Carl Zeiss Meditec AG / Significant Advance in Breast Cancer Therapy processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Clinical effectiveness of single, targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT)
with INTRABEAM(® )proven by study - clear benefits for patients
JENA, GERMANY - 07 June 2010
Reduction of the duration of radiotherapy to one day and gentler treatment
overall have now been clinically proven as benefits for breast cancer patients
of a single course of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy with INTRABEAM(®
)from Carl Zeiss Meditec. The procedure therefore has the potential to become
the new standard treatment for early breast cancer. This has now been confirmed
by the long-term international TARGIT-A study.
During intraoperative radiotherapy with INTRABEAM(®), the surrounding tissue is
targeted and irradiated during the operation directly after removal of the
tumour. Healthy tissue is preserved. The TARGIT-A study is examining whether a
single course of targeted, intraoperative radiotherapy administered using
INTRABEAM has the same effect as a conventional, six-week course of external
radiotherapy in patients with early breast cancer. The trial is the longest
multicenter breast cancer study ever carried out. It was launched in March 2000
and has involved leading physicians and scientists from all over the world.
Until now, 2,232 patients have participated in the study.
"The single course of intraoperative radiotherapy preserves the surrounding
tissue during the treatment and reduces the dose on the skin," explains
Professor Dr. Wenz, Director of the Universitätsklinik für Strahlentherapie und
Radioonkologie in Mannheim and pioneer of the INTRABEAM treatment method. "For
women with early breast cancer, the current daily dose of radiotherapy
administered over a period of six weeks could soon be replaced by a single
INTRABEAM treatment during the surgical removal of the tumour."
Today, roughly ten percent of certified breast cancer centres in Germany
intraoperative radiotherapy with INTRABEAM. "These impressive study results mean
that we have passed a key milestone in breast cancer treatment with INTRABEAM.
INTRABEAM has the potential to become the new global standard treatment for
breast cancer. We will continue to invest in this field, to enable as many
patients as possible to receive INTRABEAM treatment," said Dr. Ludwin Monz,
President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.
Further information
About the TARGIT-A study
Since 1996, the international TARGIT group has researching a new method of
delivering radiotherapy for breast cancer in which the treatment can be reduced
to a single dose at the time of surgery. In this way, the affected tissue in the
tumour bed can be irradiated from the inside out. The INTRABEAM radiotherapy
system from Carl Zeiss is being used for this purpose. The intention of the
study is to determine if the single dose can reduce the risk of recurrence of
the cancer in the affected breast as effectively as the traditional
post-operative method which lasts about six weeks. Chosen on a random basis, one
half of the women taking part are offered conventional radiotherapy while the
other half are offered intraoperative treatment. The results of the study were
presented for the first time at the 2010 annual meeting of the ASCO (American
Society of Clinical Oncology) in Chicago.
www.targit-research.org , www.targit.org.uk
About the INTRABEAM® system
INTRABEAM®, Carl Zeiss Meditec's ground-breaking radiotherapy system, provides a
gentle treatment method for breast cancer. The radiation dose from INTRABEAM®
is administered to the tumour bed in the operating room. The system utilizes a
miniature X-ray source, a highly flexible support stand and a full range of
radiation applicator options. Because the applicator is positioned directly in
the tumour bed, the radiation dose can be delivered precisely to the targeted
tissue. Following treatment, the applicator and miniature X-ray source are
removed, the surgical site closed and the procedure complete.(1,2 )Further
information on INTRABEAM(® )is available at www.meditec.zeiss.com/radiotherapy
or www.meditec.zeiss.com/intrabeam
.
1. Vaidya, J. S., Baum, M., Tobias, J. S. et al., Targeted Intra-Operative
Radiotherapy (Targit): An Innovative Method of Treatment for Early Breast
Cancer. Annals of Oncology 2001, 12(8): 1075-80
2. Vaidya, J. S., Baum, M., Tobias, J. S. et al., The Novel Technique of
Delivering Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy (Targit) for Early Breast
Cancer. European Journal of Surgical Oncology 2002, 28(4): 447-54
Contact:
Eva Sesselmann Patrick Kofler
Director Group Communications Director Investor Relations
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
Göschwitzer Strasse 51-52 Göschwitzer Strasse 51-52
07745 Jena 07745 Jena
Phone: +49 3641 220-331 Phone: +49 3641 220-106
Fax: +49 3641 220-332 Fax: +49 3641 220-117
Email: press@meditec.zeiss.com Email: investors@meditec.zeiss.com
Brief profile
Carl Zeiss Meditec AG (ISIN: DE0005313704) is listed on the TecDAX of the German
Stock Exchange and is one of the world's leading medical technology companies.
The Company supplies innovative technologies and application-oriented solutions
which enable doctors to improve the quality of life of their patients. The
company offers complete solutions, including implants and consumables, to
diagnose and treat eye diseases. In the fields of neurosurgery and ENT surgery
the company provides innovative visualization solutions. The medical technology
portfolio of Carl Zeiss Meditec is rounded off by promising future-oriented
technologies such as intraoperative radiotherapy.
The company's nearly 2,100 employees generated revenues of about EUR 600 million
in fiscal year 2007/08 (ended Sept. 30). The headquarters of Carl Zeiss Meditec
are located in Jena, Germany. In addition to other subsidiaries in Germany, the
company is represented by over 50 percent of its employees at sites in the USA,
Japan, Spain and France.
35 percent of Carl Zeiss Meditec shares are in free float. The remaining 65
percent are held by Carl Zeiss AG, one of the world's leading groups in the
optical and opto-electronic industry. The five independently run business
segments of Carl Zeiss AG operate in the future-oriented markets "Medical and
Research Solutions", "Industrial Solutions" and "Lifestyle Products". Carl Zeiss
AG is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. During fiscal year 2007/08 (ended
Sept. 30) the company generated revenues of about EUR 2.7 billion. Carl Zeiss
has around 13,000 employees in more than 30 countries, including over 8,000 in
Germany.
For further information, please visit our website at:
http://www.meditec.zeiss.de
[HUG#1422176]
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Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
Goeschwitzer Strasse 51-52 Jena Germany
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