U.K. CANCER CENTRE BEGINS INNOVATIVE RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENT WITH FOUR ELEKTA SYSTEMS

Press Release
Stockholm, Sweden, May 11, 2009

Velindre Cancer Centre (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.) has awarded Elekta with a multiple Elekta Synergy® order, bringing the department’s installation to four. All four systems will be used to facilitate Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), a treatment technique that offers shorter treatment times while providing more precise control of the radiation dose to maximize safety to nearby normal tissues. This latest order will see the replacement of existing third party vendor equipment together with implementing MOSAIQ® as the sole patient information system.

Velindre Cancer Centre is the largest oncology Centre in Wales, and only provider of non-surgical cancer services to the 1.5 million people in South East Wales. A comprehensive cancer treatment centre, Velindre treats approximately 65,000 inpatients and 35,000 outpatients a year for all types of cancer.

“We’ve had two Elekta Synergy systems for some time now, and have decided to order two more,” says Nigel Cridland, Capital Planning and Estates Manager at Velindre NHS Trust Headquarters. “The two existing systems will be retrofitted to facilitate VMAT treatments, and the new ones will be VMAT-capable as well.”

Velindre assembled a panel of physicians, radiotherapists, physicists and the Centre’s purchasing group to research possible treatment systems, and Elekta Synergy again emerged as the best choice. “Our experience with Elekta overall has been very positive. They’ve continued to be extremely helpful, from project management right through delivery, installation and training.”

David Miles, Elekta Managing Director UK business unit said, “Velindre was with another vendor for several years, but decided to buy two Elekta machines. The fact they have again chosen Elekta is very pleasing.”

The purchase of the new Elekta Synergy systems also include MOSAIQ management information system, MOSAIQ Oncology PACS, Monaco® radiation treatment planning system and Active Breathing Coordinator™. ”We used MOSAIQ with the other vendor’s equipment, and expect the transition to Elekta Synergy with MOSAIQ to be very smooth,” said Mr. Cridland. “The addition of Active Breathing Coordinator also should help tremendously in our treatment of breast and lung patients.” Monaco* will be used for planning VMAT treatments on Elekta Synergy.

The new Elekta Synergy systems will be installed at Velindre in late autumn, 2009.

*Monaco VMAT is work in progress and not yet available for sale or distribution.