Neovasc Inc. Announces Upcoming Presentations at TCT 2012 Scientific Symposium

--Neovasc's Tiara™ Transcatheter Mitral Valve Selected for Inclusion in "Best" New Device Concepts for 2012 Session--
--Other Presentations Include Tiara Project Update and Neovasc Reducer™ Preliminary Registry Results--

TSX Venture Exchange: NVC

VANCOUVER, Oct. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Neovasc Inc. (TSXV: NVC) today announced that researchers will present data on the company's two major development products at the upcoming 24^th Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. Neovasc also reported that its Tiara™ transcatheter mitral valve in preclinical development for the treatment of mitral valve disease has been selected as a featured abstract for an oral presentation in the conference's Innovation Symposium. Ten abstracts were selected for this honor from among the 1750 abstracts submitted to TCT 2012.

"We look forward to the opportunity to discuss advances in our new product programs with cardiovascular opinion leaders at TCT 2012," said Alexei Marko, CEO of Neovasc. "We are delighted that the conference organizers share our enthusiasm for our progress with our Tiara product for the treatment of mitral valve disease.  We view Tiara's designation as one of the best new device concepts of the year as an important validation of the potential of this innovative product."

The Neovasc TCT 2012 presentations include the following:

Interventional Innovation: Novel Therapies and the "Best" New Device Concepts for 2012
Session IV. The Transcatheter Valve Therapy Explosion:  An Innovators Dream Scenario
A Novel Catheter-based Mitral Valve Bio-Prosthesis: Short Term Pre-Clinical Results
Monday, Oct. 22, 1:30pm ET

Poster Abstract Session
Heart Failure, LV Dysfunction and Shock
The Coronary Sinus Reducer - a Device Based Therapy for Refractory Angina: Efficacy and Safety Results from the Ongoing Open Label Registry
Tuesday, Oct. 23, 8:00-10:00am ET

Next Generation Transcatheter Mitral Valve Therapies
Session IV. Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement
Neovasc Tiara Program Update
Wednesday, Oct. 24, 10:38am ET

About TCT
Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) is the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. TCT gathers leading medical researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest developments in the field. TCT 2012 is being held October 22-26, 2012 in Miami, FL. For more information, visit www.tctconference.com.

About Neovasc
Neovasc Inc. is a specialty medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets products for the rapidly growing cardiovascular marketplace. Its products include the Neovasc Reducer™ for the treatment of refractory angina, the Tiara™ technology in development for the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve disease and a line of advanced biological tissue products that are used as key components in a variety of third-party medical products, such as vascular surgical patches and transcatheter heart valves. For more information, visit: www.neovasc.com.

Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "anticipates," "believes," "may," "continues," "estimates," "expects," and "will" and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which the Company operates; history of losses and lack of and uncertainty of revenues, ability to obtain required financing, receipt of regulatory approval of product candidates, ability to properly integrate newly acquired businesses, technology changes; competition; changes in business strategy or development plans; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; existing governmental regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations; liability and other claims asserted against the Company; and other factors referenced in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company believes that expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on the information available to it on the date such statements were made, no assurances can be given as to the future results, approvals or achievements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Neovasc Inc.

Corporate contact:       
Neovasc Inc.
Chris Clark
604 248-4138   

U.S. media & investor contact:
BLL Partners, LLC
Barbara Lindheim
212 584-2276