EXHIBIT 99.1

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR

YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005

Natick, MA (February 7, 2006) -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced financial results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2005.

2005 HIGHLIGHTS

o   Net sales of $6.283 billion, as compared to $5.624 billion in 2004, an increase of 12 percent.

o   Worldwide coronary stent system sales of $2.69 billion, as compared to $2.35 billion in 2004, an increase of 14 percent.

o   International launch of TAXUS^® Liberté™, our next-generation paclitaxel-eluting stent system.

o   Worldwide Endosurgery Group sales of $1.228 billion, compared to $1.088 billion in 2004, an increase of 13 percent.

o   Worldwide Neuromodulation Group sales of $148 million in its first full year with Boston Scientific.

o   Net income, excluding net special charges, of $1.522 billion, or $1.82 per share, as compared to $1.394 billion, or $1.63 per share for 2004, an increase per share of 12 percent. Reported net income, including net special charges, of $628 million, or $0.75 per share, as compared to $1.062 billion, or $1.24 per share for 2004.

YEAR-END 2005

Net sales for 2005 were $6.283 billion as compared to $5.624 billion in 2004, an increase of 12 percent. Worldwide coronary stent system sales for 2005 were $2.69 billion as compared to $2.35 billion in 2004, an increase of 14 percent. Worldwide sales of TAXUS^® paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent systems for 2005 were $2.56 billion as compared to $2.14 billion in 2004. U.S. sales of TAXUS stent systems for 2005 were $1.76 billion as compared to $1.57 billion in 2004.

Reported net income for 2005, including net special charges, was $628 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $1.062 billion, or $1.24 per diluted share, for 2004. Reported results for 2005 included charges (after-tax) of $894 million, or $1.07 per share, which primarily related to: a litigation settlement with Medinol; purchased research and development; expenses related

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February 7, 2006

to certain retirement benefits; and costs that resulted from certain business optimization initiatives. Reported results for 2004 included charges (after-tax) of $332 million, or $0.39 per share, which primarily related to: costs for a civil settlement; a one-time enhancement to the 401(k) Plan; purchased research and development; a non-cash stock option modification charge; and a charge related to taxes on the approximately $1 billion that the Company repatriated in 2005 under the American Jobs Creation Act. Net income for 2005, excluding net special charges, was $1.522 billion, or $1.82 per share, as compared to $1.394 billion, or $1.63 per share, for 2004, an increase per share of 12 percent.

“We are very pleased that the Company experienced double-digit growth on a global basis during 2005,” said Jim Tobin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Scientific. “In our first full year of TAXUS sales, we continued to be the worldwide leader in drug-eluting stents in the markets we serve. During the second half of the year we launched our next-generation paclitaxel-eluting stent system, TAXUS Liberté, and saw our drug-eluting stent market share settle into a sustainable leadership position. I would like to congratulate the entire Boston Scientific team for another year of considerable achievement.”

FOURTH QUARTER 2005

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 were $1.54 billion as compared to $1.60 billion for the fourth quarter of 2004. Worldwide coronary stent system sales for the fourth quarter were $640 million as compared to $730 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. Worldwide sales of TAXUS stent systems were $606 million for the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to $691 million for the fourth quarter of 2004. U.S. sales of TAXUS coronary stent systems were $398 million for the fourth quarter of 2005 as compared to $503 million for the fourth quarter of 2004.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2005, including net special charges, was $334 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $297 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2004. Reported results for the fourth quarter of 2005 included charges (after-tax) of $6 million, or $0.01 per share, which primarily consisted of employee-related costs that resulted from certain business optimization initiatives that commenced in the third quarter of 2005. Reported results for the fourth quarter of 2004 included charges (after-tax) of $122 million, or $0.14 per share, which primarily consisted of a $60 million non-cash charge resulting from certain stock option modifications and a $61 million charge related to taxes on the approximately $1 billion that the Company repatriated in 2005 under the American Jobs Creation Act. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2005, excluding net special charges, was $340 million, or $0.41 per share, as compared to $419 million, or $0.49 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2004.

The company plans to announce financial guidance for 2006 after the completion of its planned merger with Guidant.

