CMS Announces Proton System Agreement with ACCEL Instruments.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 20, 2003

ACCEL Instruments GmbH, a global leader in design and manufacturing of particle accelerator systems based in Bergisch Gladbach, near Cologne, Germany and CMS Inc., a global leader in the field of radiation oncology software based in St. Louis, MO, USA, are pleased to announce that they have finalized an agreement for the supply of treatment planning systems for the new Rinecker Proton Center (RPTC) of ProHealth AG in Munich, Germany. This will be the first all clinical proton therapy center in the Europe and it is designed to treat more than 4000 patients per year. The clinical start is scheduled for spring of 2005. ACCEL and CMS also agreed on options for additional centers that are currently being considered. The partnership between CMS and ACCEL furthermore intends to develop solutions for heavy ion treatment.

Proton therapy is a new, more precise form of advanced radiation treatment for cancer patients. It allows to treat cancer with an accuracy on millimeter scale while saving critical organs much better than other therapy procedures involving photons and electrons.

"CMS is the leader in radiation treatment planning worldwide. Proton and heavy ion therapy are areas where we see tremendous potential in providing leading edge technology for the benefit of patients worldwide. Solidifying our collaboration with ACCEL for the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center is an excellent step in the continued proliferation of proton therapy throughout the globe," commented Doug Sprague, President and CEO of CMS.

"As a leading supplier of accelerator technology and systems worldwide ACCEL is dedicated to proton therapy since over a decade. Our commitment and development work resulted in contracts for a compact superconducting 250 MeV cyclotron for the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) and the complete proton therapy system for the RPTC being established with our facility partner and general contractor M+W Zander for ProHealth in Munich. We have developed strong collaborations with PSI and other leading partners in the field and are glad to start collaboration now with CMS for the benefit of cancer patients," said Hans-Udo Klein, Managing Director of ACCEL.

ACCEL Instruments GmbH is a specialized engineering and manufacturing company for custom designed research and industrial equipment operating worldwide. With a staff of about 100 specialists in the relevant technical areas, working together in project teams tailored for the individual customer's need, ACCEL is a leading supplier in the field.

CMS, Inc. is a world leader in the development and support of radiation treatment software. With more than 1,400 treatment planning systems installed worldwide, CMS is a global resource to radiation oncology departments for treatment planning software and prostate brachytherapy systems. A privately-held corporation, CMS employs 250 professionals in its headquarters located in St. Louis, MO and regional offices in Champaign, IL; Freiburg, Germany; Shanghai, China; and Tokyo, Japan. To learn more, visit www.cmsrtp.com or call 314-812-4320.