Independent Survey Names CyberKnife(R) System Most Widely Used Extracranial Radiosurgery Technology
SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today results of an independent survey, which concluded that the CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System is the only extracranial radiosurgery technology in widespread, routine clinical use.
The survey also showed that hospitals with all-purpose units -- which combine radiotherapy and radiosurgery systems -- rarely use the devices for extracranial radiosurgery treatments. In fact, on average, each all-purpose unit was used to treat only five patients per year with extracranial tumors, compared to approximately 91 extracranial patients treated with each CyberKnife System.
In its second year, this survey charts the rapid growth of radiosurgery for treatment of extracranial tumors and reinforces findings from 2006, which also indicated the CyberKnife System was the most widely used device for extracranial radiosurgery. Last year approximately 50 percent of the CyberKnife Systems were used half of the time or more for extracranial treatments. This year, survey data show that 74 percent of CyberKnife Systems are now used half of the time or more to treat extracranial tumors. In contrast, less than 1 percent of all-purpose units currently are used at this level. This low usage suggests that these devices have virtually no measurable impact on the rapidly expanding extracranial radiosurgery market. In contrast, 100 percent of CyberKnife Systems are being utilized for some type of extracranial procedure, with prostate, lung and spine treatments increasing most dramatically over the past year.
"Many hospitals are discovering that they can address a wider variety of patients -- particularly those who want an alternative to surgery or have been diagnosed with inoperable tumors -- by offering radiosurgery treatments," said Eric P. Lindquist, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Accuray. "As a result, the market for extracranial radiosurgery is growing universally. This year's survey once again offers clear evidence that, unlike BrainLAB's Novalis, Elekta's Synergy, TomoTherapy's HiArt and Varian's Trilogy, the CyberKnife System, as a dedicated radiosurgery system, is the only device that is truly making a significant contribution to that growth."
Survey Methodology
Dominic & Irvine Research, an independent market research firm, surveyed 1,460 radiation oncology sites in the United States by telephone between June and December of 2007 to determine the nature of their radiation oncology program, the systems that were utilized at the site (linear accelerator, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, etc.), and the pattern of equipment usage for both intracranial and extracranial treatments. All-purpose units, as referenced above, include Varian Medical Systems' Trilogy(TM), Elekta's Synergy(R), BrainLAB's Novalis(R) and TomoTherapy's Hi-Art(R). Interviews were conducted with the head or director of radiation oncology as well as radiation oncologists and physicists at some sites.
About the CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System
The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is the world's only robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body non-invasively. Using continual image guidance technology and computer controlled robotic mobility, the CyberKnife System automatically tracks, detects and corrects for tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment. This enables the CyberKnife System to deliver high-dose radiation with pinpoint precision, which minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and eliminates the need for invasive head or body stabilization frames.
About Accuray
Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a global leader in the field of radiosurgery dedicated to providing an improved quality of life and a non-surgical treatment option for those diagnosed with cancer. Accuray develops and markets the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, which extends the benefits of radiosurgery to include extracranial tumors, including those in the spine, lung, prostate, liver and pancreas. To date, the CyberKnife System has been used to treat more than 40,000 patients worldwide and currently more than 125 systems have been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit http://www.accuray.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
The foregoing may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the medical device industry. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, clinical studies, regulatory review and approval, and commercialization of products are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make include: procedure growth, market acceptance of products; competing products, the combination of our products with complementary technology; and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 29, 2007 and may be updated from time to time by our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results of operations may differ significantly from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of these and other factors. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Accuray03/06/2008
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