LYON, France, Nov. 2, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, reported today successful completion of feasibility studies aimed at improving delivery of cancer drugs using a combination of ultrasound sensitive liposomes and High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).
This 3-year EUREKA label research cooperation program between Epitarget AS, a Norwegian Company, French academic laboratory INSERM and EDAP, confirmed that HIFU activates the encapsulated cancer drug doxorubicin after accumulation in solid tumors and thereby facilitates drug delivery. The parties plan to initiate a pre-clinical study to validate safety and efficacy of the innovative approach.
Research and Development Director, Emmanuel Blanc said, "The completion of this feasibility study marks a pre-clinical milestone as it further demonstrates EDAP's ability to adapt its HIFU technology to new therapeutic applications. Between our extensive experience in focused ultrasound development and INSERM's expertise in HIFU, we are very well positioned to utilize our innovative HIFU technology for such targeted therapeutic approaches.
Esben A. Nilssen PhD, Epitarget's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our team is very excited that the demonstration of Epitarget's ultrasound sensitive liposomes in combination with therapeutic ultrasound enhanced the efficacy of established cancer drugs. It provides hope to millions of cancer patients, illustrates the innovative force of cross-functional teams, and fills Epitarget with energy and determination to continue the leading role in this innovative program."
Marc Oczachowski, EDAP's Chief Executive Officer, continued, "Therapeutic ultrasound is gradually gaining ground in cancer treatment approach. We clearly see a growing interest in minimally invasive focal therapies for cancer tumors. Our 20 years expertise in the treatment of localized prostate cancer using HIFU has long been demonstrated and we are excited to further participate in the development of such new projects aiming at improving cancer drug delivery."
Marc Oczachowski concluded: "While we expand our expertise in HIFU to further applications, we remain fully focused on developing our HIFU technology and adapt it to the current focal therapy trend to treat prostate cancers. We believe that the focal therapy approach represents a unique opportunity for Ablatherm HIFU to become the gold standard of treatment for prostate cancer."
Epitarget AS is a Norwegian therapeutics company dedicated to developing cancer therapies through novel targeting methods. For more information, please visit http://www.epitarget.com.
INSERM is the only French public organization entirely dedicated to biological, medical and public health research. The participating Unit 556 in Lyon entirely focuses on therapeutic applications of ultrasound. For more information, please visit http://www.inserm.fr.
About EDAP TMS SA
EDAP TMS SA develops and markets Ablatherm, the most advanced and clinically proven choice for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of localized prostate cancer. HIFU treatment is shown to be a minimally invasive and effective treatment option with a low occurrence of side effects. Ablatherm-HIFU is generally recommended for patients with localized prostate cancer (stages T1-T2) who are not candidates for surgery or who prefer an alternative option, or for patients who failed radiotherapy treatment. Approved in Europe as a treatment for prostate cancer, Ablatherm-HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) is currently undergoing evaluation in a multicenter U.S. Phase II/III clinical trial under an Investigational Device Exemption granted by the FDA, the ENLIGHT U.S. clinical study. The Company also is developing this technology for the potential treatment of certain other types of tumors. EDAP TMS SA also produces and commercializes medical equipment for treatment of urinary tract stones using extra-corporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). For more information on the Company, please visit http://www.edap-tms.com, http://www.hifu-planet.com.