A treatment system called the Novalis^® Tx™ has gone into service today, which has the ability to destroy cancerous cells virtually anywhere in the body in a single, 20-minute session, without the need for a single cut of the scalpel.

The Novalis Tx, installed in The Christie at Salford Royal, a brand new radiotherapy centre in the North West, treats cancer using a specialised technique called radiosurgery which is especially beneficial for tumours of the brain and spine previously thought untreatable by surgeons.

Using powerful, highly accurate beams of radiation shaped to fit the precise shape of even the most complex tumours, the system is able to treat painlessly without the need for invasive[1] surgery and with fewer side effects. The short treatment times of the system benefit both doctor and patient; and mean more patients can be treated on the system in one day. Patients are often able to attend clinic just as an outpatient, returning to life the same day. Frameless radiosurgery provides a patient-friendly alternative to techniques that require immobilisation with an invasive head ring that is affixed to the skull¹.

Rachel Good, Christie radiotherapy manager for the new centre, says: “The Novalis Tx^TM was the perfect choice for the centre because it will help The Christie treat more patients by switching between specialised radiosurgery for tumours in the brain to standard radiotherapy for other cancers of the body. In our first year we are looking to treat 720 patients with the Novalis Tx, 120 of which will be priority brain tumour patients where precise, non-invasive treatment is particularly effective.”

News will be welcomed by the 300,000 people in the UK diagnosed with cancer each year[2]. Of these 50,000 people are estimated to develop either primary or secondary brain tumours[3], where traditional treatment is difficult to provide. Malignant primary brain tumours take more years off the average person’s life than any other cancer and are the most significant cause of cancer death amongst men under 45 years and women under 353.

Ms Tina Karabatsou, Consultant Neurosurgeon at the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, says: “One of the fantastic advantages of the new Novalis Tx treatment is we will be able to treat brain conditions we were previously unable to treat; such as tumours really deep in the brain where open surgery is too dangerous. Equally important is the non-invasive nature of treatment, which means treatment sessions can be performed as an outpatient day-case and with significantly less side effects.”

The launch of the high-quality treatment coincides with new guidelines released by the NHS National Cancer Action Team which state that radiosurgery should be made available to all suitable cancer patients in England. By the end of 2011 three sites will be treating with the Novalis Tx developed by Varian Medical Systems and Brainlab in England and Scotland, improving access to advanced cancer care to patients across the UK.

Helen Bulbeck, Director of patient charity Brainstrust, comments: “The launch of the Novalis Tx system is a huge stride towards modernising cancer care in the UK to levels seen in Europe and the US. This is a great achievement for brain tumour treatment and one that we hope to see the NHS continue to build on in the years to come.”

ENDS

Further information:

About Brainlab

Brainlab develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that supports targeted, less-invasive treatment. Core products are image-guided systems and software that provide real-time information used for surgical navigation and radiosurgical planning and delivery.

Brainlab technology drives collaboration between hospitals and clinicians from a wide variety of subspecialties—from neurosurgery and oncology to orthopedics, ENT, CMF and spine and trauma. This integration delivers better access to improved and more efficient treatment.

Founded in 1989, the privately held Brainlab group has more than 5,000 systems installed in over 80 countries. Based in Munich, Germany, Brainlab employs 970 people in 16 offices worldwide.

To learn more, visit www.brainlab.com.

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centres and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,100 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, China, and Europe and in its 79 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit www.varian.com.

About The Christie Foundation Trust

The Christie is one of the leading cancer centres in Europe treating about 40,000 patients every year and an international leader in research.

The new £18 million radiotherapy centre in Salford is part of a unique network of Christie radiotherapy centres to bring treatment closer to people’s homes. As well as being equipped to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery, a highly specialised neurosurgical technique for brain conditions, the centre will be treating 60 patients a day from the local area for the most common cancers like breast, bowel and lung.

About Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust is recognised as one of the best Trust’s in the NHS and aims to provide safe, clean and personal care to all patients. Salford Royal is large teaching Trust providing a range of medical, surgical, maternity and emergency services to the people of Salford. The Trust also offers specialist care to people from all over the UK who require expert tertiary help with, for example, neuroscience and kidney conditions. On 1 April 2011, Salford Royal integrated with Salford Community Health; the Trust now provides a range of community and primary care services. Our core purpose is to provide clinical, academic and service excellence ensuring the patient experience is at the forefront of care.

www.srft.nhs.uk

Press enquiries:          Rob Jones

Contact:                      rjones@pegasuspr.co.uk 01903 821550 / 07768 637786

Issued by:                  Pegasus Public Relations

[1] Some doctors may opt for a minimally invasive head frame depending on the specific treatment and patient.

[2] Cancer Research UK. Cancer incidence – UK statistics. 2007. http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/incidence/ (Last accessed 18 Jul 2011)

[3] A report on inequality of funding and profile of brain tumours, Brain Tumour Research, July 2009

NANTES, June 13^th, 2011  –  French cancer centre Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest (ICO) and Brainlab recently announced a milestone in European radiosurgery treatment presenting data on 1,585 patients treated with the advanced Novalis® radiosurgery system.

The five-year data was presented by leading experts from the René Gauducheau Centre – the ICO’s specialist treatment unit and one of the main radiotherapy centers in France at the 50^th meeting of the Société Française de Physique Médicale in Nantes 8-10 June 2011. During the five-year period 2005-10 experts reported the Novalis® system was able to treat 1170 patients with brain tumors and lesions and 415 patients with cancers in other areas of the body.

The Novalis® system allows doctors to treat with either stereotactic radiosurgery or stereotactic fractioned radiotherapy treatments for both tumors of the brain and spine and those in the body. The Novalis is also equipped with an image guidance system that is able to control and correct the patient position before and during the treatment. Using an innovative conformal shaped beam technology the system provides clinicians with the ability to precisely shape the radiation beam to the shape of the tumor or lesion thereby protecting surrounding healthy tissues.

Professor Marc-André Mahé, Head of Radiotherapy at the ICO René Gauducheau, commented:

“The Novalis system has been a great success for our centre, enabling us to extend and improve access to advanced cancer treatment for patients in our region. For us the Novalis was the most efficient treatment system for patients, due in part to its automated patient positioning system and has been easily integrated within our radiotherapy department.”

Data presented by ICO showed that stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) was used primarily to treat small metastasis (37% of SRS treatments), arteriovenous malformations (24% of SRS treatments), schwannomas (20% of SRS treatments), meningiomas (9% of SRS treatments) and trigeminal neuralgia (8% of SRS treatments). Fractioned stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for the brain also allowed clinicians to treat a wide variety of tumors, however the majority of these treatments were for big metastases (44% of SRT treatments), meningiomas (10% of SRT treatments) and glioblastomas (9% of treatments).

Access to advanced radiosurgery continuing to improve for French patients

Access to advanced Novalis cancer treatment in France is continuing to increase with the number of centers offering Novalis radiosurgery now including Toulouse, Strasbourg and Reims . Further Novalis systems are currently also being installed in Clermont-Ferrand and will be soon be installed in Montpellier, Aubervilliers and Paris.

Gregory Theurin, Sales Representative for Brainlab France, commented:

“Brainlab continually strive to improve patient comfort when developing new non-invasive treatment technologies. The Novalis system allows clinicians to plan and control the treatment in real time, which in turn supports the accuracy of treatment and speed of treatment sessions for patients. Like the René Gauducheau Centre, we hope that this data on the Novalis experience will benefit other cancer centers joining the Novalis family.”

ICO René Gauducheau: A pioneer cancer treatment center in France

The Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest René Gauducheau Centre has worked towards developing stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy since 1996. Starting in 2004, it was the first French center to join the Novalis program. The first patients were treated in autumn 2005.

® Novalis is a registered trademark of Brainlab in Germany and the US.

Powerful new image-guided radiosurgery system offers diverse possibilities for non-invasive1 cancer treatment

The new non-invasive1 treatment system offers more than double the radiation strength of the previous generation of technology, supplying a dose rate of up to 2,400 monitor units per minute, allowing clinicians to treat patients more quickly than before. The system combines the latest technologies for imaging, treatment planning, and delivery from two leading medical device manufacturers Varian and Brainlab to offer new and advanced possibilities in radiation treatment for patients.

