Gamma Medica Expands Into European Breast Imaging Market Through Partnership With Medical Supplies Distributor, Hospital Services Limited

SALEM, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gamma Medica, a leader in molecular breast imaging (MBI) technology, today announced it has partnered with Hospital Services Limited (HSL), an established medical device company that distributes, installs and services radiology capital equipment and medical devices. This partnership will provide women with dense breast tissue access to Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM® Molecular Breast Imaging system in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Channel Islands.

“Hospital Services Limited distributes market-leading technology and we are thrilled to add Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM Molecular Breast Imaging to our product offerings for our clients”

Women are eligible for the United Kingdom’s NHS breast screening programme at age 50-79 years, with women being invited to be screened every three years.¹ Similarly in Ireland, women 50-69 years-old are eligible for breast screenings every two years.² Dense breast tissue not only increases the risk of developing breast cancer, but decreases the visibility of a cancer on conventional mammograms and other forms of anatomical imaging devices. Dense breast tissue and cancer both appear white on mammograms making it difficult to distinguish between the two—it’s like trying to find a snowflake in a snowstorm. This may lead to false negatives, unwarranted biopsies or delayed diagnoses.³

Ideal for dense breast tissue, MBI is a groundbreaking technology that significantly improves early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue. The technology has proven to be as effective as a secondary screening method compared to ultrasound or MRI with far fewer false positives.⁴ Peer-reviewed clinical research reports the use of LumaGEM MBI reduces the need for tissue biopsies by 50 percent compared to other modalities.⁴ MBI is also more comfortable and better tolerated by most patients than conventional mammography or MRI.

“We are pleased that through our collaboration with HSL, women with dense breasts in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, will soon have access to the LumaGEM MBI technology,” said Philip Croxford, Gamma Medica President and CEO. “This partnership is the first step in Gamma Medica’s global expansion to increase awareness and access to clinical superior breast imaging technology worldwide. Leveraging HSL’s network enables Gamma Medica to continue to promote early detection on an international scale.”

A breakthrough retrospective study, which complemented earlier published prospective clinical research, was published in the American Journal of Roentgenology’s August issue.⁵ This retrospective study monitored over 1,700 women with dense breast tissue over a three-year period. The study confirmed LumaGEM’s additional cancer detection rate of 7.7 cancers per 1,000, an increase from three cancers per 1,000 with mammography alone. The study also concluded that of the additional breast cancers found, approximately 85 percent of these cancers were invasive and node negative, indicating they were detected at an early stage and therefore presented the patient with the likelihood of a better prognosis.⁶

“Hospital Services Limited distributes market-leading technology and we are thrilled to add Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM Molecular Breast Imaging to our product offerings for our clients,” said Dominic Walsh, CEO of Hospital Services Limited. “Introducing Gamma Medica to the European market will enable women outside of the United States to receive the early detection technology they need. We’re excited to be Gamma Medica’s partner in this endeavor.”

Gamma Medica launched the Be Certain campaign in the United States to raise awareness about breast density and breast cancer screening options. By sharing patient and physician testimonials, breast density facts and statistics and the latest news relating to breast density and breast screenings, the educational website aims to provide the most accurate information for physicians, patients and caregivers.

For more information about breast density and screening options, visit www.becertain.info.

About Gamma Medica, Inc.
Gamma Medica, Inc. is a women’s health company focused on overcoming the limitations of anatomical imaging experienced by mammography and other screening modalities in the early detection of breast cancer. The company’s LumaGEM® MBI system is the first commercially available, FDA-cleared, fully solid-state digital imaging system utilizing dual-head Digital Direct Conversion Gamma Imaging™ (DDCGI™) technology for molecular breast imaging. With over 90 percent sensitivity and specificity, LumaGEM MBI has been shown to significantly improve cancer detection in women with dense breast tissue with fewer false positives relative to anatomical imaging technologies, such as MRI and whole breast ultrasound. For more information visit, www.gammamedica.com.

About Hospital Services Limited
Hospital Services Limited (HSL) is a leading provider of products & services to the healthcare sector in both Ireland and the UK. HSL’s Radiology division has over 50 years’ experience working within this diagnostic imaging arena. HSL offers unprecedented levels of quality products, services and technical assistance. HSL representatives with extensive imaging experience, supply products and support to all levels of medical staff with a major focus on providing quality service to the individual customer, whilst manufacturer trained engineers ensure equipment is maintained to exacting standards. HSL is committed to sourcing the latest technologies available to help provide peace of mind to patients and physicians alike while utilising cutting edge diagnostic tools.

¹ Gov.uk, Breast Screening: Programme Overview, 2015. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/breast-screening-programme-overview
² BreastCheck. http://www.breastcheck.ie/
³ Mayo Clinic. Tests and Procedures Mammogram. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/in-depth/dense-breast-tissue/art-20123968?pg=2
⁴ Rhodes DJ, Hruska CB, Conners AL, et al. JOURNAL CLUB: Molecular Breast Imaging at Reduced Radiation Dose for Supplemental Screening in Mammographically Dense Breasts. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2015;204(2):241-251.
⁵ Rhodes DJ, Hruska CB, Conners AL, et al. JOURNAL CLUB: Molecular Breast Imaging at Reduced Radiation Dose for Supplemental Screening in Mammographically Dense Breasts. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2015;204(2):241-251.
⁶ Shermis RB, Wilson KD, Doyle MT, Martin TS, Merryman D, Kudrolli H, Brenner RJ. Supplemental Breast Cancer Screening with Molecular Breast Imaging for Women with Dense Breast Tissue. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2016;207: 1-8. doi:10.2214/AJR15.15924.