Boston Scientific officials will be discussing these and other issues with analysts on a conference call at 9:00 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, February 7, 2006. The Company will webcast the call to all interested parties through its website: www.bostonscientific.com. Please see the website for details on how to access the webcast. The webcast will be available for one year on the Boston Scientific website.

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February 7, 2006

Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices whose products are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.

The Company discloses non-GAAP or pro forma measures that exclude certain charges. These supplemental measures exclude the impact of certain charges such as litigation settlement costs and purchased in-process research and development that are highly variable and difficult to predict. Management uses these supplemental measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in the Company's business and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. Since management finds these measures to be useful, the Company believes that its investors benefit from seeing the Company's results through the eyes of management in addition to seeing its GAAP results.

The Company recognizes that items such as litigation settlements can have a material impact on the Company's cash flows and net income. Although the Company believes it is useful for investors to see its core performance free of certain charges, investors should understand that the excluded items are actual expenses that impact the cash available to the Company for other uses. To gain a complete picture of all effects on the Company’s profit and loss from any and all events, management does (and investors should) rely upon the GAAP income statement. The non-GAAP numbers focus instead upon the core business of the company, which is only a subset, albeit a critical one, of the Company’s performance.

Readers are reminded that non-GAAP numbers are merely a supplement to, and not a replacement for, GAAP financial measures. They should be read in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures. It should be noted as well that the Company's non-GAAP information may be different from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies.

Forward−Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” including, among other statements, statements regarding the proposed business combination between Boston Scientific Corporation and Guidant Corporation, and the anticipated consequences and benefits of such transaction. Statements made in the future tense, and words such as “anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “intend”, “will”, “may” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control of Boston Scientific or Guidant. Relevant risks and uncertainties include those referenced in Boston Scientific’s and Guidant’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (which can be obtained as described in “Additional Information” below), and include: general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment. Risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed transaction include: required regulatory approvals will not be obtained in a timely manner, if at all; the proposed transaction will not be consummated; the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized; and the integration of Guidant’s

Boston Scientific Corporation/Page 4

February 7, 2006

operations with Boston Scientific will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements, and therefore should be carefully considered. Neither Boston Scientific nor Guidant assumes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Additional Information

This material is not a substitute for the prospectus/proxy statement and any other documents Boston Scientific and Guidant intend to file with the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read such prospectus/proxy statement and any other such documents, when available, which will contain important information about the proposed transaction. The prospectus/proxy statement will be, and other documents filed or to be filed by Boston Scientific and Guidant with the SEC are or will be, available free of charge at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or from Boston Scientific by directing a request to Boston Scientific Corporation, One Boston Scientific Place, Natick, Massachusetts 01760-1537, Attention: Milan Kofol, Investor Relations, or from Guidant by directing a request to Guidant Corporation, 111 Monument Circle, 29^th Floor, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204, Attention: Investor Relations.

Neither Boston Scientific nor Guidant is currently engaged in a solicitation of proxies from the security holders of Boston Scientific or Guidant in connection with Boston Scientific’s proposed acquisition of Guidant. If a proxy solicitation commences, Boston Scientific, Guidant and their respective directors, executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in such solicitation. Information about Boston Scientific’s directors and executive officers is available in Boston Scientific’s proxy statement, dated April 4, 2005, for its 2005 annual meeting of stockholders, and information about Guidant’s directors and executive officers is available in Guidant’s most recent filing on Form 10-K. Additional information about the interests of potential participants will be included in the prospectus/proxy statement when it becomes available.

CONTACT:	Milan Kofol
	508-650-8569
	Investor Relations
	Boston Scientific Corporation
	Paul Donovan
	508-650-8541
	Media Relations
	Boston Scientific Corporation

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

GAAP RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (FULL YEAR)

(Unaudited)

	Year Ended
	December 31,
In millions, except per share data	2005			2004
Net sales	$	6,283		$	5,624
Cost of products sold		1,386			1,292
Gross profit		4,897			4,332
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,814			1,742
Research and development expenses		680			569
Royalty expense		227			195
Amortization expense		152			112
Litigation-related charges		780			75
Purchased research and development		276			65
		3,929			2,758
Operating income		968			1,574
Other income/(expense):
Interest expense		(90	)		(64	)
Other, net		13			(16	)
Income before income taxes		891			1,494
Income taxes		263			432
Net income	$	628		$	1,062
Net income per common share - assuming dilution	$	0.75		$	1.24
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution		837.6			857.7