Professor Anca Ligia Grosu, Medical Director for Radiation Medicine at the University Clinic Freiburg, Germany, where the new system is installed, comments:

“The technology from Varian and Brainlab provides us with a complete solution for the knifeless treatment of cancer using high precise radiosurgery. This allows us to minimize exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue. Average treatment time with TrueBeam STx with Novalis Radiosurgery is also shorter, being performed in just minutes, which means that treatment is also more comfortable for the patient.”

In radiosurgery benign and malignant tumors and other indications can often be treated with a high dose of radiation in just a single session. Most radiosurgery patients are treated as out-patients meaning a hospital stay is typically unnecessary and people can return to normal activity the very same day. Radiosurgery can also be a treatment option for when conventional surgery is considered too high risk, for example when tumors or lesions are located close to sensitive tissues of the brain or body.

The new radiosurgery system at the Freiburg clinic treats with power and accuracy by combining Varian’s latest high-energy linear accelerator with a micromulti-leaf collimator. The treatment system is able to rotate around the patient to deliver treatment from all angles. The computer-controlled 6D treatment couch can then move automatically in six different directions during treatment to help ensure the patient is precisely positioned throughout.

Also included within the system is treatment planning software that can enable medical experts, such as radiation oncologists, physicists, and neurosurgeons, to determine the best treatment for patients by sharing information with each other via a web-based network. An innovative oncology information system collects all patient information into a single database that can be accessed anytime, from nearly any location.

The Freiburg clinic will use TrueBeam STx with Novalis Radiosurgery for non-invasive2 stereotactic cancer treatment in the brain and body, including spine, lung, liver, and prostate indications. “With this technology,” declared Professor Grosu, “we can open the door to new treatment approaches for tumors and other indications with non-invasive2 radiosurgery.”

2 Some doctors may opt for a minimally invasive head frame for certain treatments.

February 7, 2011 –  Today, for the first time in the UK, cancer patients are starting to receive treatment with Novalis Tx radiosurgery. This device gives the chance of a cure to those with inoperable tumours and offers the possibility to perform precise painless treatment to tumours in a single patient visit.

The Novalis Tx makes it possible for doctors to treat patients with tumours virtually anywhere in the body in just a single session. Combining a ‘sat nav’ like targeting system and powerful treatment beams, the Novalis Tx can destroy cancerous cells and helps to protect surrounding healthy tissue. Treatment is also made more patient-friendly by delivering frameless radiosurgery for brain tumours; an alternative to techniques that require immobilisation with an invasive head ring[1] that is affixed to the skull.

In its first year of operation the Novalis Tx, installed at the brand new Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool, is expected to treat over 800 cancer patients. It is estimated that 150 of these patients will be priority brain tumour patients where precise, non-invasive treatment is particularly effective.

Dr Brian Haylock, Consultant Oncologist and Clinical Director for Radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, comments:

“Unlike some other highly specialised radiation treatment machines, the Novalis Tx can treat many different types of cancer in all over the body allowing us to treat more cancer patients with a single device. This coupled with the speed with which we can treat patients – in some cases in as little as 15 minutes in just one session – means the equipment will be available for the benefit of more patients here in the UK.”

The Novalis Tx promises to improve patients’ access to world-leading cancer treatment in the UK. Clatterbridge and The Walton Centre have worked in partnership to bring this state-of-the-art treatment option to UK patients. Later this year Novalis Tx machines will become operational at two other specialist NHS cancer centres in Edinburgh and Manchester. Treatment with Novalis Tx will be considered for any patient in the UK for whom their doctor feels it is suitable.

Almost 300,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK each year[2] and recent estimates show that of these almost 50,000 people develop either primary or secondary brain tumours[3]. Malignant primary brain tumours take more years off the average person’s life than any other cancer and are the most significant cause of cancer death amongst men under 45 years and women under 35².

Sue Farrington-Smith, Director of the charity Brain Tumour Research, comments on the launch:

“We are delighted that advanced brain tumour treatments like the Novalis Tx are now available to cancer patients on the NHS. The work of Clatterbridge and The Walton Centre Trusts in Liverpool will undoubtedly provide the best cancer care for their patients. This is inspirational stuff.”

