CyberKnife Radiosurgery Now Reimbursed Throughout France and Largest Italian Region

SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated, a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that French and Italian Health Authorities recently ruled that CyberKnife treatments will now be reimbursed throughout France and the Lombardy region of Italy for the treatment of tumors located anywhere in the body. These decisions demonstrate the increasing recognition amongst European Health Authorities of the critical role that the CyberKnife System plays in the treatment of patients with inoperable and complex tumors.

"This decision recognizes our efforts to offer best clinical options to cancer patients in daily practice," said Dr. Xavier Mirabel, Radiation Oncologist, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France, who was one of the first CyberKnife users in France. "I am confident that it will facilitate access to high precision radiation therapy in France."

"The reimbursement of frameless stereotactic radiotherapy delivered by a robotic arm in the Lombardy region paves a great milestone for our daily practice," said Professor Franco Casamassima, Head of Radiation Oncology, Casa di Cura Santa Chiara, Florence, Italy. "I'm confident that this decision will likely be expanded further so that our region and all the Italian regions can also benefit from it."

"Given the increase in cancer diagnosis in Europe, now more than ever it is crucial that patients and their physicians have access to the full range of innovation in cancer care," said Anja Kleber, Head of Public Affairs, Accuray EIMEA (Europe, India, Middle East and Africa). "By setting appropriate tariffs for the reimbursement of CyberKnife procedures, French and Italian Health Authorities have clearly expressed their desire to make available the unique advantages of high-precision radiation therapy to a larger population of cancer patients."

The CyberKnife System uses real-time tracking and correction capabilities to deliver high-dose radiation to tumors with pin-point accuracy, including tumors that move with respiration or unpredictably due to other normal bodily functions. As a non-invasive treatment for cancerous and non-cancerous lesions, the CyberKnife System does not rely on sub-optimal techniques such as gating to account for movement, nor does the system require the use of stabilizing head and body frames that are extremely uncomfortable for patients. The validated best in class target tracking technologies of the CyberKnife System make it an easy and comfortable experience for the patient, while providing industry leading radiation delivery accuracy. Treatments are usually completed in one to five sessions with each session typically lasting between 20-45 minutes.  In most cases, patients can resume their normal activities immediately following treatment.

About the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System

The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is the world's only robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body non-invasively. Using continual image guidance technology and computer controlled robotic mobility, the CyberKnife System automatically tracks, detects and corrects for tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment. This enables the CyberKnife System to deliver high-dose radiation with pinpoint precision, which minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and eliminates the need for invasive head or body stabilization frames.

About Accuray

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a global leader in the field of radiosurgery dedicated to providing an improved quality of life and a non-surgical treatment option for those diagnosed with cancer. Accuray develops and markets the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, which extends the benefits of radiosurgery to include extracranial tumors, including those in the spine, lung, prostate, liver and pancreas. To date, the CyberKnife System has been used to treat more than 80,000 patients worldwide and currently more than 190 systems have been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. 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 market need, reimbursement rates and trends, clinical applications, and clinical outcomes 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: market acceptance of products; competing products, the combination of our products with complementary technology; and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 10-K for the 2009 fiscal year, our quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on February 4, 2010 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.

SOURCE Accuray Incorporated