NON-GAAP NET INCOME AND NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE RECONCILIATION

(Unaudited)

	Year Ended						Year Ended
	December 31, 2005						December 31, 2004
In millions, except per share data	Net income			Impact per diluted share			Net income			Impact per diluted share
GAAP results	$	628		$	0.75		$	1,062		$	1.24
Non-GAAP adjustments (pre-tax):
Costs of certain business optimization initiatives (1)		39			0.05
Enhancement of certain retirement benefits (2)		17			0.02			110			0.13
Certain stock option modifications (2)								90			0.10
Purchased research and development		276			0.33			65			0.08
Litigation-related charges		780			0.93			75			0.09
Charges/(credits) related to the American Jobs Creation Act (3)		(6	)		(0.01	)		61			0.07
Tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments		(212	)		(0.25	)		(69	)		(0.08	)
Adjusted results	$	1,522		$	1.82		$	1,394		$	1.63

(1) Recorded $21 million to selling, general and administrative expenses, $10 million to amortization expense, $7 million to research and development expenses, and $1 million to cost of products sold

(2) Recorded to selling, general and administrative expenses

(3) Recorded to income taxes

The Company provides adjusted net income and adjusted net income per share amounts in order to provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its operational performance and its prospects for the future. These supplemental measures exclude the impact of certain charges such as litigation settlement costs and purchased in-process research and development that are highly variable and difficult to predict. Management uses these supplemental measures to evaluate performance period over period, to analyze the underlying trends in the Company's business and to establish operational goals and forecasts that are used in allocating resources. Since management finds these measures to be useful, the Company believes that its investors benefit from seeing the Company's results “through the eyes” of management in addition to seeing its GAAP results.

The Company recognizes that items such as litigation settlements can have a material impact on the Company's cash flows and net income. Although the Company believes it is useful for investors to see core performance free of special items, investors should understand that the excluded items are actual expenses that may impact the cash available to the Company for other uses. To gain a complete picture of all effects on the Company’s net income and net income per share from any and all events, management does (and investors should) rely upon the GAAP income statement. The non-GAAP numbers focus instead upon the core business of the company, which is only a subset, albeit a critical one, of the Company’s performance.

Readers are therefore reminded that non-GAAP numbers are merely a supplement to, and not a replacement for, GAAP financial measures. They should be read in conjunction with the GAAP financial measures. It should be noted as well that the Company's non-GAAP information may be different from the non-GAAP information provided by other companies.

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

GAAP RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (FOURTH QUARTER)

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	December 31,
In millions, except per share data	2005			2004
Net sales	$	1,540		$	1,600
Cost of products sold		342			328
Gross profit		1,198			1,272
Selling, general and administrative expenses		468			515
Research and development expenses		174			158
Royalty expense		53			64
Amortization expense		38			30
Purchased research and development					1
		733			768
Operating income		465			504
Other income/(expense):
Interest expense		(32	)		(20	)
Other, net		5			(25	)
Income before income taxes		438			459
Income taxes		104			162
Net income	$	334		$	297
Net income per common share - assuming dilution	$	0.40		$	0.35
Weighted average shares outstanding - assuming dilution		829.6			854.6

NON-GAAP NET INCOME AND NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE RECONCILIATION

(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended					Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2005					December 31, 2004
In millions, except per share data	Net income			Impact per diluted share		Net income			Impact per diluted share
GAAP results	$	334		$	0.40	$	297		$	0.35
Non-GAAP adjustments (pre-tax):
Costs of certain business optimization initiatives (4)		11			0.01
Certain stock option modifications (5)							90			0.11
Purchased research and development							1
Charges related to the American Jobs Creation Act (6)							61			0.07
Tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments		(5	)				(30	)		(0.04	)
Adjusted results	$	340		$	0.41	$	419		$	0.49

(4) Recorded $10 million to selling, general and administrative expenses, and $1 million to cost of products sold

