New clinical research program will focus on advanced image-guided radiotherapy
for cancer patients
MILWAUKEE, September 20, 2016 – Elekta (EKTA-B.ST), its MRI technology partner
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) and the Froedtert & the Medical College of
Wisconsin Cancer Network recently began installation of an investigational high
-field MR-adaptive linear accelerator (MR-linac) system at the Froedtert & MCW
Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital, eastern Wisconsin’s only academic
medical center.
The Clinical Cancer Center, part of the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network, is the
second U.S. and fifth global site to install the MR-linac system, which is
already under functional evaluation at The Netherlands Cancer Institute;
University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands; The University of Texas MD
Anderson Cancer Center, Houston Texas; and the Institute of Cancer Research,
working with its clinical partner The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in
London.
In 2013, the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network joined Elekta’s MR-linac research
consortium, a global collaboration of institutions focused on uniting leaders in
radiation oncology, MR-imaging and physics. The mission of the consortium is to
investigate that MR-linac technology can lead to improved patient outcomes for
existing radiation therapy indications and extend radiation therapy for
additional indications.
“For more than a decade, the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network has been at the
forefront of the evolution of radiation therapy with the goal of providing more
personalized treatments,” said Christopher Schultz, MD, FACR, Professor and
Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology, at the Froedtert & MCW Cancer
Network. “The foundational work we’ve been doing with MRI-based treatment
planning strongly positions us to be among the experts invited to help develop
this latest milestone in treating cancer.”
Elekta’s MR-linac integrates, for the first time, an ultramodern radiotherapy
system and a high-field MRI scanner with novel software. It enables a physician
to capture diagnostic quality images of tumors and surrounding tissues during
radiation therapy delivery. The MR-linac is designed to improve targeting of
tumor tissue while reducing exposure of healthy tissue to radiation. It could
allow physicians to precisely target a tumor and lock onto it during treatment,
even when tumor tissue is moving during treatment or changes shape, location,
size or composition between treatment sessions.
Elekta and its global collaborators overcame significant engineering hurdles to
demonstrate the technology’s feasibility. Previously, experts in the field
thought it nearly impossible to combine MRI and linear accelerator devices
because the powerful MRI magnets could interfere with radiation beams.
“While we already have significant evidence supporting the potential of MR
-linac, fully realizing its practical applications will require rigorous
evaluation in real world clinical settings,” said J. Frank Wilson, MD, FACR,
FASTRO, radiation oncologist; Bernard and Miriam Peck Family Professor of
Radiation Oncology with Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network. “Initially, we will
focus on establishing clinical protocols and refining methods for data
collection and analysis in pancreatic cancer, a deadly disease with limited
treatment options. We are optimistic that MR-linac will be a critical
advancement in patient care and ultimately, improve outcomes in this and other
types of cancers.”
“We appreciate the continued guidance and support from the Froedtert & MCW
Cancer Network and our other consortium members, who have been instrumental in
advancing the development of high-field MR-linac,” said Kevin Brown, Elekta’s
Global Vice President of Scientific Research. “This installation marks the
latest milestone in our rapid progress to make this technology a clinical
reality, and we believe MR-linac will transform how radiotherapy is delivered
and establish new standards of care for difficult to treat cancers.”
“Philips is a pioneer and leader in image guided minimally invasive therapies, a
fast growing field because of the benefits for patients, hospitals and health
systems,” said Rob Cascella, CEO Diagnosis & Treatment Businesses at Philips.
“We have been expanding our efforts in interventional oncology, as we are
convinced that image-guided therapies will have a positive, transformational
impact on oncology. With the combined expertise of Elekta, Philips and other
consortium partners such as Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer
Network, we are entering an exciting new phase in exploring the potential of
image-guided radiotherapy as a game changer in cancer treatment.”
Consortium members are currently engaged in various stages of evaluation of the
technology and are collaborating to establish new clinical protocols and develop
methods for data collection and analysis. The consortium, which will gather for
an annual meeting at the Clinical Cancer Center September 29-30, is evaluating
how this new radiation treatment technology may improve care for patients with
prominent and deadly cancers including brain, breast, cervix, esophagus, lung,
oropharynx, pancreas, prostate and rectal cancers.
Elekta’s MR-linac is a work in progress and not available for sale or
distribution.
# # #
For further information, please contact:
Gert van Santen, Group Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta AB
Tel: +31 653 561 242, e-mail: gert.vansanten@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
Tobias Bülow, Director Financial Communication, Elekta AB
Tel: +46 722 215 017, email: tobias.bulow@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
Steve Klink, Philips Group Communications
Tel: +31 610 888 824, e-mail: steve.klink@philips.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
Gerry Steele, Media Relations Associate, Froedtert & the Medical College of
Wisconsin
Tel: +1 414-805-3057, e-mail: gerry.steele@froedtert.com
Time zone: CT: Central Time
The above information is such that Elekta AB (publ) shall make public in
accordance with the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments
Trading Act. The information was published at 07:30 CET on September 20, 2016.
About Elekta
Elekta (NSE:EKTAb) is a human care company pioneering significant innovations
and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company
develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems
for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow
enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the
boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource
-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both health care providers and
patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000
hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,600 employees globally. The
corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is
listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. Website: www.elekta.com.
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company
focused on improving people’s health and enabling better outcomes across the
health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and
home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer
insights to deliver integrated solutions. The company, headquartered in the
Netherlands, is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient
monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care.
Philips’ health technology portfolio generated 2015 sales of EUR 16.8 billion
and employs approximately 69,000 employees with sales and services in more than
100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.
About Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network
The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a
partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin. It
comprises eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, Froedtert Hospital,
Milwaukee; Community Memorial Hospital, Menomonee Falls; and St. Joseph’s
Hospital, West Bend. The health network also includes more than 2,700 physicians
across 25 primary and specialty clinical locations representing the
collaboration of Wisconsin’s largest multispecialty physician practice with a
community-based physician group. The network’s three hospitals have 804 staffed
beds, more than 40,000 annual admissions and nearly 966,000 annual outpatient
visits. Froedtert & MCW network physicians have more than 775,000 annual patient
visits at its health centers and clinics. For information, visit
froedtert.com (http://www.froedtert.com/).
