Carl Zeiss Meditec AG / Significant Advance in Breast Cancer Therapy processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Clinical effectiveness of single, targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT) with INTRABEAM® proven by study - clear benefits for patients
JENA, GERMANY - 07 June 2010
Reduction of the duration of radiotherapy to one day and gentler treatment overall have now been clinically proven as benefits for breast cancer patients of a single course of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy with INTRABEAM® from Carl Zeiss Meditec. The procedure therefore has the potential to become the new standard treatment for early breast cancer. This has now been confirmed by the long-term international TARGIT-A study.
During intraoperative radiotherapy with INTRABEAM®, the surrounding tissue is targeted and irradiated during the operation directly after removal of the tumour. Healthy tissue is preserved. The TARGIT-A study is examining whether a single course of targeted, intraoperative radiotherapy administered using INTRABEAM has the same effect as a conventional, six-week course of external radiotherapy in patients with early breast cancer. The trial is the longest multicenter breast cancer study ever carried out. It was launched in March 2000 and has involved leading physicians and scientists from all over the world. Until now, 2,232 patients have participated in the study.
"The single course of intraoperative radiotherapy preserves the surrounding tissue during the treatment and reduces the dose on the skin," explains Professor Dr. Wenz, Director of the Universitätsklinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie in Mannheim and pioneer of the INTRABEAM treatment method. "For women with early breast cancer, the current daily dose of radiotherapy administered over a period of six weeks could soon be replaced by a single INTRABEAM treatment during the surgical removal of the tumour."
Today, roughly ten percent of certified breast cancer centres in Germany intraoperative radiotherapy with INTRABEAM. "These impressive study results mean that we have passed a key milestone in breast cancer treatment with INTRABEAM. INTRABEAM has the potential to become the new global standard treatment for breast cancer. We will continue to invest in this field, to enable as many patients as possible to receive INTRABEAM treatment," said Dr. Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.
Further information
About the TARGIT-A study
Since 1996, the international TARGIT group has researching a new method of delivering radiotherapy for breast cancer in which the treatment can be reduced to a single dose at the time of surgery. In this way, the affected tissue in the tumour bed can be irradiated from the inside out. The INTRABEAM radiotherapy system from Carl Zeiss is being used for this purpose. The intention of the study is to determine if the single dose can reduce the risk of recurrence of the cancer in the affected breast as effectively as the traditional post-operative method which lasts about six weeks. Chosen on a random basis, one half of the women taking part are offered conventional radiotherapy while the other half are offered intraoperative treatment. The results of the study were presented for the first time at the 2010 annual meeting of the ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) in Chicago.
www.targit-research.org (http://www.targit-research.org/), www.targit.org.uk (http://www.targit.org.uk/)
About the INTRABEAM® system
INTRABEAM®, Carl Zeiss Meditec's ground-breaking radiotherapy system, provides a gentle treatment method for breast cancer. The radiation dose from INTRABEAM® is administered to the tumour bed in the operating room. The system utilizes a miniature X-ray source, a highly flexible support stand and a full range of radiation applicator options. Because the applicator is positioned directly in the tumour bed, the radiation dose can be delivered precisely to the targeted tissue. Following treatment, the applicator and miniature X-ray source are removed, the surgical site closed and the procedure complete.1,2 Further information on INTRABEAM® is available at www.meditec.zeiss.com/radiotherapy (http://www.meditec.zeiss.com/radiotherapy)or www.meditec.zeiss.com/intrabeam (http://www.meditec.zeiss.com/intrabeam).
1. Vaidya, J. S., Baum, M., Tobias, J. S. et al., Targeted Intra-Operative Radiotherapy (Targit): An Innovative Method of Treatment for Early Breast Cancer. Annals of Oncology 2001, 12(8): 1075-80
2. Vaidya, J. S., Baum, M., Tobias, J. S. et al., The Novel Technique of Delivering Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy (Targit) for Early Breast Cancer. European Journal of Surgical Oncology 2002, 28(4): 447-54
Contact:
| Eva Sesselmann Director Group Communications Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Göschwitzer Strasse 51-52 07745 Jena Phone: +49 3641 220-331 Fax: +49 3641 220-332 Email: press@meditec.zeiss.com (mailto:press@meditec.zeiss.com) | Patrick Kofler Director Investor Relations Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Göschwitzer Strasse 51-52 07745 Jena Phone: +49 3641 220-106 Fax: +49 3641 220-117 Email: investors@meditec.zeiss.com (mailto:investors@meditec.zeiss.com) |
Brief profile
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE0005313704) is listed on the TecDAX of the German Stock Exchange and is one of the world's leading medical technology companies.
The Company supplies innovative technologies and application-oriented solutions which enable doctors to improve the quality of life of their patients. The company offers complete solutions, including implants and consumables, to diagnose and treat eye diseases. In the fields of neurosurgery and ENT surgery the company provides innovative visualization solutions. The medical technology portfolio of Carl Zeiss Meditec is rounded off by promising future-oriented technologies such as intraoperative radiotherapy.
The company's nearly 2,100 employees generated revenues of about EUR 600 million in fiscal year 2007/08 (ended Sept. 30). The headquarters of Carl Zeiss Meditec are located in Jena, Germany. In addition to other subsidiaries in Germany, the company is represented by over 50 percent of its employees at sites in the USA, Japan, Spain and France.
35 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec shares are in free float. The remaining 65 percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading groups in the optical and opto-electronic industry. The five independently run business segments of Carl Zeiss AG operate in the future-oriented markets "Medical and Research Solutions", "Industrial Solutions" and "Lifestyle Products". Carl Zeiss AG is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. During fiscal year 2007/08 (ended Sept. 30) the company generated revenues of about EUR 2.7 billion. Carl Zeiss has around 13,000 employees in more than 30 countries, including over 8,000 in Germany.
For further information, please visit our website at: http://www.meditec.zeiss.de (http://www.meditec.zeiss.de/)
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Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
Goeschwitzer Strasse 51-52 Jena Germany
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