Non-Invasive Brachytherapy Treatment Supplements Breast Conservation Therapy
BUFORD, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Theragenics Corporation®, a medical device company serving the cancer treatment and surgical product markets, has reached an agreement with Advanced Radiation Therapy, LLC to distribute the AccuBoost® technology for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. The AccuBoost technology, developed by Advanced Radiation Therapy of Tyngsboro, MA, is used to provide a radiation “boost” following a lumpectomy. A radiation boost to the lumpectomy cavity margin as part of breast conservation therapy is the standard of care to minimize cancer recurrence. AccuBoost is also used as a non-invasive option for accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), a form of primary radiation therapy following lumpectomy. Under the agreement Theragenics is the exclusive third-party distributor of AccuBoost in the United States.
“AccuBoost is a unique technology developed by Advanced Radiation Therapy, an innovative company. Our brachytherapy expertise complements their technical system expertise perfectly. Our established channels in the radiation oncology market segment will make AccuBoost more widely available and expand treatment choices, a plus for breast cancer patients.”
AccuBoost, a real time mammography-guided radiation therapy, has been used to treat over 5,000 women since 2007. The technology’s real-time mammographic imaging provides advantages over other methods of delivering a radiation boost by allowing the physician to visualize the tumor bed and define the appropriate margin to target as the treatment is given. The ability to precisely target the radiation dose minimizes exposure to surrounding tissue and organs such as the heart and lungs. Use of AccuBoost may also result in improved cosmetic outcomes as compared with other methods of delivering a radiation boost1,2.
“This is an exciting step in our history,” stated Frank J. Tarallo, Chief Executive Officer of Theragenics Corporation. “For over 30 years we have supported the radiation oncology community with our brachytherapy products for the treatment of men with early stage prostate cancer, and we will continue to do so. AccuBoost allows us to utilize our expertise to provide an excellent brachytherapy treatment option for women with early stage breast cancer. Throughout our history our message to men with prostate cancer has been to know the treatment options. Our message to women facing breast cancer will be identical. Indeed, the mission of our brachytherapy business has been to cure one patient of cancer with each and every order that we ship. AccuBoost underscores our mission of supporting the cure of cancer, and expands on our longtime commitment to the radiation oncology community.”
Mr. Tarallo continued, “AccuBoost is a unique technology developed by Advanced Radiation Therapy, an innovative company. Our brachytherapy expertise complements their technical system expertise perfectly. Our established channels in the radiation oncology market segment will make AccuBoost more widely available and expand treatment choices, a plus for breast cancer patients.”
Piran Sioshansi, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Radiation Therapy, remarked, “AccuBoost has a proven track record of effective treatment of breast cancer. Theragenics provides expertise in the sales and marketing of radioactive devices and an extensive brachytherapy distribution channel. Theragenics’ ability to grow AccuBoost utilization and expand access to the technology will be well received by both patients and health care providers.”
About Theragenics
Theragenics Corporation® is a medical device company focusing on the cancer treatment and surgical products market. Theragenics’ brachytherapy business manufactures and sells products used primarily in the minimally invasive treatment of localized prostate cancer (www.theragenicsbrachy.com) and breast cancer. The surgical products business (www.cpmedical.com, www.galtmedical.com, www.needletech.com) manufactures and distributes wound closure, vascular access, and specialty needle products. The surgical segment serves a number of markets including interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, vascular surgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery, dental surgery, urology, veterinary medicine, pain management, endoscopy, and spinal surgery. For additional information, visit www.theragenics.com.
About Advanced Radiation Therapy
Advanced Radiation Therapy is an innovator in partial breast brachytherapy. The non-invasive, mammography-guided breast irradiation technology was developed and optimized specifically for treatment of the breast. AccuBoost can be found at select radiation oncology centers across the country. For more information on the AccuBoost technology, how typical treatments utilizing the AccuBoost Applicators are delivered, as well as patient and physician support information, visit www.accuboost.com.
1 http://www.accuboost.com/publications-studies/
2 “A Multi-Institutional Study of Feasibility, Implementation, and Early Clinical Results with Noninvasive Breast Brachytherapy for Tumor Bed Boost”, Hamid et al., International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Vol 83, Number 5, 2012
Contacts
Theragenics Corporation
Lisa Rassel, 770-831-5137
www.theragenics.com
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