First Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Transcatheter Valve Replacement Cases Performed in China

SHANGHAI, CHINA--(Marketwire - June 06, 2011) - Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, today announced the successful first Chinese implants of the Edwards SAPIEN XT valve.

The transfemoral valve implantations were performed in May as special access cases at the Second Military Medical University, under a joint educational and training program on transcatheter aortic valve implantation between the university and Edwards.

“Patients in China are in need of a transcatheter tissue valve treatment option, and we hope to gain the necessary approvals to launch the Edwards SAPIEN XT valve in China as early as 2013,” said Huimin Wang, M.D., Edwards’ corporate vice president, Japan, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

The Edwards SAPIEN XT valve was approved for sale in Europe in March 2010. It is an investigational device in the United States, Japan and China.

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 that enable 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 regulatory approval to launch the Edwards SAPIEN XT valve in China. 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 actual results or experience 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 the regulatory process, manufacturing or supply issues, unexpected results following expanded clinical experience and market developments. These and other 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, 2010.

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