Prostate Cancer Treatment Milestone: 1600th Patient Treated Internationally With Sonablate(R) 500 HIFU

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 22 Feb 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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International HIFU, a company that makes HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) technologies available to treat prostate cancer patients at centers outside the United States, announced today that the 1600th patient has been treated outside of the United States using Sonablate® 500 minimally invasive HIFU therapy. The Sonablate® 500 is not approved for use in the U.S. but is undergoing Phase III clinical trials as a treatment for prostate cancer across the U.S. at elite medical institutions such as the NYU School of Medicine.

HIFU is a state-of-the-art technology that uses the power of ultrasound to destroy deep-seated tissue with pinpoint accuracy for treatment of prostate cancer. HIFU focuses sound waves in a targeted area, which rapidly increases the temperature in the focal zone, causing tissue destruction. One of the leading HIFU technologies is called Sonablate® 500, which is distributed and marketed outside the U.S. by International HIFU (http://www.InternationalHIFU.com). The Sonablate® 500 is designed to be the most advanced HIFU therapy available.

"Clinical trials outside the U.S. show HIFU to be a safe, effective treatment for patients with localized prostate cancer. I look forward to results of the Phase III clinical study currently underway in the U.S.," said Herbert Lepor, M.D., who has been Chairman of Urology at NYU Langone Medical Center since 1993. Dr. Lepor has pioneered surgical techniques for removing the prostate while preserving sexual function. He serves as medical monitor for the trials and is responsible for overseeing the U.S. clinical trials of Sonablate® 500 HIFU.

About USHIFU

USHIFU is a worldwide leader in the development, distribution and use of minimally invasive, high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies.

About International HIFU

International HIFU is the entity through which USHIFU conducts its international business operations and makes the HIFU technologies available to patients at centers outside the United States where such use is authorized, approved or otherwise permitted.

CAUTION

Sonablate® 500 is not approved for use in the U.S. It remains investigational in the U.S. and is being studied as a prostate cancer treatment in clinical trials in the U.S. The FDA has made no decision as to the safety or efficacy of Sonablate® 500 for the treatment of prostate cancer.

International HIFU

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