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Press Release

Elekta and Karolinska University Hospital to Collaborate on Stereotactic Radiation Therapy Research

San Diego

2010-11-02

Elekta and Karolinska University Hospital (Stockholm, Sweden) recently signed a letter of intent to launch a joint research project that will evaluate and improve the efficacy of stereotactic radiation therapy for cancer patients.


This unique, three-year, multi-product collaboration will entail the clinical implementation and expansion of Elekta clinical solutions at Karolinska. 

Both Karolinska and Elekta are members of the Swedish medical technology industry and are linked through Prof. Lars Leksell, who in the late 1960s and early 1970s developed the Leksell Gamma Knife® while on staff at Karolinska. The emergence of this gold-standard radiosurgery system launched Elekta as a company. Karolinska, a center with a world-class cancer treatment and research program, shares with Elekta a dedication to improve the care of patients with cancer. 

“Stereotactic treatments are well-established for targets inside the skull, so with our clinical colleagues at Karolinska, our aim is to improve the sophistication of stereotactic radiation therapy to tumor targets in the body,” says Tomas Puusepp, President and CEO of Elekta. “We will also focus on how to use stereotactic therapy to enhance the management of metastatic lesions, those that have spread to other parts of the body from elsewhere.” 

The research will be conducted under the direction of Karolinska’s Department of Oncology within the Karolinska Center of Excellence for Stereotactic Treatments. 

Roger Henriksson, Professor at the Department of Oncology, Karolinska Hospital, says: “The Research Project is of high clinical importance with the clear aim to find better ways to achieve tumor control. Our ultimate goal is to improve the care of cancer patients, and I’m convinced this collaboration will help us fulfill it.”

 

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For further information, please contact:
Stina Thorman, Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta AB
Tel: +46 8 587 254 37, email: stina.thorman@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
 
Michelle Lee Joiner, Director, Global Public Relations and Brand Management, Elekta
Tel: +1 770-670-2447, email: michelle.joiner@elekta.com
Time zone: ET: Eastern Time
 
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,300 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. Website: www.elekta.com.