SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated
(Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today
significant growth in CyberKnife lung cancer treatments in calendar year 2008.
The number of lung cancer patients treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery in the
United States grew 52 percent from calendar year 2007 to 2008 and 43 percent
worldwide. Additionally the overall number of patients treated with
CyberKnife radiosurgery grew to more than 60,000 patients - a 14 percent
increase from calendar year 2007 to 2008, demonstrating the increasing
awareness and continued rapid adoption of CyberKnife radiosurgery, with lung
being the leading extracranial indication by utilization in calendar year
2008.
The increasing interest in CyberKnife radiosurgery for lung tumors was
further validated at this year's Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Meeting in
San Francisco. Recent publication of several clinical papers describing the
benefits of the CyberKnife System's accurate delivery of high dose radiation
to treat lung cancer has helped to raise the profile of the CyberKnife System,
particularly amongst this group of physicians.
Discussions by leading thoracic surgeons, such as James Luketich, M.D.,
Chief of The Heart, Lung and Esophageal Surgery Institute at the University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center highlighted the efficacy and resulting increased
demand for CyberKnife treatments for lung cancer patients, while also
emphasizing the need for thoracic surgeons to increase their awareness and
involvement with CyberKnife radiosurgery. Dr. Luketich's points were further
underscored by Richard Whyte, M.D., Professor of Thoracic Surgery at Stanford
University School of Medicine. During his STS University session, Dr. Whyte
reviewed the importance of the CyberKnife System as a tool available to the
thoracic surgeon while also emphasizing the critical role surgeons play in the
CyberKnife treatment process.
Jack A. Roth, M.D., Professor of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and
Johnson Distinguished Chair at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center and others discussed the potential of CyberKnife radiosurgery, and in
particular, the recently launched randomized, worldwide multicenter study of
CyberKnife versus surgery for operable lung cancer. Currently the standard of
care for early stage lung cancer patients is surgical removal of the tumor
through a procedure known as lobectomy. Such procedures not only require
considerable patient recovery and associated risks of infection and bleeding,
they're also resource and cost intensive for providers and payors. While the
CyberKnife System is currently accepted as a non-invasive treatment option for
inoperable patients, this study is designed to provide evidence that may
revolutionize the way operable early stage lung cancer is treated worldwide.
All of these highlights from the meeting are clear indications that
physicians and patients are increasingly seeing the impact and value of
CyberKnife radiosurgery in the treatment of lung cancer.
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 60,000 patients
worldwide and currently more than 155 systems have been installed in leading
hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit
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, including statements relating to
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: 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-K for the 2008
fiscal year, as updated in our Form 10-Q filed on February 5, 2009 and 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 Accuray Incorporated
03/02/2009
CONTACT: Stephanie Tomei, Senior Manager, Public Relations, of Accuray
Incorporated, +1-408-789-4234, stomei@accuray.com; or Brianne Donohue of
Schwartz Communications, +1-415-817-2545, bdonahue@schwartz-pr.com, for
Accuray Incorporated
Web Site: http://www.accuray.com
