January 20 2009  |  Press Release 


Nucletron and Raysearch collaborate on two new solutions for external beam treatment planning 

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN AND VEENENDAAL, THE NETHERLANDS


RaySearch and Nucletron expand collaboration with two new solutions for treatment planning


RaySearch Laboratories AB and Nucletron BV have extended their existing collaboration with two new treatment planning solutions for radiation therapy. According to a new development and license agreement, RaySearch will develop software modules for Model-Based Segmentation (MBS) and treatment planning of Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy (IMAT) for Oncentra® MasterPlan, Nucletron’s multimodality treatment planning system.

VMAT is a relatively new and advanced form of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), in which the target is continuously irradiated while the source of the beam rotates around the patient in single or multiple arcs. This concept enables faster treatment delivery compared to traditional IMRT, where the patient is irradiated only from a few selected angles. At the same time, treatment quality remains similar or can be improved compared with traditional IMRT. The new IMAT treatment planning solution will be integrated in the Oncentra® Optimizer module of MasterPlan.

MBS facilitates the segmentation process when three-dimensional models of the tumor and surrounding organs at risk are created prior to the treatment planning process. Traditionally this is a very time-consuming task as the contours are outlined manually. The new Model-Based Segmentation software module uses three-dimensional organ models that automatically adapt to patient image data. Combined with highly intuitive interactive tools, this solution has the potential to significantly decrease the time spent on segmentation and also improve consistency in the process. The MBS solution will be integrated in the Oncentra® Anatomy module of MasterPlan and will be useful for treatment planning of both external radiation therapy and brachytherapy.

“Oncentra MasterPlan represents the latest generation of treatment planning solutions,” said Jos Lamers, chief executive officer of Nucletron. “With the addition of IMAT support as well as a new, time-saving method for semi-automatic target definition, we believe that Oncentra MasterPlan will secure its position as the most advanced linac-independent treatment planning system on the market. We are pleased to see that our strategic collaboration with RaySearch continues to provide radiation oncology with new and exciting functionality that will improve patient care”.

”We are fully committed to our strategic collaboration with Nucletron and this agreement further underlines the importance of our partnership,” adds Johan Löf, president of RaySearch.

“We are very proud of our IMAT solution and believe that it will be a powerful complement to Nucletron’s treatment planning system. We are also excited by the market introduction of our advanced MBS solution. Since MBS is useful both in external radiation therapy, as well as brachytherapy, this will be the first time that RaySearch can deliver a powerful product to the brachytherapy community”.

Both products are scheduled to be released in 2009.

ABOUT NUCLETRON
Nucletron is a knowledge-based leader in Radiation Oncology, working with clinical teams to realize innovative solutions that improve patient care. Nucletron strives to offer the best possible choice of radiation modalities through integrated products, software and services. Critical to the Nucletron philosophy is the establishment of close working relationships with individual clinical teams – reconfiguring traditional boundaries between customer and solution provider. Many Nucletron employees have clinical experience delivering oncology care, providing an in-depth understanding of the complex needs of clinicians.


ABOUT RAYSEARCH
RaySearch Laboratories is a medical technology company that develops advanced software solutions for improved radiation therapy of cancer. RaySearch’s products are sold through license agreements with leading partners such as Philips, Varian, Nucletron, IBA Dosimetry and TomoTherapy. Eight products have been released to date and RaySearch’s software is used at over 1,300 clinics in more than 30 countries. In addition, existing license agreements cover more than 15 other products that are scheduled to be launched in the coming years. RaySearch was founded in 2000 as a spin-off from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and the company is listed in the SmallCap segment on the OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm.

For more information about RaySearch, visit http://www.raysearchlabs.com/.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

NUCLETRON
Mats Högberg, Business Line Manager
Telephone: +46 (0)185 650 56
mats.hogberg@se.nucletron.com

RAYSEARCH
Johan Löf, President and CEO, RaySearch Laboratories AB
Telephone: +46 (0)8-545 061 30
johan.lof@raysearchlabs.com