TomoTherapy To Install Hi-Art(R) Treatment System At Leading Veterinary Medical School

Main Category: Radiology / Nuclear Medicine
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 31 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) announced plans to install its advanced radiation therapy system at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. Upon completion of installation, this will be the first TomoTherapy® Hi-Art® treatment system in the world to be used for veterinary medicine.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle recently signed a bill that authorizes construction of a new school wing, where the Hi-Art treatment system will be installed. The goal is for construction to begin in the fall of 2008, with treatments starting in late 2009 or early 2010.

The technology has come full circle. The UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine was involved with the first TomoTherapySM clinical trials, which involved treating pet dogs with nasal tumors (especially sensitive to treat because they are close to the dog's eyes and brain).

"This will be the only TomoTherapy unit in use for veterinary medicine," says Dr. David Vail, an oncologist at UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. "People are willing to travel a great distance for more effective and less toxic treatment for their pets. When we participated in the initial trials for this technology, we drew clients from all over North America."

"We will be able to do state-of-the-art therapy for pets and prolong their lives," adds Dr. Lisa Forrest, a radiologist at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. "It should also translate into new therapies for human cancer patients."

Dr. Vail agrees that new ways of applying the technology could benefit humans because dog cancers are similar to human cancers.

Del Coufal, vice president of marketing at TomoTherapy Incorporated adds, "It's exciting to think about the clinical treatment possibilities, as well as the cancer care advancements, that will be made possible by combining the world's premier radiotherapy solution with such a well-recognized and outstanding veterinary institution."

About TomoTherapy Incorporated

TomoTherapy Incorporated has developed, markets and sells the TomoTherapy® Hi-Art® treatment system, an advanced radiation therapy system for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. The Hi-Art treatment system combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. The company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO.

http://www.TomoTherapy.com