EDAP Reports Significant Growth in Canada
February 27 2006 - 12:13PM
PR Newswire (US)
Toronto Clinic Treatments Growing; Successful Treatment of
Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Radiotherapy Failures LYON, France,
Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EDAP TMS S.A. (NASDAQ:EDAP), the
global leader in high intensity focused ultrasound treatment of
localized prostate cancer, today announced significant growth in
treatment rates and continuing successful outcomes at the Don Mills
Surgical Unit in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. North American patients
preferring a proven minimally invasive treatment choice have been
able to seek Ablatherm(R)-HIFU treatment for localized prostate
cancer at the Toronto clinic since April of 2005. The treatment is
fully approved in Canada, Europe and a number of other countries
worldwide following extensive testing and treatment experience.
Recent results show high patient satisfaction, minimal impacts on
the patient's quality of life compared to other treatment options,
and increasing awareness and interest in Ablatherm-HIFU treatment.
The clinic's Web site at http://www.hifu.ca/ includes details of
the treatment and allows patients to request further information.
"We are seeing an increased level of interest in Ablatherm-HIFU
treatment as more people are becoming aware of this preferable
option," said Dr. William Orovan, an MD Anderson trained
uro-oncologist who is Chairman of the Department of Surgery at
McMaster University and who practices urology in the Toronto area.
"Many patients throughout North America inquire seeking the best
course of treatment. A growing number of them are electing to
pursue HIFU once they learn of its proven clinical success
established over several trials at multiple sites. These patients
often object to traditional surgery or radiation, which require
significant recovery time and have high a risk of side effects."
The Toronto clinic is using EDAP's advanced imaging head, which
allows the doctor to both image and treat simultaneously, reducing
total treatment time and further enhancing accuracy and efficacy.
Dr. Orovan continued, "With the new integrated imaging system,
Ablatherm treatment is now averaging less than two hours per
patient. Patients are resting comfortably the evening after their
treatment, feeling no pain, and with only limited adjustment to
their lifestyle for a brief period. Total patient satisfaction with
the treatment experience and outcome is extremely high, and we will
be presenting results of our experiences to date at several urology
conferences in the upcoming months." Prostate cancer is the leading
cancer among North American men with more than 250,000 new cases
diagnosed in North America each year. Increasing awareness and
testing is leading to a larger percentage of early detection while
the disease is still localized making HIFU therapy a viable
treatment choice. Additionally, the Toronto clinic is offering
Ablatherm-HIFU treatment to patients suffering from a recurrence of
prostate cancer after prior radiation treatment. While studies show
a wide range of results, recurrence following radiation treatment
can be as high as 45 percent. Such patients have limited options
for further treatment as they usually cannot be re-irradiated or
have health concerns precluding other invasive methods.
Ablatherm-HIFU is shown to be successful in European studies of
re-treatment cases for locally recurrent prostate cancer. "The
Ablatherm provides a specialized protocol for treating patients who
fail a prior radiation treatment program," said Dr. Orovan. "The
prostate has reduced blood flow and different tissue
characteristics, which are fully accounted for in the re-treatment
protocol, allowing us to safely and effectively treat these
patients without additional radiation or surgery while still
leaving any other channel of treatment available to the patient if
his cancer is particularly aggressive. Many of these patients were
at a therapeutic impasse prior to learning about Ablatherm-HIFU,
and we are pleased to offer them an effective treatment choice."
Ablatherm-HIFU has more than eight years of patient follow-up data
including multi-center studies demonstrating highly reproducible
outcomes at various sites. Ablatherm-HIFU technology was developed
and perfected in Europe with more than 9,000 clinical treatments to
date. European studies have shown that as a curative option
Ablatherm-HIFU has had success rates up to 93 percent with up to
five years of follow-up. Ablatherm-HIFU can be repeated and does
not exclude patients from undergoing other treatment options if
their cancer recurs. While the technology does not currently have
United States FDA approval, clinical trials are beginning.
Ablatherm-HIFU is a non-invasive, precise and targeted procedure
that delivers a beam of high intensity focused ultrasound to the
prostate. Under spinal anesthesia, the Ablatherm-HIFU probe is
placed into the rectum through which the focused ultrasound waves
are directed into the cancerous prostate tissue without damage to
the intervening tissue. This causes a rapid rise in temperature
inside the prostate cells to 85 degrees Celsius destroying the
cancerous cells. The procedure is completed in approximately two
hours without blood loss or exposure to radiation. "The outcomes at
the Toronto clinic are an ongoing demonstration of the efficacy and
safety of Ablatherm-HIFU in treating localized prostate cancer for
patients seeking an effective solution, which will not force them
to make significant compromises in their quality of life," said
Hugues de Bantel, Chief Executive Officer of EDAP TMS. "The
Ablatherm is enjoying rapid acceptance and growth in a number of
locations worldwide, especially in European countries where we have
established widespread clinical credibility through the
demonstration of this technology over many years. Once both
patients and their urologists learn of this treatment option it
becomes an attractive and, in many cases preferable, choice for
both first-indication therapy and re-treatment in cases of
recurrence." About EDAP TMS S.A. EDAP TMS S.A. develops and markets
Ablatherm(R), 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 4 78 26 40 46, or see the Company's
Web site at: http://www.edap-tms.com/ . About Don Mills Surgical
Unit Don Mills Surgical Unit is licensed under the Private
Hospitals Act by the Government of Ontario and is where
Ablatherm(R)-High Intensity Focused Ultrasound treatment for
localized prostate cancer is available. Further information can be
found at http://www.hifu.ca/ . 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. Ablatherm-HIFU treatment is not
yet FDA approved or marketed in the United States. 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 972 458 8000 DATASOURCE: EDAP TMS S.A. CONTACT: Hugues de
Bantel, Philippe Chauveau, or Blandine Confort, all of EDAP TMS
S.A., +33-4-78-26-40-46; or Matt Kreps or Geralyn DeBusk, both of
Halliburton Investor Relations, +1-972-458-8000, for EDAP TMS S.A.
Web site: http://www.edap-tms.com/ http://www.hifu.ca/
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