Chinese clinics and cancer patients to benefit from Elekta’s Versa HD radiation therapy system
BEIJING, September 29, 2014 – Following US and European approvals of Elekta’s Versa HD™ linear accelerator, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has cleared the radiation therapy system for sale and marketing in the country.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, well over three million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in China(1), the most common types including lung, gastric, colorectal, liver and esophageal cancers(2). Versa HD is designed to improve patient care and treat a wide range of tumors throughout the body.
Versa HD is equipped with the Agility™ multileaf collimator for high-speed, high-precision beam shaping to support extremely accurate tumor targeting and improved healthy tissue preservation. Together with High Dose Rate mode, Versa HD is able to improve clinical workflow by providing rapid delivery of more sophisticated therapies within standard radiotherapy treatment times.
Elekta’s Anming Gong, Managing Director for China, says: “As cancer rates continue to rise in China, the need for advanced and effective treatment becomes even greater. Versa HD will help support the government’s health care reform, which includes upgrading community and rural health care facilities by 2020.”
Versa HD has been overwhelmingly popular since its launch in 2013, with shipments made to 30 countries. Elekta has been present in China since 1982 and eight of 10 top cancer centers have Elekta linear accelerators. The introduction of Versa HD will strengthen Elekta’s leading position in the Chinese market.
(1)Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Ervik M, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M, Parkin DM, Forman D, Bray, F. GLOBOCAN 2012 v1.0, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 11 [Internet]. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2013.
(2)Report of incidence and mortality in China cancer registries, 2009 (doi: 10.3978/j.issn.1000-9604.2012.12.04)
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For further information, please contact:
Gert van Santen, Group Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta AB
Tel: +31 653 561 242, e-mail: gert.vansanten@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
Johan Andersson, Director, Investor Relations, Elekta AB
Tel: +46 702 100 451, e-mail: johan.andersson@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
The above information is such that Elekta AB (publ) shall make public in accordance with the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was published at 07:30 CET on September 29, 2014.
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both health care providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,800 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker STO:EKTAB. Website: www.elekta.com.