(5) Recorded to selling, general and administrative expenses

(6) Recorded to income taxes

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

	December 31,		December 31,
In millions	2005		2004
Assets
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	848	$	1,640
Trade accounts receivable, net		932		900
Inventories		418		360
Other current assets		433		389
Total current assets		2,631		3,289
Property, plant and equipment, net		1,011		870
Intangible assets, net		3,735		3,340
Investments		594		529
Other assets		225		142
	$	8,196	$	8,170
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Borrowings due within one year	$	156	$	1,228
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		1,229		1,010
Other current liabilities		94		367
Total current liabilities		1,479		2,605
Long-term debt		1,864		1,139
Other long-term liabilities		571		401
Stockholders’ equity		4,282		4,025
	$	8,196	$	8,170

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

WORLDWIDE SALES

REGIONAL SUMMARY

(Unaudited)

	Year Ended
	December 31,				Change
					As Reported			Constant
In millions	2005		2004		Currency Basis			Currency Basis
DOMESTIC	$	3,852	$	3,502		10	%		10	%
EUROPE		1,161		994		17	%		17	%
JAPAN		579		613		(6	%)		(4	%)
INTER-CONTINENTAL		691		515		34	%		28	%
INTERNATIONAL		2,431		2,122		15	%		13	%
WORLDWIDE	$	6,283	$	5,624		12	%		11	%
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,				Change
						As Reported			Constant
In millions		2005		2004		Currency Basis			Currency Basis
DOMESTIC	$	928	$	1,003		(7	%)		(7	%)
EUROPE		290		287		1	%		10	%
JAPAN		139		157		(11	%)		(2	%)
INTER-CONTINENTAL		183		153		20	%		16	%
INTERNATIONAL		612		597		3	%		8	%
WORLDWIDE	$	1,540	$	1,600		(4	%)		(2	%)

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

WORLDWIDE SALES

DIVISIONAL SUMMARY

(Unaudited)

	Year Ended
	December 31,				Change
					As Reported			Constant
In millions	2005		2004		Currency Basis			Currency Basis
Cardiovascular	$	4,498	$	4,107		10	%		9	%
Electrophysiology		132		130		2	%		2	%
Neurovascular		277		253		9	%		9	%
CARDIOVASCULAR		4,907		4,490		9	%		9	%
Oncology		207		186		11	%		11	%
Endoscopy		697		641		9	%		9	%
Urology		324		261		24	%		24	%
ENDOSURGERY		1,228		1,088		13	%		13	%
Neuromodulation		148		46		222	%		222	%
WORLDWIDE	$	6,283	$	5,624		12	%		11	%
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,				Change
						As Reported			Constant
In millions		2005		2004		Currency Basis			Currency Basis
Cardiovascular	$	1,070	$	1,185		(10	%)		(8	%)
Electrophysiology		35		35		0	%		5	%
Neurovascular		71		67		6	%		9	%
CARDIOVASCULAR		1,176		1,287		(9	%)		(7	%)
Oncology		53		49		8	%		11	%
Endoscopy		178		167		7	%		10	%
Urology		86		72		19	%		21	%
ENDOSURGERY		317		288		10	%		13	%
Neuromodulation		47		25		88	%		90	%
WORLDWIDE	$	1,540	$	1,600		(4	%)		(2	%)

BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION

DOMESTIC SALES

DIVISIONAL SUMMARY

(Unaudited)

	Year Ended
	December 31,				Change
					As Reported
In millions	2005		2004		Currency Basis
Cardiovascular	$	2,791	$	2,619		7	%
Electrophysiology		95		90		6	%
Neurovascular		96		81		19	%
CARDIOVASCULAR		2,982		2,790		7	%
Oncology		127		112		13	%
Endoscopy		378		361		5	%
Urology		253		202		25	%
ENDOSURGERY		758		675		12	%
Neuromodulation		112		37		203	%
DOMESTIC	$	3,852	$	3,502		10	%
		Three Months Ended
		December 31,				Change
						As Reported
In millions		2005		2004		Currency Basis
Cardiovascular	$	640	$	762		(16	%)
Electrophysiology		27		24		13	%
Neurovascular		26		21		24	%
CARDIOVASCULAR		693		807		(14	%)
Oncology		33		30		10	%
Endoscopy		98		91		8	%
Urology		67		55		22	%
ENDOSURGERY		198		176		13	%
Neuromodulation		37		20		85	%
DOMESTIC	$	928	$	1,003		(7	%)