Accuray Launches New Organization for CyberKnife® and TomoTherapy® System Users

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), the premier radiation oncology company, announced today the launch of Accuray Exchange in Radiation Oncology (AERO), a global organization for CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System and TomoTherapy® Radiation Therapy System users dedicated to advancing patient care through worldwide clinical and technical collaboration.

AERO's mission is to provide a global forum for the clinical exchange of information between clinicians and physicists for the purpose of setting a new standard in patient care and safety across treatments in the fields of SRS/SBRT, IMRT and conventional radiation therapy. The organization will be led and co-directed by a board of clinicians and physicists from around the world and will be administratively managed within Accuray's Medical Affairs group. The organization will consist of four regional chapters - Americas, Asia-Pacific, EIMEA and Japan, each with its own board of luminary leaders. Within AERO will be two main divisions, one for the fields of SRS and SBRT and one for the fields of IMRT and extended/conventionally fractionated radiation therapy. Membership to AERO is free and open to all users of the CyberKnife and TomoTherapy Systems who are eligible as defined by membership requirements.  

Members of AERO will gain access to global and region-specific online communities for the exchange of clinical and technical information, as well as updates on peer-reviewed publications, tailored training and continuing education opportunities focused on patient care.

Prof. Eric Lartigau, MD, PhD, head of academic radiotherapy, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France, will serve as the global President of AERO. Prof. Lartigau is an experienced user of both the CyberKnife and TomoTherapy Systems.

"I look forward to the opportunity to lead AERO," said Prof. Eric Lartigau. "A global forum like AERO will be critical as clinicians adopt and use new technologies to improve patient care and safety as well as develop new advances in radiation oncology."

The impetus for the formation of this new organization was the need to support a broader user base across both the TomoTherapy and CyberKnife platforms and the increasing demand to provide this support globally. These needs have outgrown the capacity of the two existing CyberKnife and TomoTherapy user support structures.  Accuray will no longer be providing financial support to the CyberKnife Society (CKS), which is an independent entity that was originally formed by Accuray in 2002. Members of CKS who meet the membership eligibility requirements of the new organization, will now have access free of charge to an expanded level of support globally through the Accuray Exchange in Radiation Oncology. In addition, the TomoExchange activities will become part of the new organization and will further be expanded over the next several weeks.  

"Accuray has always highlighted the importance of supporting clinical exchange of information and AERO is designed to meet the growing needs within the clinical and physicist communities," said Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Accuray. "With the acquisition of TomoTherapy, Accuray now has a broader responsibility and opportunity to bring clinicians across the entire field of radiation oncology together to advance levels of care available to patients worldwide. In addition, I would like to thank the leadership of the CyberKnife Society and TomoExchange for the work they have done in furthering this mission over the past several years."

Accuray is planning to partner with AERO to hold a global users meeting during the summer of 2012. For more information about AERO please visit us at ASTRO and online at: www.accurayexchange.com.  

About Accuray

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the premier radiation oncology company. Accuray develops, manufactures and sells personalized, best-in-class treatment solutions that revolve around the patient. Accuray's innovative technologies – the CyberKnife System and TomoTherapy Systems – set the standard of care with the aim of helping patients live longer, better lives. To date, more than 200,000 patients worldwide have been treated using the company's technologies and more than 550 systems have been installed in leading hospitals around the world. For more information, please visit www.accuray.com

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The foregoing may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the medical device industry. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements relating to standards of patient care and safety and user base are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make include: personalized patient care, safety & efficacy, range of treatment options, clinical applications, and market acceptance of products and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 10-K for our 2010 fiscal year, our form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2011 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.. The Company's actual results of operations may differ significantly from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of these and other factors. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

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Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D.

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SOURCE Accuray Incorporated