Elekta highlights leading R&D program and reiterates financial ambitions
SAN ANTONIO, USA, October 19, 2015 – At a Capital Markets Presentation during the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting, Elekta updated investors on the state of the business with special attention on its innovations and product portfolio.
COO Johan Sedihn said that the comprehensive action program launched earlier this fiscal year is on track; he reiterated the plan to reduce costs by SEK 450 million, as well as the ambition to improve EBITA margin with 6 percentage points by fiscal year 2017/18.
Chief Commercial Officer Ian Alexander gave an update by region and reiterated the expected mid-term market growth rate of 3-5 percent per year.
Dr. Beth Erickson from The Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin, a member of Elekta’s Atlantic (MR Linac) research consortium, said: “Radiation oncologists need to be able to see what they are doing in order to answer such questions as: Is the treatment working and can we know that before the treatment is complete? The MR linear accelerator will give oncologists this insight while avoiding normal tissue that can suffer collateral damage from radiation.”
Dr. Erickson added that Atlantic promises to take the next important paradigm-changing step in enabling oncologists to see what they are treating at the time of treatment, even including tumors in motion.
Kevin Brown, Global Vice President Scientific Research, confirmed that the Atlantic project is on schedule and that Elekta plans to commercially launch the innovative technology in 2017 and expects to take orders of 75 systems until 2019.
Todd Powell, Executive Vice President Comprehensive Oncology Solutions, explained how synergies in Elekta’s portfolio development will drive efficiency and competiveness. He added: “Through our development of Atlantic, we will enhance our imaging capabilities and integrated workflow as well as our treatment planning capabilities for users of our current solutions within the rest of our installed based.”
Veronica Byfield Sköld, Vice President Product Commercialization, presented Leksell Gamma Knife® Icon™, the world’s most sophisticated system for brain radiosurgery. “With Leksell Gamma Knife Icon, clinicians can choose either frame-based or frameless methods to immobilize the patient’s head, as well as the option to perform the treatment in a single session or in multiple sessions.” Elekta announced on October 12 that the system has been acquired by seven leading health care centers in the US.
In order to view the webcast from the Capital Markets Presentation, please use the following link:
http://event.onlineseminarsolutions.com/r.htm?e=1065275&s=1&k=045CFB0FCA5FA4B6379E0BE07FCC32FE
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For further information, please contact:
Johan Andersson, Director, Investor Relations, Elekta AB
Tel: +46 702 100 451, e-mail: johan.andersson@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
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
The above information is such that Elekta AB (publ) shall make public in accordance with the Securities Market Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was published at 16:00 CET on October 19, 2015.
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.
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