CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- US HIFU, LLC, a worldwide leader in the development, distribution and use of minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound technologies, announced that Arie Belldegrun, M.D. was appointed to the board of directors effective September 30. Dr. Belldegrun is a board-certified urologist with more than 20 years of experience in biotechnology, academia and industry.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Dr. Belldegrun to the US HIFU board of directors,” said Steve Puckett Jr., CEO of US HIFU. “As one of the top thought leaders in urologic oncology, Dr. Belldegrun will be invaluable as he helps guide the maturation of HIFU toward focal therapy and as an immune catalyst.”
Dr. Belldegrun is director of the Institute of Urologic Oncology, professor of urology and chief of urologic oncology and holds the Roy and Carol Doumani Chair in urologic oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.
“There is an urgent clinical need for safe and minimally invasive treatment options for localized prostate cancer. With the major advancements that are currently being made in the field of ultrasound technologies, the ability to monitor tissue changes during HIFU therapy and the ability to treat cancer focally, Sonablate HIFU is perfectly positioned as a leader in the field,” Belldegrun said. “I am excited to join the board of directors and look forward to helping the company further advance their technologies and to facilitate making HIFU clinically available for more men hoping to find a balance between cancer control and quality of life.”
Dr. Belldegrun has been closely involved with the founding, development or sale of several public and private pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He was the founding chairman of Agensys, a Los Angeles-based biotechnology company focused on developing fully human antibody cancer therapeutics that was acquired by Astrella Pharma, Inc. in a deal valued at $537 million. Belldegrun was also the vice-chairman of the board of directors and chairman of the scientific advisory board of Cougar Biotechnology, Inc., an oncology-focused biotechnology company that was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2009 in a transaction valued at approximately $1 billion.
Dr. Belldegrun also serves on the board of directors of Nile Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company and is chairman and partner of Two River Group Holdings LLC, a New York-based venture capital firm.
Dr. Belldegrun has authored more than 350 scientific and medical papers related to urological cancers, including prostate, kidney and bladder cancer and has authored several books on similar topics. He is certified by the American Board of Urology and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
About US HIFU, LLC
US HIFU, LLC is a privately held healthcare company focused on treating primary and recurrent prostate cancer using HIFU, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure. US HIFU was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.
About the Sonablate(R) 500
The Sonablate(R) 500 is a minimally invasive medical device that utilizes ultrasound energy to destroy tissue within the body. It was developed and is manufactured by Focus Surgery, Inc. Misonix, Inc. holds distribution rights in Europe and Takai Hospital Supply Ltd. and THS International distribute the Sonablate(R) 500 in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The Sonablate(R) 500 is not approved for use in the U.S. The Sonablate(R) 500 remains investigational in the U.S. and is being studied for the treatment of prostate cancer in clinical trials in the U.S. FDA has made no decision as to the safety or efficacy of the Sonablate(R) 500 for the treatment of prostate cancer.
SOURCE US HIFU, LLC
CONTACT: Amanda Willis of US HIFU, LLC, +1-704-936-1823,
amandawillis@ushifu.com
Web site: http://www.internationalhifu.com/