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology’s new purpose-built facility will be equipped with the Novalis Tx radiosurgery system and two other radiotherapy treatment systems, together with expert cancer rehabilitation and support services.

David Brett, Marketing Director for Radiotherapy at Brainlab, the radiosurgery pioneers who co-developed the Novalis Tx with medical device manufacturer Varian Medical Systems, said:

“We continually strive to develop cutting-edge treatments that offer doctors the best treatment possibilities for their patients. We are proud to be part of the collaboration between leading oncology and neurosurgery teams and delighted to offer better care to UK patients. We hope that the three first sites for the Novalis Tx will help support the provision of improved cancer care to patients.”

[1] Some doctors may opt for a minimally invasive head frame depending on the specific treatment and patient.

[2] Cancer Research UK. Cancer incidence – UK statistics. 2007. http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/incidence/ (Last accessed 21 Jan 2011)

[3] Brain Tumour UK. A manifesto for everyone affected by a brain tumour. 2010. http://www.braintumouruk.org.uk/sites/default/files/manifesto_4_web_lo_res.pdf (Last accessed 21 Jan 2011)

Munich, Germany – July 19, 2010 – Technique Used to Treat Conditions Ranging in Complexity from Brain Metastases to Functional Disorders

While four in 10 clinicians use frameless radiosurgery exclusively to treat cranial indications, user data collected at the 5^th International Conference of the Novalis Circle, held last month in Munich, Germany, shows that there are still significant opportunities to increase utilization of the effective treatment approach.

While many theories exist as to why some clinicians have not expanded use of frameless radiosurgery in treating cranial indications, neurosurgeon Surbhi Jain, M.D., of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., believes low utilization can be attributed to an overall lack of awareness as to the extent frameless radiosurgery can effectively treat even the most sensitive regions of the brain.

Dr. Jain resolved her initial concerns over the safety, effectiveness and accuracy of frameless radiosurgery through on-site visits to hospitals that adopted the technique. She began treating patients framelessly in January 2008 using the Novalis Tx^™ radiosurgery platform. In her 2010 independent study entitled, “Control of Brain Metastases in the Eloquent Brain Using Stereotactic Radiosurgery,” Dr. Jain compared the effectiveness of both framed and frameless radiosurgery. She found that metastatic tumors could be controlled as effectively framelessly as using the more invasive head frame, which must be secured to the skull and removed between treatments.

“We were extremely encouraged to find a non-invasive treatment that can produce a tumor control rate of 95 percent in an extremely sensitive part of the brain, which controls speech, motor function and senses,” said Dr. Jain. “The data validate frameless radiosurgery as a safe, precise approach to treatment and make a strong case for increased use among clinicians.”

Antonio De Salles, M.D., head of the Stereotactic Surgery Section at University of California – Los Angeles, and Joseph Chen, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, Cal., both made their transitions to frameless radiosurgery after conducting thorough scientific verifications of the precision of the technique. They have now widely adopted the technique and are applying protocols to treat more than 99 percent of their patients framelessly.

“Most neurosurgeons were taught to treat patients with the stereotactic frame, because of its perceived accuracy,” said Dr. De Salles. “Having treated nearly 1,000 patients with frameless radiosurgery over the past few years, I can say that the non-invasive approach is as safe and accurate as frame-based treatment because we are able to constantly monitor the positions of both the treatment beam and patient.”

Dr. De Salles and his team are so confident in frameless radiosurgery they treat patients with trigeminal neuralgia, which involves delivering highly-focused beams of radiation to a segment of the trigeminal nerve, measuring two to four millimeters long and less than a millimeter wide, where it exits the brain stem. Treatment with radiosurgery creates a lesion in the root of the nerve over time and interrupts the pain transmission.

Dr. Chen, a co-investigator of a 2009 study entitled, “Control of Brain Metastases Using Frameless Image-Guided Radiosurgery,” appreciates the treatment flexibility frameless radiosurgery can provide.

