Ambulight PDT, is the world’s first skin cancer treatment using a small disposable light emitting sticking plaster worn by the patient (the ”plaster”).
The following International distributors have been appointed:
- Bo Pharma - Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg)
- Alpharad - Greece and Cyprus
- Biosonic - Italy
- Fritsch Medical - France
Each European distributor was selected following thorough research into each of the target markets and was vetted by Ambicare and external appointed 3rd party agencies. The distributors have a vast amount of experience in dermatology products and have well established relationships with the key healthcare providers in their markets.
All distributors will ensure the best possible environment to launch Ambulight PDT in their local regions. Each distributor has extensive experience in ensuring healthcare providers receive robust training in a range of medical devices especially innovative and often quite high tech equipment. This will ensure those patients receiving treatment with the Ambulight PDT can be assured and comforted in the fact that the healthcare provider is confident, compliant and competent in delivering this specific treatment.
Entering the European market in these seven key regions is a major step for the company and the first stage of the international roll-out of the Ambulight PDT, which offers healthcare providers the opportunity to transform patient care by making PDT more accessible and enabling patients to continue with their normal daily routine when undergoing the treatment. Clinical trials have also indicated this treatment method has lower pain than conventional techniques whilst still obtaining an equivalent outcome.
PDT has already been approved by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence and a 2010 update recommends its broader use for the treatment of skin cancer.
Commenting, Gary Conroy, Sales and Marketing Director of Ambicare Health, said “PDT has been growing as an international treatment for non melanoma skin cancer and we are delighted that our innovative Ambulight PDT will now available across Europe through our distribution partners. The Ambulight PDT will offer patients in those countries the option of having a convenient skin cancer treatment delivered in a local family doctor or outpatient clinic setting without the lifestyle impact and downtime often associated with hospital cancer treatment.
“The Ambulight PDT is a revolutionary product which we hope will become the gold standard method for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer, not only providing better more comfortable and convenient treatment for patients than existing methods but also reducing costs for the healthcare provider.
“All four distribution partners have a key and crucial understanding of the markets they serve and the enthusiasm for the device which will be invaluable in progressing its widespread adoption.”
The plaster is used in conjunction with a prescribed pharmaceutical to treat non-melanoma skin cancer, delivering photodynamic therapy treatment (“PDT”) directly to the skin lesion site.
Current PDT treatment generally involves a day patient appointment at the hospital where a large static PDT light source is used to treat a limited number of patients. This is inconvenient for the patient and costly for the healthcare provider as it ties up a hospital day bed, as well as restricting the number of patients who can be treated. Ambulight PDT will reduce costs for the healthcare provider by freeing up these beds and improve patient care, freeing up their time to continue with their normal daily lives.
Patients seeking treatment using the Ambulight PDT should discuss its suitability with their healthcare provider in the first instance. A list of clinics currently offering the Ambulight PDT is available at www.ambicarehealth.com/find-a-clinic.
Distributors interested in exclusive rights for Ambulight PDT for their territory should contact Ambicare Health at info@ambicarehealth.com.
For further information please contact:
Buchanan Communications Diane Stewart (dianes@buchanan.uk.com) 0131 226 6150 Carrie Clement (carriec@buchanan.uk.com) 0131 226 4427
Distributors Bo Pharma, Benelux (http://www.bo-pharma.com) bo pharma bv is the largest independent distributor in the BENELUX area, headquartered in Amsterdam as a pharmaceutical company, bo pharma bv is now recognised as a leader in the distribution and sales of high-end medical devices.
Alpharad, Greece and Cyprus (http://www.alpharad.eu/) Apharad, based in Athens, was founded with the specific aim to offer alternative methods for skin cancer treatment, which was entirely treated using Electron beams from Linear accelerators and surgical techniques. Alphard introduced the concept of Superficial X ray and believe current treamtnet options in Greece are too top heavy on external radiation therapy.
Biosonic, Italy (http://www.biosonic.it/) Biosonic have over 30 years experience in delivering high end new technology to the Italian healthcare market. Biosonic headquarters are in Bologna where they have a respected reputation for delivering quality training to health care professionals in new medical devices including light based therapy.
Fritsch Medical, France (http://www.fritsch-medical.fr/) Bernardl Fritsch founded Fritsch Medical 5 years ago after working for 20 years in the international phototherapy market as Sales manager of Waldmann medical in France (10 years) and as General manager of Cosmedico Medizintechnik (France Germany Poland and International sales). Therefore Fritsch Medial is well place to introduce the first ambulatory device for PDT onto the French market.
Ambulight PDT Technology The Ambulight PDT is a light source intended for use in topical Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) of non melanoma skin cancers. It emits light with a peak wavelength of 640nm and a full width half maximum (FWHM) of 20nm. The irradiance of light emitted from the Ambulight PDT is 7mW/cm2. It delivers a total light dose of 75 J/cm2 to the treatment site and is designed to be used in conjunction with a pharmaceutical cream. Two devices are needed to complete a treatment course, with each treatment lasting 6 hours. The two treatments are one month apart. Ambicare’s technology is IP protected and we have six patents either granted or pending.
The alternative treatment methods to PDT are surgery, use of topical creams and cryotherapy. Each of these can be painful, irritate the skin, leave scarring and can be highly stressful for the patient. PDT treatment is less invasive than surgery and avoids the scarring associated with surgical removal of the lesion which can often require an in-patient hospital stay. Ambulight PDT gives healthcare providers the opportunity to shift treatment from hospitals to primary care such as GP surgeries or office based dermatologists.
PDT In Europe PDT is regularly the first line of treatment recommended for non melanoma skin cancer. It is a two-step process involving the application of a pharmaceutical cream which creates a photosensitive daughter compound, followed by controlled exposure to a selective light source which activates the light sensitive chemical and destroys the diseased cells.
Skin Cancer Statistics Cancer affects a large and growing proportion of the world’s population driven by an aging demographic and insufficient protection from sun exposure. The incidence of non-malignant skin cancer continues to grow rapidly and now affects 15% of the UK, 40% of the USA, and 75% of the Australian populations during their lifetimes. Ambulight PDT has a current potential target market in excess of £640m. The number of skin cancer lesions requiring treatment is doubling every ten years, as individuals in affluent western societies live longer and are affected by the consequences of excessive sun exposure. By 2015, this would give Ambicare Health a total addressable market approaching £1 billion.
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