LYON, France, March 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), a global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced today that it will partner with PanAm HIFU to offer minimally invasive HIFU treatment to North American prostate cancer patients, with the installation of an Ablatherm device in Cancun, Mexico in the near future. PanAm HIFU is a urology practice located in Sarasota, FL that provides prostate cancer patients access to Ablatherm-HIFU treatments in London, England and Cancun, Mexico.
Marc Oczachowski, Chief Executive Officer of EDAP TMS, commented, "Since we regained distribution rights for our Ablatherm-HIFU device in Canada and the Caribbean in January this year, we have received many requests from urologists in the U.S. to be trained on and have access to Ablatherm HIFU at offshore locations. We are very pleased to announce that we signed a partnership agreement with PanAm HIFU and its medical team that is experienced in treating prostate cancer with HIFU technology. This team has experience in using EDAP's Ablatherm technology in the United Kingdom. Our new partnership agreement will give PanAm HIFU access to our Ablatherm HIFU technology in Cancun, Mexico to treat their prostate cancer patients starting in April 2012."
Dr. Ronald Wheeler, M.D., urologist and medical director of PanAm HIFU, commented, "We are delighted to offer this beautiful venue to our patients and to those of other U.S. physicians, who may want to be trained on this exciting robotic Ablatherm technology. Several of our patients have reported positive outcomes after receiving focal prostate cancer treatment with EDAP's Ablatherm-HIFU device. Cancun offers spectacular 'medical tourism' as well as five-star hospital facilities. Our website, www.panamhifu.com, provides information on the Cancun treatment venue."
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 multi-center U.S. Phase II/III clinical trial under an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) 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 (the Sonolith® range) 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, and http://www.hifu-planet.com.