Corautus Genetics Inc. Begins Trading on NASDAQ

Corautus Genetics Inc. Begins Trading on NASDAQ
New Symbol Is VEGF 


ATLANTA, Oct. 13  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Corautus Genetics Inc.
(NASDAQ:VEGF) announced today that effective with the opening of trading this
morning, Wednesday, October 13, 2004, shares of the Company's common stock
began trading on The NASDAQ Stock Market(R) under the symbol VEGF.  The
Company's common stock had previously been traded on the American Stock
Exchange under the symbol of CAQ.

"Our move to NASDAQ is an important part of our plan to gain more visibility
for Corautus Genetics and increase the liquidity of our shares," said Richard
E. Otto, President and CEO of Corautus.  "We believe that NASDAQ's multiple
market maker system will help us achieve these goals and position us among
other innovative companies with clinical-stage programs who are part of The
NASDAQ Stock Market."

Bruce Aust, Executive Vice President of The NASDAQ Stock Market, said, "We are
honored that Corautus has selected NASDAQ as the market of choice for their
investors.  As an emerging leader in the treatment of severe cardiovascular and
vascular disease, Corautus embodies the innovation that defines our listed
companies and our stock market as a whole."

About Corautus Genetics Inc.

Corautus Genetics Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated
to the development of gene transfer therapy products for the treatment of
severe cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease.  Corautus is currently
developing and testing a gene transfer product using the Vascular Endothelial
Growth Factor-2 (VEGF-2) gene to promote therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemic
muscle. In July 2003, Corautus entered into a strategic alliance with Boston
Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) to develop, commercialize and distribute the
VEGF-2 gene therapy products. For more information, please visit
http://www.corautus.com/ .

About the Technology

VEGF-2 is a growth factor that is believed to promote the development of
supplemental collateral blood vessels, a process known as therapeutic
angiogenesis. In the Phase IIb trial for severe cardiovascular disease, VEGF-2
is delivered to the ischemic tissue in the heart muscle in the form of naked
DNA plasmid, a non-viral vector. Once administered, the DNA plasmid appears to
be taken up and expressed by myocardium near the injection site. Inside the
cell, the DNA plasmid then enters the nucleus of the cell without a requirement
of incorporation into the genomic DNA. The Phase IIb clinical trial expects to
see the effect of the expression of DNA-encoded VEGF-2, which in turn
stimulates the growth of new blood vessels by promoting the migration and
proliferation of endothelial cells in the heart.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such statements are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that
may cause actual results, events and performances to differ materially from
those referred to in such statements. These risks include statements which
address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or
anticipate will occur in the future, such as projections about our future
results of operations or our financial condition, adequacy of funding, benefits
from the alliance with Boston Scientific, research, development and
commercialization of our product candidates, anticipated trends in our
business, manufacture of sufficient and acceptable quantities of our proposed
products, approval of our product candidates, meeting additional capital
requirements, benefits from switching to the NASDAQ Stock Market, and other
risks that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks are
discussed in Corautus Genetics Inc.'s Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in Corautus' Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 001-15833)
filed March 30, 2004, which are incorporated by reference into this press
release.

CONTACT: Investor Relations, Jack W. Callicutt of Corautus Genetics Inc.,
404-526-6200, or fax, 404-526-6218; and Media Relations, Justin Jackson of
Burns McClellan, on behalf of Corautus Genetics Inc., 212-213-0006,  

DATASOURCE: Corautus Genetics Inc.



CONTACT:  Investor Relations, Jack W. Callicutt of Corautus Genetics

Inc., [phone], or fax, [phone]; and Media Relations, Justin

Jackson of Burns McClellan, on behalf of Corautus Genetics Inc.,

[phone], or  



Web site:  http://www.corautus.com/ 

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