Paris, November 18, 2009 - Theraclion, the only medtech company in the world developing an innovative technology for the treatment of hyperparathyroidism (video), received the Frost & Sullivan European Ultrasound Technology Innovation Award on November 17th. Theraclion is particularly honored to receive this prestigious prize, which validates the fundamental need for the Ultrasound Non-Invasive Surgery (UNIS) technology and confirms the company’s ranking as a global leader in the ultrasound market.
“This award validates the therapeutic approach that we initiated just 5 years ago, when the company was incorporated. Ultrasound surgery is now perceived by many specialists worldwide as a valuable alternative in the treatment of primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. We shall soon be offering clinicians the first non-invasive, outpatient-based, scarless tool for treating these conditions”, commented Theraclion CEO Ismael Nujurally.
Since its creation in 2004, Theraclion has committed to validating its technology by the most respected specialists in head and neck pathologies. James Norman, MD, (one of the world’s foremost experts on parathyroid disease and the most experienced parathyroid surgeon in the world), Geoffrey Block, MD, (Director of Research at the Denver Nephrology Institute and a member of Theraclion’s Board of Directors) and Ralph Tufano, MD, (Director of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital) recently shared their enthusiasm for Theraclion’s technology via a series of testimonials (available at www.theraclion.com).
Theraclion’s technology
At present, hyperparathyroid patients have to choose between costly, chronic drug treatment and surgery, with its inherent risks. By leveraging its proprietary Ultrasound Non-Invasive Surgery (UNIS) method, Theraclion is developing medical technology which offers the first simple, non-invasive, lower-cost, outpatient-based alternative for treating this condition. Thanks to UNIS, high-intensity, focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment is performed under analgesia and takes around 30 minutes. The target is first identified using diagnostic ultrasound and then (thanks to the millimeter accuracy of HIFU beams) only target tissue is destroyed. After treatment, a blood test is used to check the patient’s parathyroid hormone, calcium and phosphate levels
About Theraclion
The Paris-based medtech specialist Theraclion was spun out from Edap-Technomed in 2004. By leveraging its proprietary Ultrasound Non-Invasive Surgery (UNIS method), Theraclion develops, produces and commercializes devices for non-invasive, outpatient treatment of primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism. The technology uses diagnostic ultrasound to identify the target and then high-intensity ultrasound to coagulate the tissue - thus enabling patients to avoid burdensome drug treatment and the risks of surgery. Primary hyperparathyroidism has a potential market of over €300 million and secondary hyperparathyroidism corresponds to a potential of 1.5 million easily accessible patients on dialysis. To date, Theraclion has raised €6.1 million from Truffle Capital, one of its founding investors. Theraclion is primarily responding to the needs of clinics and hospitals in Europe, the United States and Asia. The company has initiated procedures for gaining market approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The United States alone represents half of the global market. For more information on Theraclion, visit http://www.theraclion.com/
