Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida Becomes Second Institution in the United States to Treat Patients with ViewRay's MRIdian® Linac
Novel MR Image-Guided Radiotherapy Enables High-Definition Tumor Visualization and On-table Adaptive Cancer Treatment
CLEVELAND, April 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ViewRay, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRAY) announced today that Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health South Florida has begun patient treatments using the company's next generation MR image-guided radiation therapy system, MRIdian® Linac, making it the second institution in the United States to treat patients with the new linear accelerator-based system. The MRIdian Linac is part of the new Miami Cancer Institute, a destination cancer center known for its leading clinical care, compassionate patient experience, clinical research, and state-of-the-art technology. It is also the only member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance in the southeastern United States.
MRIdian is the world's first and only FDA-cleared MR image-guided radiation therapy system. It provides a unique combination of continuous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and simultaneous radiation therapy delivery for the treatment of cancer. MRI improves tumor visibility by clearly defining the targeted tumor from the surrounding soft tissue and other critical organs. The ability to see both the tumor and surrounding organs constantly throughout radiation delivery allows doctors to personalize treatment based on changes in the shape or location of the tumor and surrounding tissues using on-table adaptive therapy. As a result, doctors can quickly respond to subtle anatomical changes observed on a day-to-day basis and reshape the dose to better match the current contours of the tumor.
"Effective treatment of tumors that move, such as those in the lung, liver and pancreas, has been a long-standing challenge for radiation oncologists, often requiring difficult trade-offs in targeting, dosing and tissue sparing, or rendering patients untreatable with radiation," said Minesh Mehta, M.D., Deputy Director and Chief of Radiation Oncology at Miami Cancer Institute. "With MRIdian Linac, we can visualize the tumor and surrounding tissues simultaneously during treatment delivery - something that's not feasible on other radiation therapy machines - and thereby track these mobile tumors allowing us to minimize the exposure of adjacent, normal tissues by modifying the treatment plan. Ultimately we believe this will help to improve outcomes and decrease side effects for our patients."
About ViewRay
ViewRay®, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRAY), designs, manufactures and markets the MRIdian® radiation therapy system. MRIdian is built upon a proprietary high-definition MR imaging system designed from the ground up to address the unique challenges and clinical workflow for advanced radiation oncology. Unlike MR systems used in diagnostic radiology, MRIdian's high-definition MR was purpose-built to address specific challenges including beam distortion, skin toxicity, and other safety concerns, which may potentially occur when high magnetic fields interact with radiation beams. ViewRay and MRIdian are registered trademarks of ViewRay, Inc.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause future results to differ materially from those referenced. Forward looking statements include the potential for improved patient outcomes, a decrease in side effects, and improved tumor visibility, as well as the ability for doctors to respond to subtle anatomical changes quickly and to minimize radiation exposure to normal tissues adjacent to the tumor. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors include, among others, the ability to raise the additional funding needed to continue to pursue ViewRay's business and product development plans, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies, competition in the industry in which ViewRay operates and overall market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and ViewRay assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents ViewRay files with the SEC available at www.sec.gov.
About Miami Cancer Institute
Miami Cancer Institute is part of Baptist Health South Florida, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 10 hospitals, more than 40 physician practices, 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities, Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Health Quality Network and internationally renowned centers of excellence spanning across Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.