three recent SagaX patent applications cover different types of filtration device configurations and the use of different filtration technologies. These include designs and systems to position the device within the aorta below the carotid arteries and very importantly systems to retrieve the embolic protection devices via a catheter after several weeks or months. These systems will enable physicians to use the devices for many types of procedures, giving them the flexibility to either remove the device or leave it in situ (implanted).

"We continue to see an improvement in refinements and performance of this groundbreaking device that we believe will greatly reduce complications related to stroke following cardiac surgery," said Dr. Dov Shimon, Chief Medical Officer of MIVT, who founded SagaX and leads it. "Our latest refinements are designed to enable significant improvements in the device's flexibility, expanding their range of medical applications."

MIVT's wholly-owned subsidiary SagaX develops proprietary solutions to prevent imminent stroke and other common and serious complications that can result from cardiac procedures, in addition to naturally occurring cardio-embolic strokes. SagaX R&D center is located in Herzliya, Israel. The activity was not affected by the hostilities in the region. SagaX is in the process of developing other proprietary developments in the arena of neurovascular interventions and brain protection. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the world.

The SagaX Aortic Embolic Protection Device (AEPD) is placed in the aorta -- the main artery that send blood to the brain arteries -- to filter and capture embolic particles that can cause strokes. The filtration is designed to prevent the embolic particles, mostly blood clots, from traveling in the direction of the patient's brain. If emboli reach the brain, they will cut off blood flow, triggering strokes in minutes. Such emboli are one of the chief causes of strokes.

About MIV Therapeutics Inc.

MIV Therapeutics is developing a next-generation line of advanced biocompatible coatings for passive and drug-eluting applications on cardiovascular stents and a broad range of other implantable medical devices. The Company's ultra-thin coating formulation is designed to protect surrounding tissue from potentially harmful interactions with bare metallic stents. The Company's unique ultra-thin coating platform is derived from an organic material called hydroxyapatite (HAp) which has demonstrated excellent safety and biocompatibility in vivo animal studies. Hydroxyapatite is a bioactive porous material that makes up the bone mineral and matrix of teeth and is used today as a bone substitute material and for coatings on implantable fixation devices in orthopedic, dental and other applications. The Company's novel polymer-free drug eluting technologies based on Hydroxyapatite could also provide an alternative to current polymer-based drug eluting coatings on the stent market, which have been associated with undesirable severe medical effects. The Company's drug eluting coatings are additionally designed to suit a broad range of implantable medical devices that could benefit from highly customizable drug release profiles. MIVT has a Collaborative Research Agreement (CRA) with the University of British Columbia under the National Research Council-Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Under this sponsorship, the Company is expected to complete its drug-eluting research and development program and to reach product commercialization stage. For more information, please visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/mivt/website.html. To read or download MIV Therapeutics' Investor Fact Sheet, visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/mivt/factsheet.html. To obtain daily and historical Company stock quote data, and recent Company news releases, visit http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/html/mivt.htm. MIVT is traded on the Frankfurt, Germany, stock exchange under the symbol MIV.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Such statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "believe," "will," "breakthrough," "significant," "indicated," "feel," "revolutionary," "should," "ideal," "extremely" and "excited." These statements are made under "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties. See the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, the Company's recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Qs, which identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

MIV Therapeutics Inc.
Investor Relations, 604-301-9545 x14
Toll-free: 800-221-5108
Fax: 604-301-9546
investor@mivtherapeutics.com
http://www.mivtherapeutics.com/
or 
for Product Inquiries and Business Opportunities:
Arc Rajtar, 604-301-9545 Ext. 22
arajtar@mivi.ca
or
Trilogy Capital Partners
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