EXHIBIT 31.3

                                  CERTIFICATION

I, Russell M. Medford, certify that:

      (1) I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K
      of AtheroGenics, Inc.; and

      (2) Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
      statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
      make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
      statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
      this report.

Date: April 5, 2005

                                    /s/ RUSSELL M. MEDFORD
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                    Name: Russell M. Medford
                                    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

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