TORONTO, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A Canadian study on High Intensity Focused Ultrasound therapy with the Sonablate(R) 500 - a Health Canada approved treatment for localized prostate cancer - is underway at Can-Am HIFU. Through funding from AstraZeneca Canada Inc, Can-Am HIFU, a prostate cancer treatment centre, will conduct an REB/Health Canada approved clinical trial. The objective of the study is to supplement current research findings on safety and efficacy of HIFU therapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The trial will measure both the biochemical (PSA) cure rates and the Biopsy-proven cure rates at one year.
“AstraZeneca is committed to promoting excellence in Canadian health science research and to supporting the growth of Canada’s scientific community,” says Marc Zarenda, Scientific Director - Oncology at AstraZeneca Canada Inc. “We are excited to put our support behind this clinical trial.”
The nation-wide study will involve a select number of men and will be led by Can-Am HIFU urologists Jack Barkin, MD; Laurence Klotz, MD; Sender Herschorn, MD; Neil Fleshner, MD; Michael Robinette, MD; Antonio Finelli, MD; and Sidney Radomski, MD. The study will play an integral role in building Canadian data on HIFU therapy.
Currently, the data on HIFU are from studies conducted in other countries,” said Dr. Barkin, Chief of Staff, Humber River Regional Hospital and Director of Can-Am HIFU. “As more patients are considering HIFU as an alternative treatment option for prostate cancer, we recognize the need to build Canadian data on HIFU therapy.”
HIFU has been used in several countries for a number of years to treat men with localized prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The therapy uses ultrasound energy to heat and destroy specifically targeted areas of the prostate. HIFU was approved for use in the treatment of prostate cancer in Canada in June 2005. Can-Am HIFU urologists have been treating patients from Canada and abroad on an out-patient basis since March 2006. Currently the Sonablate(R) 500 is undergoing clinical trials in the United States and has not been approved for U.S. marketing by the FDA.
For more information on the study please contact Can-Am HIFU at 1 -877- 787-5906. For more information on HIFU with the Sonablate(R) 500, please visit www.internationalhifu.com
About Can-Am HIFU
Can-Am HIFU is a Canadian entity of USHIFU, LLC. The clinic, located in Toronto, was established in March 2006 and solely treats localized prostate cancer using HIFU with the Sonablate(R) 500. Can-Am HIFU physicians include Jack Barkin, MD; Laurence Klotz, MD; Sender Herschorn, MD; Neil Fleshner, MD; Michael Robinette, MD; Antonio Finelli, MD; and Sidney Radomski, MD.
About USHIFU
USHIFU, LLC is a development company headquartered in Charlotte, NC. USHIFU is the exclusive distributor of the Sonablate(R) 500 in North, South and Central America, the island nations of the Caribbean and South Africa. The company holds a minority ownership position in Focus Surgery Inc. of Indianapolis, the world leader in the development of HIFU products and the manufacturer of the Sonablate(R) 500 in conjunction with Misonix, Inc (MSON).
CONTACT: Nora Ansah, Administrative Marketing Assistant for USHIFU, LLC,
+1-416-924-9760
Web site: http://www.internationalhifu.com//