Proton Therapy Gaining Significant Ground in the War Against Cancer.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Sept. 24, 1999--

New Facility Planned at University of Florida/Shands Cancer Center

Will Expand Availability of Unique Radiation Treatment

Optivus Technology Inc., a leading developer of proton beam therapy systems used in treating cancer, brain tumors and other serious diseases, Friday announced receipt of a formal letter of intent from the University of Florida (UF) College of Medicine to build a multi-million dollar proton beam treatment facility in Jacksonville.

In a move that exhibits the increasing acceptance of protons as a superior cancer treatment option, the facility could break ground as early as January 2000 with completion in three years.

Protons have been used in research environments for more than 40 years and have only recently moved into a hospital setting at Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC).

This move has driven new developments in proton therapy, including strong clinical outcomes, expansion of treatment applications, increased system efficiency, Medicare acceptance, a proven safety record and system reliability -- bringing the treatment to the foront of medical applications.

Significant data from multiple five-year outcome studies combined with an increasing number of patients suited for proton therapy, have caught the attention of progressive medical facilities such as the Shands Cancer Center.

The Florida proton treatment facility, led by Dr. Nancy Mendenhall, professor and chair of UF's radiation oncology department, will be the cornerstone of the center, bringing together the cancer-related programs of the UF campuses in Gainesville and Jacksonville.

There is only one other such hospital-based treatment facility in the nation at LLUMC near Los Angeles where nearly 5,000 cancer patients have been treated since 1990.

"In cancer management, it takes years to see survival data that can prove or disprove a treatment's effectiveness," said Jon Slater, president of Optivus, the developer of LLUMC's proton treatment center.

"We have now demonstrated highly effective disease control with long-term survival -- and minimal side effects, a unique benefit of protons as compared to surgery and other forms of radiation. Simply put, protons work and the medical industry is taking notice."

Funds for the nearly $80 million Florida facility are expected to be provided through philanthropic gifts, industrial partnerships and state funding. Site feasibility studies are underway and a third-party assessment of economic feasibility will be completed by accounting firm Ernst & Young to validate expected costs and projected revenue.

Preliminary plans call for the construction of a three-story building designed to house a synchrotron, a particle accelerator that splits electrons off of hydrogen atoms and produces high-energy protons. Powerful electromagnets will control the delivery of protons to the treatment rooms and computers will shape and place the protons on targeted tumors.

"Proton beam therapy is not new, but its limited availability has prevented widespread patient knowledge of the treatment," said Dennis Valencia, vice president of sales and business development for Optivus.

"Most physicians today are not yet aware of the results and the unique capabilities of protons. This new facility is just the first step in the use of protons among the national patient and physician community, as the Shands radiation oncology program is considered to be one of the strongest and most progressive cancer treatment programs in the country."

Proton therapy is routinely covered by Medicare and other third- party insurances, and is applicable to a large and growing number of patients. LLUMC has dispensed more than 100,000 patient treatment sessions with a clean safety record and 98.5 percent facility uptime.

Treatment protocols underway at LLUMC have jumped from less than 10 to nearly 40, representing a potential solution for more than 1 million patients annually, and currently include brain tumors, macular degeneration, arteriovenous malformations and many forms of cancer such as prostate, lung and pediatric cases.

"With the recent proton therapy developments, Optivus has successfully engaged in administrative-level facility discussions at more than 25 major teaching institutions throughout the U.S. over the past 12 months," said Valencia.

The unique properties of protons provide a distinct physical advantage over conventional X-ray beams. Unlike conventional radiation treatment, there is no exit dose, side effects are less significant and the tumor receives higher radiation.

Protons can also be shaped to deliver homogeneous radiation to irregular three-dimensional volumes such as those seen in various cancers, lung tumors and macular degeneration.

About Protons

A December 1998 news release reported protons achieve the same or better results in treating prostate cancer when compared with surgery or radiation. Data presented in the release was the result of a five-year outcome study, peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology.

Treatment results of an ongoing macular degeneration trial were presented in a February 1999 news release. Data demonstrated an 89 percent disease control 18 months after proton therapy, particularly significant because of the lack of treatment options for patients with this degenerative disease.

The most recent proton news release announced five-year biochemical disease-free survival rates comparable to radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer patients. Full text of all previous news releases is available at http://www.optivus.com/newpage11.htm.

About Optivus

Optivus is a developer of proton beam therapy systems used in the treatment of cancer, macular degeneration, brain tumors and other diseases. The company advances the research and development of proton beam technology, and also provides services in treatment facility design, installation, daily operations and system maintenance.

LLUMC's Proton Treatment Center is the first proton facility in the world designed for patient treatment and research in a hospital setting.

For additional information on proton beam treatment, contact Optivus at 909/799-8300 or Loma Linda University Medical Centers Proton Treatment Center at 800/PROTONS (776-8667). To access information online, go to www.optivus.com or www.llu.edu/proton.