“The ability to decouple phases of the treatment process, like imaging, treatment planning and dose delivery, is very beneficial to both patients and clinicians. Because preparation work can be done prior to the day of treatment, patients are able to receive treatment in a time-efficient manner, which allows us to increase the volume of patients we see,” said Dr. Chen.

Dr. Jain is encouraged by the growth of frameless radiosurgery in treating brain metastases, but suggests that increased utilization could lead to an even greater impact on patients.

“We are seeing new applications of frameless radiosurgery emerging frequently, and our findings show that it is as effective, safe and accurate as the framed approach. As research continues to be released and treatment protocols are established and shared among members of the medical community, I hope that we can continue to increase the extent in which frameless radiosurgery impacts people’s quality of life,” she said.

Disclaimer: The study and results discussed herein are a result of an independent study. Brainlab did not participate in the study and had no impact on or control over the results.

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About Novalis Circle

The Novalis Circle is a worldwide network of clinicians dedicated to the advancement of radiosurgery. The International Conferences of the Novalis Circle are designed to encourage collaboration and knowledge exchange between Novalis^® radiosurgery users on cutting edge developments in radiosurgery. Novalis Circle members and guest experts present their findings from clinical studies on relevant topics in radiosurgery. The Novalis Circle was created by Brainlab and the Conference is held every two years.

About Brainlab
Brainlab develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that supports targeted, less-invasive treatment. Core products are image-guided systems and software that provide real-time information used for surgical navigation and radiosurgical planning and delivery.

Brainlab technology drives collaboration between hospitals and clinicians from a wide variety of subspecialties—from neurosurgery and oncology to orthopedics, ENT, CMF and spine & trauma. This integration delivers better access to improved and more efficient treatment.

Founded in 1989, the privately held Brainlab group has 4,880 systems installed in over 80 countries. Based in Munich, Germany, Brainlab employs 940 people in 16 offices worldwide.

To learn more, visit www.brainlab.com.

™Novalis Tx is a trademark of Varian medical Systems, Inc. and Brainlab AG

Contacts:

Jason Dananay
Porter Novelli

(312) 856-8828

jason.dananay@porternovelli.com

Rachel Hageli
Brainlab

(708) 486-1953

rachel.hageli@brainlab.com

Long-Time Partnership Expanded to Offer Advanced Radiosurgical Capabilities

Palo Alto, Calif., and Munich, Germany – June 29, 2010 – Varian Medical Systems (Varian) and Brainlab today announced the expansion of their partnership to incorporate Novalis technology and other Novalis^® Radiosurgery Program elements with the recently launched TrueBeam^™ STx system. The expanded suite of products will be badged “Novalis powered by TrueBeam STx.” The announcement was made at the 5^th International Conference of the Novalis Circle, a meeting of Novalis radiosurgery users that provides a platform for collaboration between clinicians to advance the field of radiosurgery, which was held in Munich June 17-19.

This expanded agreement is a natural extension of a relationship between the two companies that began in 1996, and grew with their collaboration around the Novalis Tx^™ radiosurgery platform, which launched in 2007. Novalis Powered by TrueBeam STx will give clinicians radiosurgical and image-guidance capabilities designed for targeted SRS and SBRT treatments. It will include Brainlab iPlan^® treatment planning and ExacTrac^® room-based x-ray imaging technology as well as Varian’s HD120 MLC multileaf collimator for high resolution beam shaping.

“TrueBeam STx technology will significantly enhance the Varian-Brainlab offering to the radiosurgery market with its significant speed and precision. The Novalis Radiosurgery Program includes a comprehensive package of clinical applications, workflow, knowledge base and training for radiosurgery,” said Dow Wilson, Executive Vice President; President, Oncology Systems, Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

The TrueBeam STx is specially configured for advanced radiosurgery and is designed to treat a moving target with unprecedented speed and accuracy. A TrueBeam system can deliver treatments up to 50 percent faster with a dose delivery rate of up to 2400 monitor units per minute, double the maximum output of earlier, industry-leading Varian systems. This makes it possible to offer greater patient comfort by shortening treatments, and to improve precision by leaving less time for tumor motion during dose delivery.

