TORONTO, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Novadaq(R) Technologies Inc. , a developer of real-time medical imaging systems and image guided therapies for the operating room, today announced that it will launch the PINPOINT(TM) endoscopic imaging system at the Annual Meeting of American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), CHEST 2007, to be held in Chicago, IL, October 22nd - 25th, 2007. PINPOINT is based upon the endoscopic technology Novadaq acquired from Xillix Technologies Inc., and is designed to not only perform white light bronchoscopy, but also the more clinically relevant imaging commonly referred to as autofluorescence and narrow band imaging. Many studies have shown autofluorescence to be more effective in the detection and localization of central airway cancers than conventional white light bronchoscopy. The ACCP Evidence Based Practice Guidelines now recommend the use of autofluorescence bronchoscopy for the localization of certain lung cancers, for guiding endoluminal therapies, and as a surveillance tool in patients with pre-invasive disease.
“Autofluorescence bronchoscopy has definitely enhanced my ability to treat patients with lung cancer and I am glad to see that it is now being recommended by the ACCP,” said Patrick Ross, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of Thoracic Surgery at Ohio State University and Director of Thoracic Oncology at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital. “Autofluorescence, compared to the gold standard white light bronchoscopy, provides a more detailed assessment of the patient’s anatomy before pulmonary resection, a more accurate assessment for the presence of early lung cancers, and the ability to more precisely perform endoluminal therapies such as Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT). Autofluorescence bronchoscopy has become firmly incorporated as a standard of care into our algorithm for the management of patients with lung cancer.”
Thoracic surgery is typically performed by heart surgeons who are already Novadaq’s targeted customers for the SPY Imaging System. Additionally, thoracic surgeon specialists within the same practice, or specialists at cancer centers represent a synergistic and significant target market for PINPOINT. Protected by a significant portfolio of registered patents, PINPOINT does not require the administration of any contrast agent, but instead utilizes the fluorescence signal from the naturally occurring fluorophors in lung tissue to assist doctors in localizing pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions. It is expected that surgeons and specialists would use these enhanced imaging capabilities to plan and deliver minimally invasive treatments such as, PDT or Cryotherapy. A multi-center clinical trial of safety and effectiveness demonstrated that the use of Novadaq’s autofluorescence imaging technology resulted in a 325% per lesion and a 250% per patient improvement in the detection of early stage lung cancers compared to conventional white light bronchoscopy. Another clinical study of 151 patients showed that autofluorescence was more sensitive than flexible video bronchoscopy (FVB). Autofluorescence effectively identified 96% or more of lesions of moderate dysplasia, compared to only 72% with FVB, as referenced in the ACCP guidelines.
“PINPOINT further deepens our value proposition to the Cardiothoracic surgical specialty and furthers the agenda for more minimally invasive image guided surgeries,” said Dr. Arun Menawat, President and CEO of Novadaq Technologies, Inc. “Bronchoscopy is routinely done, but conducting the same procedure using PINPOINT allows surgeons to capture images that are proven to be far more clinically relevant and may lead to better patient care and outcomes including the potential to save lives.”
About Novadaq Technologies
Novadaq Technologies Inc. develops and commercializes medical imaging systems and real-time image guided therapies for use in the operating room. Novadaq’s proprietary ICG imaging systems can be used to visualize blood vessels, nerves and the lymphatic system during a variety of surgical procedures. Novadaq’s SPY(R) Imaging System, commercially available worldwide, enables cardiac surgeons to visually assess coronary vasculature and bypass graft functionality during the course of heart bypass surgery. The SPY System is expandable to include upgrade kits for use during other surgeries such as plastic, reconstructive and organ transplant surgery allowing surgeons to evaluate blood flow and tissue and organ perfusion. In addition, SPY is ideal for use during urological procedures enabling surgeons to visualize vessels, tumors, the lymphatic system and potentially nerve bundles. Novadaq’s OPTTX(R) System is aimed at the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by using the same core imaging technology that is used in the SPY Imaging System. Novadaq also offers the FDA approved PINPOINT(TM) endoscopic system for visualizing native tissue fluorescence which allows surgeons to differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissue in the lung during thoracic surgery. Novadaq is also the exclusive United States distributor of PLC Medical’s CO(2) HEART LASER(TM) System for TMR (Trans-Myocardial Revascularization). For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.novadaq.com.
Certain statements included in this press release may be considered forward-looking. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on Novadaq’s current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Novadaq and relate to, among other things, anticipated financial performance, business prospects, strategies, regulatory developments, the market entry (and timing thereof) of additional suppliers of ICG, market acceptance and future commitments for the PINPOINT endoscopic imaging system and other Novadaq devices. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by Novadaq in its public securities filings; actual events may differ materially from current expectations. Novadaq disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: visit our website at www.novadaq.com, or contact: Arun Menawat,
PhD, MBA, President & CEO, Novadaq Technologies Inc., (905) 629-3822 x 202,
amenawat@novadaq.com; Michael Moore, Investor Relations, The Equicom Group,
(416) 815-0700 x 241, mmoore@equicomgroup.com