"We anticipate 2009 will be a very successful year for Edwards Lifesciencesas we plan to deliver increasing profitability and continued investment infuture growth," said Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO. "We expect toextend our leadership in our core franchises with underlying sales growthof 10 to 12 percent, although the LifeStent divestiture and recent changesin foreign currencies will reflect minimal growth in reported sales. Salesof our market expanding transcatheter valves are expected to grow to $75 to$95 million in 2009."

During the conference, Edwards' management also will present the company'sfinancial goals for 2009, including total sales between $1.24 billion to$1.30 billion, a gross profit margin of 68 to 70 percent, earnings pershare growth of 15 to 19 percent, excluding the impact of special items,and free cash flow of $160 million to $170 million. "We currently expectour hedging program to neutralize the foreign currency impact on our bottomline, resulting in projected earnings of $2.93 to $3.03 per share, whichrepresents 15 to 19 percent growth," said Mussallem.

Among the specific topics to be discussed at today's event are: -- Transcatheter Heart Valve Therapy -- Edwards has enrolled the first patient in the clinical study of its next generation Edwards SAPIEN XT transcatheter valve in Europe, which offers a smaller delivery profile and state of the art valve design. In the U.S., enrollment in the PARTNER pivotal trial has met year-end projections and overall timing for completion remains on track. Additionally, the company plans to broaden its presence in Europe and expand into a number of international markets in 2009. -- Heart Valve Therapy -- Edwards expects to strengthen its leadership position with the launch of several new products, including the U.S. introduction of its PERIMOUNT Magna Ease aortic valve. Together with transcatheter valve sales, Edwards expects to generate 14 to 16 percent underlying Heart Valve Therapy sales growth in 2009. -- Critical Care -- Building upon its decades-long global leadership in hemodynamic monitoring systems, Edwards recently invested in additional technology for its FloTrac minimally invasive monitoring system to drive future growth. The company will also discuss its exciting new growth opportunity for continuously monitoring blood glucose levels in hospitalized patients. -- Financial Outlook -- The company will reaffirm its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter of 2008, which will result in a full year earnings per share growth rate of approximately 20 percent. Edwards will also detail its financial expectations for 2009.Other members of Edwards' management team attending the conference include: Thomas M. Abate, corporate vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer; Donald E. Bobo, Jr., corporate vice president, Heart Valve Therapy; Carlyn D. Solomon, corporate vice president, Critical Care; Patrick B. Verguet, corporate vice president, Europe; and Larry L. Wood, corporate vice president, Transcatheter Valve Replacement.

Guest Speakers Provide Clinical Perspective

Also speaking at the conference are interventional cardiologist Dr. AlecVahanian, Head of the Cardiology Department at Bichat University Hospitalin Paris, France, and Dr. Joseph E. Bavaria, Vice-Chief, Division ofCardiothoracic Surgery at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, whowill detail their clinical experiences with transcatheter aortic valvetherapies.

LifeStent PMA Application Transferred

Edwards also announced today that it has received an approvable letter fromthe FDA for the LifeStent product line and has completed the transfer ofits PMA application to C.R. Bard, Inc., which purchased the line in January2008. In exchange, Bard has paid Edwards $23 million of the previouslynegotiated $50 million milestone payment. The remaining $27 million willbe paid upon receipt of the PMA, which is expected in 2009.

Webcast Information

The Edwards Lifesciences 2008 Investor Conference can be accessed via livewebcast at http://www.edwards.com/investorrelations/investorconference.htmbeginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on December 11, 2008. The webcast willalso be archived on the Edwards website after the conference concludes.

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in the science of heart valvesand hemodynamic monitoring. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards treatsadvanced cardiovascular disease with its market-leading heart valvetherapies, and critical care and vascular technologies. In 2008, Edwardscelebrates 50 years of partnering with clinicians to develop life-savinginnovations. The company's global brands, which are sold in approximately100 countries, include CardioVations, Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards,FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz. Additional companyinformation can be found at www.edwards.com.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning ofSection 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements include, but are notlimited to, the company's ability to achieve financial goals for sales,gross profit margin, net income, earnings per share and free cash flow;regulatory approval of new products in, and competitive dynamics associatedwith, the company's heart valve therapy product line; the continuedadoption and sales of the FloTrac system; the timing and progress ofclinical studies relating to the company's transcatheter valve technologiesand the market opportunity for these products; and the impact of foreignexchange and special items on the company's results. Forward-lookingstatements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of thecompany and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherentlyuncertain and difficult to predict.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could causeactual results or experience to differ materially from that expressed orimplied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actualresults or experience to differ materially from that expressed or impliedby the forward-looking statements include the opportunities for thecompany's transcatheter valve programs and the ability of the company tocontinue to lead in the development of this field; the company's success increating new market opportunities for its products and the timing of newproduct launches; the impact of currency exchange rates; the timing orresults of pending or future clinical trials; actions by the U.S. Food andDrug Administration and other regulatory agencies; and other risks detailedin the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commissionincluding its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,2007.

Edwards, Edwards SAPIEN XT, and Magna Ease are trademarks of EdwardsLifesciences Corporation. Edwards Lifesciences, Carpentier-Edwards,Cosgrove-Edwards, FloTrac, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz aretrademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and are registered in theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office. CardioVations is a trademark ofEdwards Lifesciences AG and is registered in the United States Patent andTrademark Office.

LifeStent is a registered trademark of C.R. Bard, Inc.

Investor Contact:David K. Erickson949-250-6826Media Contact:Sarah Huoh949-250-5070