“Expanding our partnership with Varian to combine TrueBeam STx with the Novalis Radiosurgery Program gives us a stronger and broader platform for innovation in neurosurgery. We believe the combination of our leading technologies can help make significant clinical advancements in the fight against cancer and other neurological conditions. Our goal is to increase access to advanced treatment,” said Stefan Vilsmeier, CEO, Brainlab.

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About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,000 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 79 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit www.varian.com.

About Brainlab
Brainlab develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that supports targeted, less-invasive treatment. Core products are image-guided systems and software that provide real-time information used for surgical navigation and radiosurgical planning and delivery.

Brainlab technology drives collaboration between hospitals and clinicians from a wide variety of subspecialties—from neurosurgery and oncology to orthopedics, ENT, CMF and spine & trauma. This integration delivers better access to improved and more efficient treatment.

Founded in 1989, the privately held Brainlab group has 4,880 systems installed in over 80 countries. Based in Munich, Germany, Brainlab employs 940 people in 16 offices worldwide.

To learn more, visit www.brainlab.com.

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, is the first to secure Novalis Tx radiosurgery, a targeted and non-invasive[2]alternative to cancer surgery that can reduce patient treatment times to less than 20 minutes.

The futuristic technology will be housed at Clatterbridge’s new satellite centre in Liverpool, one of the city’s leading radiotherapy facilities, giving Merseyside residents improved access to this new cancer treatment.

Dr. Brian Haylock, Clinical Director for Radiotherapy at Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, commented, “I am delighted that Liverpool will be the first city in the UK to offer this new radiosurgery technology, a highly-anticipated addition to our excellent cancer treatment options. Novalis Tx radiosurgery demonstrates our particular commitment at Clatterbridge to offer our patients the latest cancer treatments available. Liverpool residents will now benefit from fast and personalized radiosurgery treatment, close to home”

Explaining how the technology works he said, “Novalis Tx radiosurgery uses image-guidance tools that allow us to shape treatment around tumours or other abnormalities to help ensure that the prescribed dose is delivered, whilst protecting healthy tissue. Patients lie on a robotic treatment couch that moves, tilts and pivots in six degrees, to compensate for motion during treatment.”

“One of the key benefits of Novalis Tx radiosurgery for most patients is that it’s non-invasive[3], which helps avoid lengthy recovery periods and many of the complications often associated with conventional invasive surgery.

“In fact, this technology will allow will enable many patients to be treated as outpatients.”

The versatility of Novalis Tx radiosurgery makes it possible for doctors at the Centre to provide the treatment based on each patient’s specific needs. Treatment is delivered quickly so that patients spend minimal time immobilized on the treatment table.

“Fast treatments are easier on the patient,” said Clatterbridge Senior Research Radiographer Angela Heaton. “With Novalis Tx radiosurgery, treatments that would have taken up to an hour or more using other techniques can be completed in just minutes, with equal accuracy.”

The new £17m purpose-built facility, which will be situated at University Hospital Aintree, is on schedule for completion in 2010 and will be clinically operational by February 2011.

ENDS

Further information:

Novalis Tx radiosurgery is the latest development in non-invasive³ cancer care technology from Varian Medical Systems, Inc., and Brainlab. Novalis Tx radiosurgery rotates around the patient to deliver treatment beams anywhere in the body from virtually any angle. A set of sophisticated image guidance and motion management tools guide patient set up and positioning, and monitor motion during treatment. A computer-controlled, high-definition multi-leaf collimator shapes the treatment beam around the tumor, which helps ensure that the maximum prescribed dose is delivered to the entire tumor. Novalis Tx radiosurgery can be used to deliver frameless radiosurgery treatments for brain tumors and other abnormalities, a more patient-friendly alternative to techniques that require immobilization with a head ring that attaches to the skull.

About Clatterbridge Centre

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology is one of the largest specialist cancer centres in the UK, with nearly 7,000 new patients registered each year. Based in Wirral, Merseyside they serve a population of 2.3 million across Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, the Isle of Man and South Lancashire. They deliver treatments to their patients through radiotherapy and chemotherapy services. They also have a sophisticated diagnostic imaging department and are one of only two sites to host the region’s PET:CT scanner (mobile unit). As one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the UK they deliver nearly 85,000 radiotherapy treatments a year. They also annually deliver 29,000 outpatient chemotherapy treatments and 2,000 admitted chemotherapy stays and host the regions Teenage and Young Adult Unit with the help of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology’s vision is to provide world class cancer care; to achieve this by putting people first, achieving excellence, being passionate about what they do, always improving their care and being committed to their future.

