Press
Releases
Three
major hospitals in the UK adopt cryotherapy as a minimally
invasive treatment option for prostate cancer patients
New York (August 13, 2003) — As the global
leader in minimally invasive prostate cancer treatment
products ONCURA™ supports increased availability
of cryotherapy for the treatment of localized prostate
cancer. UK patients can now access this therapy at
three major centers of excellence. Cromwell Hospital
and Princess Grace Hospital, along with Sunderland
Royal Hospital, have introduced cryotherapy programs
utilizing ONCURA’s unique third generation,
ultra-thin needle technology.
“The precision of ONCURA’s third generation
equipment allowed me, using ultrasound imaging, to accurately
position the ultra-fine needles, to sculpt a frozen
region to the exact shape of the cancerous tissue and
consequently destroy it”, said Professor Kirby,
who is Professor of Urology at St Georges Hospital,
London. He added, “This method of treatment is
quick and simple, allowing the patient to be treated
as an outpatient or inpatient, and has few complications.”
ONCURA has a unique ability to offer physicians treating
localized prostate cancer the leading minimally invasive
treatment options; brachytherapy for patients with early
stage disease and cryotherapy for those with more advanced
localized disease. The combination of the leading products
in these two segments positions ONCURA as the provider
of minimally invasive options across the spectrum of
prostate cancer. Cryotherapy is also one of the few
options available to men with recurrent prostate
cancer.
"Our initial experience with cryotherapy has been
very positive and patients are happy with the lack of
post treatment symptoms,” added Mr. Damian Green,
Urological Surgeon at Sunderland Royal Hospital. He
added, “I’m expecting the development of
cryotherapy in the UK to decrease the time from diagnosis
to treatment for patients with prostate cancer."
“ONCURA will continue to support the development
of cryotherapy and brachytherapy programs in the UK,
as well as across Europe,” said Elizabeth Usher,
ONCURA’s Vice President and General Manager, International.
“Princess Grace, Sunderland Royal Hospital and
Cromwell Hospital all exemplify a commitment to bringing
the latest technology to their patients, in this case
those with prostate cancer.”
ONCURA was created through the merger of Amersham’s
(LSE, NYSE, OSE: AHM) brachytherapy business with Galil
Medical Ltd’s urology business. Headquartered
in the United States, ONCURA operates as an independent
business of Amersham plc, with Galil holding a minority
position of 25 percent. ONCURA has a major global presence
in the treatment of prostate cancer, combining the market
leadership of Amersham in brachytherapy with the rapidly
growing area of cryotherapy.
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ONCURA combines Amersham’s global leadership
in prostate brachytherapy with Galil’s innovative
cryotherapy technology. Brachytherapy involves the placement
of small radioactive seeds in the prostate, sparing
patients from the more invasive radical prostatectomy
surgery. Cryotherapy is a rapidly growing minimally
invasive hyper-cooling treatment that enables rapid
and controlled destruction of cancerous tissue in which
Galil Medical’s third-generation system is the
leader. Cryotherapy is also an option for the treatment
of kidney cancer.
CONTACT: Andrew Bright
(609) 514 6531
andrew.bright@oncura.com
Kristie Kuhl
(212) 508-9642
kkuhl@makovsky.com
