PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Icon Group,
Australia's largest dedicated
provider of cancer care, with a growing reach into New Zealand and Asia, has made a purchase order to further
improve the quality of cancer care treatment across its
international network. The order includes a significant suite of
Varian (NYSE: VAR) cancer treatment hardware and software,
including the first Asia-Pacific
purchase of Ethos™ therapy, an Adaptive
Intelligence™ solution. Ethos therapy is an
artificial intelligence (AI) driven holistic solution designed to
increase the capability, flexibility, and efficiency of
radiotherapy.
This significant order also includes the Varian
TrueBeam® linear accelerator and Halcyon™ radiotherapy
system, as well as the Identify™ Guidance System that aids in
the efficient delivery of pinpoint precise radiation treatment.
This technology not only delivers precise radiation therapy but can
also reduce patients' emotional stress by eliminating the need for
tattoo markings, as well as minimizing treatment times.
In September 2019, Varian unveiled
Ethos therapy, an innovative new solution for online adaptive
therapy. Ethos therapy is designed to deliver customized and
optimized treatments to patients, for each and every radiation
treatment, adapting to changes in the patient's internal or
external anatomy. This new solution is designed to deliver an
entire adaptive treatment in a typical 15-minute timeslot, from
patient setup through treatment delivery, compared with other
online adaptive solutions that can take more than 40 minutes.
Icon Group CEO Mark Middleton
says Icon invests in the latest technology and cancer techniques
for the benefit of patients and their families. "Today's
announcement marks the continuation of our long-term global
partnership with Varian to help us deliver a world-class standard
of care to our patients across Australia, New
Zealand, Singapore and
China," Mr. Middleton said."We
have always been early adopters of technology and will be
installing these new solutions across our international network to
provide more access to world-class care as we seek to reduce the
global cancer burden."
Varian APAC President, Mr. Kenneth Tan said it remains
Varian's focus to bring advanced technology to cancer patients
across all communities. "We are delighted to partner with Icon as
they become the first in the APAC region to install the completely
new Ethos therapy suite, marking the future of personalized
radiation therapy. Through the use of AI, Ethos therapy is designed
to allow clinicians to target tumors with more precision, enabling
the physician to adapt and deliver personalized radiation dose to
every patient at each of their treatment sessions. It will enable
physicians to better visualize changes and movement in a patient's
anatomy and adapt the therapy accordingly, limiting radiation dose
to surrounding healthy tissue and organs, and providing more
treatments options to patients with a wide range of cancers. This
partnership is another important step in achieving our vision of a
world without fear of cancer," Mr. Tan said.
This investment comes on the back of a number of Icon Group
announcements including expansion into Hong Kong, with the acquisition of SunTech
Medical Group, and the build of a fully integrated cancer center at
Mt Alvernia Hospital, Singapore.
This state-of-the-art center will be equipped with a Varian
TrueBeam linear accelerator and the first on the island to use
HyperArc™ technology. This center will become Varian's regional
training hub for radiation oncologists, medical physicists and
radiation therapists in the Asia-Pacific region.
Icon continues to play a paramount role in the development of
radiation oncology treatments and has been an early adopter of
technologies, including the first in Australasia to install the
Varian Halcyon radiotherapy system and first in Australia to install and treat with HyperArc
technology – benefitting patients with multiple tumors in the
brain. Icon Group is also a member of the Varian Adaptive
Intelligence Consortium, alongside other peak international bodies,
to collaboratively develop clinical and technical aspects of Ethos
therapy and wider radiation therapy treatments and techniques that
will continue to evolve cancer care.
"Being a member of the consortium will allow us to contribute to
the ongoing development of Ethos therapy, which will be of great
benefit to patients across the world," Mr. Middleton said.
Icon and Varian will work together to implement this technology
package and have it operational over the next 12 months across the
Group's cancer centers in Australia, Singapore and China.
"Through our international network of clinicians and care teams
and our innovative treatment solutions and investment in
technology, we are equipped to bring more care to more people,
closer to where they live, and make a lasting difference to
millions of cancer patients," Mr. Middleton said.
About Icon Group
Icon Group is Australia's
largest dedicated cancer care provider. The Group has expanded
globally into Singapore,
China and New Zealand and is among the top healthcare
companies in Australia.
The Group's cancer services include 36 cancer centres globally,
including day oncology hospitals, radiation oncology facilities and
comprehensive centres that bring both oncology disciplines
together.
The Group also encompasses Slade Health, Australia's largest chemotherapy compounder
with three TGA-approved manufacturing sites across the eastern
seaboard, and Epic and Slade Pharmacies who deliver medication
management and pharmacy services to the hospital, oncology and aged
care sectors. For more information visit www.icongroup.global and
follow us on Twitter @IconGroupglobal or LinkedIn.
In 2019, Icon Group was the only Australian company to be listed
in Fortune Magazine's Change the World List, ranking
47th and being recognised to have made a positive social
impact through core business strategy.
About Varian
At Varian, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more
than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative
cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners
around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year.
With an Intelligent Cancer Care approach, we are harnessing
advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine
learning and data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand
access to care. Our 9,200 employees across 70 countries keep the
patient and our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as
we power new victories in cancer care. Because, for cancer patients
everywhere, their fight is our fight. For more information,
visit http://www.varian.com and follow Varian Australasia on
Twitter @variananz.
Press Contact
Mark Plungy
Director, Global Public Relations
+1 (650) 424-5630
mark.plungy@varian.com
Liz Hebditch (WE Buchan for Icon
Group)
(02) 9237 2818
lhebditch@we-buchan.com
Investor Relations Contact
Anshul Maheshwari
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 (650) 424-5631
investors@varian.com
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/icon-group-expands-cancer-care-capabilities-with-purchase-of-varian-adaptive-therapy-solution-300948498.html
SOURCE Varian