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centres and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,100 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, China, and Europe and in its 79 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com/.

About Brainlab

A pioneer in the field of radiosurgery, Brainlab develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that enables procedures that are more precise, less invasive, and also less expensive than traditional treatments. Among the core products are image-guided systems that provide highly accurate real-time information used for navigation during surgical procedures. This utility has been further expanded to serve as a computer terminal for physicians to more effectively access and interpret diagnostic scans and other digital medical information for better informed decisions. Brainlab solutions allow expansion from a single system to operating suites to digitally integrated hospitals covering all subspecialties from neurosurgery, orthopedics, ENT, CMF to spine & trauma and oncology. With more than 4,700 systems installed in over 80 countries, Brainlab is a market leader in image-guided technology. The privately held Brainlab group, founded in 1989, is headquartered in Munich, Germany and today employs 950 people in 16 offices across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America. For more information, visit Brainlab at www.brainlab.com.

Press enquiries: Sallyanne Jones

Contact: sjones@pegasuspr.co.uk  / 01903 821550

Issued by:          Pegasus Public Relations

[1] Manufactured by Varian Medical Systems and Brainlab

[2] Some doctors may opt for a minimally invasive headframe for certain treatments.

[3] Some doctors may opt for a minimally invasive headframe for certain treatments.

Broadcast Television

• The Today Show – the #1 rated morning news show in the US
• MSNBC – one of the top 3 all-news channels in the US

Consumer and Professional Print

• TIME – the #1 ranked news magazine in the US
• New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) – the world’s most-cited medical journal
• The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) – the world’s most widely circulated medical journal

Radio

• National Public Radio (NPR) – leading radio news resource that reaches 99% of US households

Online

• WebMD Consumer and Professional – Receives 10 million visitors monthly and is the #1 resource for physicians on medical devices
• NEJM – online advertising in tandem with NEJM publication

Directed at consumers, referring physicians, neurosurgeons and oncologists, the campaign is designed to build awareness of the benefits of cancer treatment with Novalis radiosurgery. The Brainlab media purchase is expected to deliver over 150 million impressions from the first run alone.

“Radiosurgery is an important treatment option for many patients who may need additional therapy and who have inoperable tumors or other conditions that can prevent the use of traditional cancer treatment methods,” said Trevor Earle, Product Line Director, Oncology, Brainlab. “The Novalis radiosurgery campaign will help generate awareness of and access to advanced treatment options, drive utilization to Novalis Radiosurgery Programs nationwide and increase physician referrals to Novalis radiosurgery experts and programs.”

To support the awareness campaign, simultaneous consumer and business-to-business public relations efforts will launch, strengthening the brand worldwide. In addition, pre- and post- awareness studies will be performed in the US around the first phase of the campaign to determine how brand awareness may have increased among target audiences and to provide a roadmap for future campaign efforts.

Facilities who offer the Novalis Radiosurgery Program as part of their cancer care portfolio, may take advantage of the Brainlab investment in their local markets with a professionally developed marketing portfolio including customizable television, print and online advertising.

“When people and their physicians are informed, confident and proactive, they get and give better care,” stated Karen Koziatek, Director of Creative and Brand Management. “The Novalis ‘Shaping Cancer Care Around You’ campaign does this with a clear message that connects consumers, physicians and hospitals to the brand and the technology it supports.”

To watch the “Shaping Cancer Care Around You” TV commercial and for more information on Novalis radiosurgery, visit www.ShapingCancerCare.com.

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About the Music
The music featured in the “Shaping Cancer Care Around You” campaign was written by Dean Fertita, an American rock musician and multi-instrumentalist. Formerly the lead singer and guitarist of The Waxwings, Fertita has toured as a keyboard player for Grammy nominated group, The Raconteurs. In 2007, he joined Queens of the Stone Age as the keyboardist. Most recently, Fertita is a member of alternative rock super group, The Dead Weather. He also released his debut solo album, Hello=Fire in 2009.

