Varian to Distribute MammoSite Device in Europe

Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) and Proxima Therapeutics, Inc. (Alpharetta, GA, USA) have announced a European distribution agreement, whereby Varian will make available to healthcare providers in Europe Proxima's MammoSite device for treating breast cancer with localized high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. The agreement is expected to facilitate European patients' access to accelerated partial breast brachytherapy for the treatment of early stage breast cancer.

"This type of partial breast irradiation is becoming an increasingly common method of treatment in the US. We have teamed up with Proxima to bring the benefits of MammoSite technology to European patients,” said William D. Hyatt, general manager of Varian Medical Systems.

"This agreement provides cancer centers across the whole of Europe with reliable access to the technology they require to offer patients accelerated partial breast brachytherapy for state-of-the-art breast cancer treatments,” added Timothy J. Patrick, president and CEO of Proxima Therapeutics.

Accelerated partial breast brachytherapy following lumpectomy delivers a full course of radiation treatment over a period of five days. The method is used to deliver radiation directly to the tissue immediately surrounding the excised tumor, where cancer is most likely recur, while minimizing the exposure of healthy tissues. Physicians can insert the device's balloon catheter into the cavity that is left when a tumor has been surgically removed. A computer-controlled HDR brachytherapy afterloader, such as Varian's VariSource or GammaMed afterloaders, can then be used to transfer a tiny radioactive source into the balloon catheter. This is performed daily for five days.




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Varian Medical Systems
Proxima Therapeutics, Inc.