Canada's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Joins Elekta and Philips Research Consortium on MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy

TORONTO, May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Elekta (NSE: EKTAb) and Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) announced today that Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (Toronto, Canada) will join their growing consortium to validate the clinical potential of MRI-guided radiation therapy.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the sixth largest cancer center in North America, is the fourth member to sign the research agreement to evaluate the new technology, which merges radiation therapy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a single system. Current clinical members of the group include the University Medical Center Utrecht, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and The Netherlands Cancer Institute-Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital.

Integrating an advanced 1.5 Tesla MRI machine with a sophisticated radiation therapy system will provide physicians with exceptional depictions of a patient's soft tissues and tumor and allow them to dynamically track their motion. This breakthrough innovation is designed to permit doctors to deliver radiation in real time under MR guidance for the most precise cancer treatments possible.

"Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre distinguishes itself in the world of science and medicine by its longstanding dedication of integrating research into clinical domain for the benefit of patients," says Tomas Puusepp, Elekta President and CEO. "With their international strength in the physical sciences – particularly in imaging technology – and its worldwide repute as a top flight cancer center, Sunnybrook is an ideal partner to help us advance this new technology."

According to Michael Julius, Vice President, Research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Sunnybrook's participation in the research consortium will bring a unique team of physicists, engineers and clinicians to focus on validating the advantages of MRI-guided radiation therapy through technology development and clinical trials.

"We have identified a number of areas to study the value of this technology for patients," he says. "The ultimate goal – acquiring high resolution MRI images of pathology in real time as the radiation is being delivered – could have a dramatic impact on patient health and clinical outcomes."

Today, the safety margin of normal tissue around the tumor absorbs a large portion of the radiation beam, adds Jean-Philippe Pignol, Professor of Radiation Oncology and a key leader on the Elekta partnership at Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Centre. "The expectation is that MR-guided radiation therapy will enable us to treat more cancer tissue than normal tissue. In doing so, we could apply, in a single fraction, a huge dose to the tumor while avoiding side effects to normal tissues," he says.

"The development of advanced imaging solutions for oncology therapy planning and delivery is a key focus area for Philips," says Gene Saragnese, CEO Imaging Systems at Philips Healthcare. "Philips is already closely working together with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in this field, and we welcome their expertise to the research consortium for MR guided radiotherapy. The members will jointly work on the design and implementation of the clinical studies with the objective of bringing image-guided oncology therapy to the next level, and ultimately creating the future of healthcare."

The integrated MRI-guided radiation therapy system is in development and not available for sale.

For further information, please contact:
Johan Andersson, Director, Investor Relations, Elekta AB
Tel: +46 702 100 451, email: [email protected]  
Time zone: CET: Central European Time

Michelle Joiner, Director, Global Public Relations and Brand Management, Elekta 
Tel: +1 770-670-2447, email: [email protected] 
Time zone: ET: Eastern Time

Steve Klink, Philips Corporate Communications
Tel: +31 20 5977415, email: [email protected] 

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 healthcare 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 3,400 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. Website: www.elekta.com.

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2012 sales of EUR 24.8 billion and employs approximately 116,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Elekta