Elekta takes up World Cancer Day challenge to reduce global cancer burden

STOCKHOLM, February 3, 2015 – Today, Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) joins thousands of researchers, clinicians and caregivers to ensure that cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care continues to evolve in order to improve the lives of millions of cancer patients and their families.

Through its partnership with the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) – which initiated World Cancer Day – Elekta’s commitment to reduce the global cancer burden and save lives reaches 800 organizations across 155 countries.

Cary Adams, UICC’s CEO, says: “Elekta and its thousands of customers around the world are instrumental in improving and saving the lives of millions of people affected by cancer. Elekta’s strong presence in low and middle-income countries brings hope to those living with this terrible disease. It is not beyond all countries to ensure that radiotherapy is available to treat cancer patients.”

Niklas Savander, Elekta President and CEO, says: “We are proud to support and promote World Cancer Day, an initiative that gives the entire world an opportunity to unite in the battle against the global cancer epidemic. We utilize our technical expertise and history of innovation to continuously bring new solutions to the doctors and clinicians who face the challenge on a daily basis.”

Elekta is encouraging its nearly 4,000 employees and their families to get involved and become part of the solution. Activities include:

• Donate to World Cancer Day
• Donate blood – 60 percent of blood donations go to treat people with cancer and blood disorders
• Get screened and encourage a friend to do the same – breast, colorectal and cervical cancers are especially preventable through early detection
• Learn about risk factors, healthy choices and lifestyle changes – with the right strategies, around a third of cancers can be prevented through diet, physical activity and being a healthy weight.
• Share their World Cancer Day stories.

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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

Kris Walmsley, Corporate Communications Manager, Elekta AB
Tel: +46 70 537 9545, e-mail: kris.walmsley@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time

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 NASDAQ Stockholm. Website: www.elekta.com.

About the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
UICC unites the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda. UICC is the largest cancer-fighting organisation of its kind, with over 800 member organisations across 155 countries representing the world’s major cancer societies, ministries of health, research institutes, treatment centres and patient groups.

UICC is dedicated to continuing to work with world leaders to increase their support for cancer control measures, and hold them to account for the cancer commitments made in the UN Political Declaration. UICC uses World Cancer Day to lobby to:

• Develop targets and indicators to measure the implementation of policies and approaches to prevent and control cancer
• Raise the priority accorded to cancer in the global development agenda
• Promote a global response to cancer

UICC and its multisectoral partners are committed to convincing governments to adopt specific time-bound targets that address the global burden of cancer and other NCDs. UICC is also a founding member of the NCD Alliance, a global civil society network that now represents almost 2,000 organisations in 170 countries.

For more information visit: www.uicc.org

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