SEATTLE—March 24, 2011—Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., a developer of real-time localization technology used for the precise tracking of cancerous tumors, today announced the installation of a Calypso® System at the The Harley Street Clinic, a leading cancer center in London. The installation will provide prostate cancer patients with the benefits of accurate, precise, real-time tumor tracking during external beam radiation therapy delivery.
“We already have the most comprehensive diagnostic and treatment technology capabilities in Europe but it is vitally important to bring the very latest equipment into our center for the benefit of our patients,” said Neil Buckley, chief executive officer of The Harley Street Clinic. “The Calypso System is an important new tool in the treatment of prostate cancer.”
“The Calypso System is the only commercially available real-time tracking system for radiation therapy shown to improve patient outcomes for prostate cancer,” said Vincenzo la Bella, managing director of Europe at Calypso Medical. “We are pleased to partner with The Harley Street Clinic and our UK distributor Vertec Scientific to enrich patient care by delivering precision-guided radiation while reducing side effects. This marks another important milestone in our international expansion.”
According to Cancer Research UK, each year approximately 36,000 men in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with prostate cancer. In men in the United Kingdom, it is the leading cancer diagnosis and is the second most common cause of cancer death after lung cancer.
With its GPS for the Body® technology, the Calypso System utilizes miniature implanted Beacon® transponders to provide precise, continuous information on the location of the tumor during external beam radiation therapy. Any movement by the patient, including internal movement of the tumor, may cause the radiation to miss its intended target and hit adjacent healthy tissue. In contrast to other tumor targeting solutions, the Calypso System provides real-time tumor position information, thereby allowing physicians to deliver radiation directly to the tumor while sparing the surrounding healthy organs from exposure. In contrast to other guidance techniques, Calypso’s electromagnetic technology is the only non-ionizing guidance solution to keep the treatment precisely focused on the prostate or post-operative prostatic bed without adding unnecessary radiation.
A recent clinical study entitled, “Assessing the Impact of Margin Reduction (AIM),” published in Urology, demonstrated that prostate tumor tracking utilizing the Calypso System during high-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) allowed physicians to deliver a higher dose of radiation with smaller planning treatment volume (PTV) margins, while reducing treatment-related side effects.
The Calypso System is installed in over 100 leading cancer centers worldwide including: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center and the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ).
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About Calypso Medical
Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc. is a Seattle-based, privately held medical device company. The Company’s proprietary tumor localization system utilizes miniaturized implanted devices (Beacon electromagnetic transponders) to continuously, accurately and objectively track the location of tumors for improved accuracy and management of radiation therapy delivery. The technology is designed for body-wide cancers commonly treated with radiation therapy. The products are FDA 510(k) cleared for use in the prostate and post-operative prostatic bed. The Company has strategic relationships with Varian Medical Systems, Siemens Healthcare, Elekta Corporation and Philips Medical. Additional information can be found at www.calypsomedical.com.
Jon Siegal/Wendy Mejia
Schwartz Communications
(781) 684-0770
calypsomedical@schwartz-pr.com
David Betz
Calypso Medical
(206) 330-2621
dbetz@calypsomedical.com
