US FDA Panel Backs Hologic, Inc.'s 3-D Mammogram System

BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Hologic, Inc. (Hologic or the Company) (Nasdaq: HOLX), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, announced that the Radiological Devices Panel (Panel) of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today unanimously voted that Hologic’s Pre-Market Approval (PMA) demonstrated both the effectiveness and safety of the Company’s Selenia Dimensions three-dimensional (3-D) digital mammography tomosynthesis system, “Selenia Dimensions 3-D.” In addition, the Panel voted in favor that the benefits of this new technology outweigh the risks.

Following today’s FDA Panel meeting, which was held in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Hologic will work with the FDA on next steps for approval of its 3-D digital mammography system. While the Panel’s favorable vote is advisory in nature, the FDA will consider it in its final review of Hologic’s PMA application for the Selenia Dimensions tomosynthesis system.

“Our Selenia Dimensions 3-D technology marks tremendous progress in the early diagnosis of breast cancer,” said Jay A. Stein, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer. “The system is designed to increase accuracy when screening women for the presence of cancerous tissue, and to enable a more precise characterization of suspicious lesions. I speak for all of Hologic in voicing great satisfaction that the FDA Panel has weighed in so positively in favor of this valuable new tool in the battle to limit breast cancer mortality.”

Hologic’s Selenia Dimensions 3-D digital mammography tomosynthesis system is a new method for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Unlike current mammography systems, which generate a two-dimensional (2-D) image, breast tomosynthesis produces a three-dimensional image. We believe our multicenter clinical study has demonstrated that compared to 2-D digital mammography alone, 3-D digital tomosynthesis used in combination with 2-D digital mammography has the potential to reduce recall rates and improve cancer detection.

Hologic’s Selenia Dimensions 3-D digital mammography tomosynthesis system is presently commercially available outside the United States, including countries in Europe, Latin America and Asia. In North America, commercial systems are installed in Canada and Mexico. In the United States, Selenia Dimensions is currently available as a two dimensional only system that can be upgraded to do breast tomosynthesis (3-D) imaging when and if the product is approved by the FDA.

“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of today’s FDA Panel meeting,” said Rob Cascella, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Hologic has worked diligently on the development of breast tomosynthesis to overcome the primary limitation of the existing 2-D imaging technology, which is that the superimposition of normal breast anatomy may mask a breast cancer. Our Selenia Dimensions platform represents the next phase in breast cancer detection - fast, high-quality 2-D and 3-D digital tomosynthesis imaging of the breast. We look forward to working with the FDA to help complete the review process and bring this important new tool to radiologists to help save more women’s lives.”

About Hologic, Inc.

Hologic, Inc. is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics products, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women. Hologic’s core business units are focused on breast health, diagnostics, GYN surgical, and skeletal health. Hologic provides a comprehensive suite of technologies with products for mammography and breast biopsy, radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer, cervical cancer screening, treatment for menorrhagia, permanent contraception, osteoporosis assessment, preterm birth risk assessment, mini C-arm for extremity imaging and molecular diagnostic products including HPV and reagents for a variety of DNA and RNA analysis applications. For more information, visit www.hologic.com.

Hologic, Dimensions and Selenia, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hologic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.

Forward Looking Disclaimer

This News Release contains forward-looking information that involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including statements about the outcome of the Panel review of Hologic’s Selenia Dimensions digital breast tomosynthesis system, and the anticipated benefits of that system. The Panel review is only one step in the FDA’s review process and its vote on safety and efficacy is advisory only. Hologic is unable to predict the outcome of the FDA’s final review of its PMA. There can be no assurance that the FDA would approve Hologic’s system on a timely basis, if at all. In addition, even if approved, the FDA could impose conditions to such approval that would significantly limit the use or commercialization of the system. Moreover, there can be no assurance the system will achieve the anticipated benefits described herein, or that such benefits will be replicated in any particular manner with respect to an individual patient as the actual effect of the use of the system can only be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the particular circumstances and patient in question. Among other things, newly introduced products may contain undetected errors or defects or otherwise not perform as anticipated. The risks and uncertainties included above are not exhaustive. Other factors that could adversely affect the Company’s business and prospects are described in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hologic expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to the data or statements presented herein to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such data or statements are based.

SOURCE Hologic, Inc.