EDAP Opens Its First HIFU Prostate Cancer Treatment Center in Australia
12 October 2005 - 11:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Ablatherm(R)-HIFU Treatments Begin in Sydney LYON, France, Oct. 12
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ: EDAP), the world
leader in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound treatment of localized
prostate cancer, is pleased to announce the launch of the first
Ablatherm(R)-HIFU treatment center for localized prostate cancer in
Australia. An Ablatherm-HIFU device is now available at the highly
regarded St Vincent's Clinic, Sydney, Australia, one of 34
facilities in the Sisters of Charity Health Service System. The
clinic is the largest center in Australia for Prostate cancer and a
multi-disciplinary Clinic of Excellence, including the St Vincent's
Prostate Cancer Centre, providing a comprehensive range of
investigative, diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients.
Pr. Phillip Stricker, Head of Urology, and Dr. David Golovsky,
Urologist, will be using the Ablatherm. Pr. Phillip Stricker, who
has one of the largest experiences in treating men with prostate
cancer using surgery or brachytherapy, commented: "I am very
pleased to begin offering this highly regarded treatment in
Australia. Ablatherm-HIFU has now been used for more than 10 years
in many countries. Fifteen clinical articles have been published
and over 7,000 patients treated. This makes it the most developed
HIFU solution in the world. Ablatherm-HIFU has excellent safety
features all of which have been proven in clinical trials. EDAP
continues to advance the technology with ever more refined imaging
solutions. In addition, it supports an expanding body of treatment
data compiled over now more than ten years worldwide.
Ablatherm-HIFU is an important addition to the portfolio of
therapies offered to patients at the St Vincent's Clinic." More
than 11,200 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in
Australia. St Vincent's Clinic, with its Ablatherm-HIFU, will be
able to offer a proven, minimally invasive solution for patients
with localized prostate cancer who cannot undergo surgery, fail
radiotherapy or prefer the low side effects of Ablatherm-HIFU
therapy in order to preserve their quality of life. More than 90
percent of patients can be treated by a single procedure usually
lasting two to three hours. Due to its uniquely noninvasive nature
and low side effects, patients may be discharged as early as a few
hours after the procedure. Ablatherm-HIFU is a precise, targeted
procedure that delivers a beam of high-intensity focused ultrasound
to the prostate. A probe is placed into the rectum through which
the focused ultrasound waves are directed into the cancerous
prostate tissue without damage to other tissue. A rapid rise in
temperature inside the prostate to 85 degrees Celsius destroys the
cancerous cells. The procedure is completed without blood loss or
exposure to potential harmful radiation. Ablatherm-HIFU is an
effective treatment for patients with localized prostate cancer
whose disease is confined to the prostate gland itself, referred to
as clinical stage T1 or T2. It also can be performed on patients
who have undergone radiation treatment in the past and experienced
recurrent cancer. The HIFU procedure provides these patients with a
unique alternative treatment option preserving their quality of
life, when few other choices remain. EDAP's Ablatherm-HIFU was
approved in April 2005 by the Australian Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA). EDAP subsequently began work to secure a
clinical site and dedicated practitioner team. St Vincent's Clinic
has been offering the Ablatherm-HIFU solution to Australian men
since October 7, 2005. The treatment will be provided through the
company's unique cost-per-procedure model, allowing urologists to
offer the procedure on a cost effective basis. Pr. Phillip Stricker
commented: "In reviewing the clinical data, a clear pattern of
success is evident. Ablatherm-HIFU studies done in Europe showed
that 93 percent of patients had negative biopsies and 87 percent
had Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) levels of less than 1.0, five
years after having the Ablatherm-HIFU treatment. These studies,
along with many others, conclude that Ablatherm-HIFU is an
effective prostate cancer treatment that offers patients a logical
alternative to the other more invasive treatments commonly used."
Hugues de Bantel, CEO of EDAP commented: "We are very pleased to
begin providing Ablatherm-HIFU treatments in Australia. As is our
model, we successfully secured approval to offer the treatment in
Australia, then began developing relationships with well respected
practitioners in the area. We expect more urologists will wish to
offer Ablatherm-HIFU as a part of their treatment portfolio once
they have been able to observe the unique and compelling benefits
of this treatment. Pr. Stricker and Dr. Golovsky have a large body
of clinical experience in treating prostate cancer, and we are
pleased to have them join leading urologists worldwide in offering
this beneficial therapy to patients." Hugues de Bantel continued:
"EDAP continues to execute on its operating plans to open new
markets for Ablatherm- HIFU, continue growth in existing markets
through increased use on unit sold as well as our unique cost per
procedure model, and expand on its Ablatherm's base of highly
regarded and respected practitioners who serve an important role in
educating both physicians and patients about the choices available
to them in treating localized prostate cancer. We continue to focus
on building our position as the provider with the most advanced
technology, the largest and longest clinical data and the most
supportive services assisting practitioners in bringing this
important treatment option to patients. As a result, we are now
treating patients at more than 76 sites in 15 countries around the
world and continue to increase the number of patients treated each
year, the number of sites we serve and the worldwide reach of our
unique and beneficial treatment. We look forward to continuing to
report our progress in these initiatives." Additional information
about Ablatherm-HIFU treatment in Australia can be found at
http://www.prostate.com.au/ or call the St Vincent's Prostate
Cancer Centre on +61 2 8382 6530. About EDAP TMS S.A. EDAP TMS S.A.
develops and markets Ablatherm, the most advanced and clinically
proven choice for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
treatment of localized prostate cancer. HIFU treatment is shown to
be a minimally invasive and effective treatment option with a low
occurrence of side effects. The company is also developing this
technology for the treatment of certain other types of tumors. EDAP
TMS S.A. also produces and commercializes medical equipment for
treatment of urinary tract stones using Extra-corporeal Shockwave
Lithotripsy (ESWL). For more information on the Company, contact
the Investor Relations Dept by phone at +33 (0)4 78 26 40 46 or see
the Company's Web site at: http://www.edap-tms.com/. About St
Vincent's Clinic: In 1990, St Vincent's Clinic opened its doors to
offer a service unparalleled in Australia. A joint effort between
the Sisters of Charity and a number of specialists, the Clinic has
grown into a Centre of Excellence, providing a comprehensive range
of patient services. There are over 200 doctors and a range of
allied health services located at the Clinic. The Clinic is one of
the thirty-four facilities (including public and private hospitals,
sub-acute facilities, residential aged care facilities, research
centres and Outreach services) of the Sisters of Charity Health
Service. The emphasis on excellence in medical care is strengthened
by the Clinic's commitment to research and education. This press
release contains, in addition to historical information,
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
These include statements regarding the Company's growth and
expansion plans. Such statements are based on management's current
expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause
such a difference include, but are not limited to, those described
in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. CONTACT: EDAP TMS S.A. Hugues de Bantel - Philippe
Chauveau Blandine Confort +33 4 78 26 40 46 Halliburton Investor
Relations Matt Kreps - Geralyn DeBusk +1 972 458 8000 DATASOURCE:
EDAP TMS S.A. CONTACT: Hugues de Bantel, or Philippe Chauveau, or
Blandine Confort, +33-4-78-26-40-46, all of EDAP TMS S.A., or Matt
Kreps, or Geralyn DeBusk of Halliburton Investor Relations,
+1-972-458-8000 Web site: http://www.edap-tms.com/
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