About Brainlab
Brainlab develops, manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that enables procedures that are targeted, less invasive, and also less expensive than traditional treatments.

Among the core products are image-guided systems that provide real-time information used for navigation during surgical procedures. This utility has been further expanded to serve as a computer terminal for physicians to more effectively access and interpret diagnostic scans and other digital medical information for better informed decisions.

Brainlab solutions allow expansion from a single system to operating suites to digitally integrated hospitals covering all subspecialties from neurosurgery, orthopedics, ENT, CMF to spine & trauma and oncology. With more than 4,700 systems installed in over 80 countries, Brainlab is a market leader in image-guided technology.

The privately held Brainlab group, founded in 1989, is headquartered in Munich, Germany and today employs 950 people in 16 offices across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.

For more information, visit Brainlab at www.brainlab.com.

“They were worried about causing irrevocable damage to the spinal nerves and other organs like my bladder and bowel,” Fry said. “My situation was very serious. The organs around the tumor couldn’t tolerate any more radiation, and so the treatments had to be focused very precisely. Honestly, this felt like my last shot at being treated. But as they were describing what Novalis Tx^™ can do, the clinicians at PAMF projected a positive, can-do attitude that really helped to restore my hopes for a positive outcome.”

Fry’s treatment was completed over a five-day period, in daily sessions that each took only about 20 minutes to complete. “After the first four sessions, I felt well enough to go back to work,” added Fry. “On the last day of treatment, which fell on a Saturday, I left the center and was able to go on with my usual weekend activities.”

Christina Crum, 44, was not having success with chemotherapy and her breast cancer had metastasized to multiple sites within her body. She then received a one week course of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) via Novalis Tx^™ to treat a metastatic growth in her right lung, and later, treated another tumor on one of her ribs.

Crum maintained an active lifestyle during her treatments, stating, “I continued teaching my yoga and water aerobics classes all over Jacksonville (Florida)—sometimes even before and after treatment. Unlike traditional surgery, in my case radiosurgery didn’t lay me up at all. It was a great relief to know that another form of therapy was available that wouldn’t keep me from going on with my everyday life.”

“Christina’s treatments had to be especially precise,” said Dr. Sonja Schoeppel, radiation oncologist, Baptist Cancer Institute. “Her tissues and organs were extremely delicate due to earlier rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Novalis Tx radiosurgery technology enables us to shape the beam with precision so we can avoid the surrounding anatomy. This has been great for Christina. Other treatment options just weren’t working for her.”

Over a year earlier, Sisco’s doctors had surgically removed about 60 percent of the AVM, but due to its proximity to the brain stem and other delicate blood vessels, chose to treat the remaining 40 percent using radiosurgery to direct a precisely sculpted beam at the AVM, in a treatment designed to avoid surrounding sensitive brain structures.

Sisco’s doctors gave him an entire year to recover after the initial surgery. “During that year, I was almost always light headed and exhausted. When I asked if I could go back to work, my doctors told me to forget about it,” said Sisco, who had built machines that make plastic bottles. “My experience with radiosurgery has been considerably better. After the treatment was over, I met my wife in the waiting room, and we went home.”

“Performing normal surgery a second time in this case was too high of a risk,” said Dr. Jim Chimenti, a Somerset Medical Center neurosurgeon. “Novalis Tx gave us the careful precision we needed, as we were able to spread the dose over the deep seated lesion while avoiding as much of the delicate brain tissue, near the AVM, as possible.”

Dr. Joel Braver, medical director of radiation oncology at Somerset Medical Center’s Steeplechase Cancer Center, said it will take around two years for Sisco’s AVM to completely dissolve following the radiosurgery procedure. “Compared to traditional surgery, there is no cutting or damage to the skull, or need for lengthy recovery associated with surgery,” said Braver. “John should be able to resume his normal activities, while the lesion slowly disappears, without a period of hospital convalescence. With Novalis Tx, he received an exceptional, highly accurate treatment and he’s doing extremely well.”