EDAP Announces European Association of Urology Recommends HIFU for Treatment of Localized Prostate Cancer

EDAP TMS SA

, the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, announced that HIFU for the primary treatment and salvage therapy of localized prostate cancer are recommended by the European Urology Association in its 2014 Guidelines released in April at the EAU's Annual Congress held in Stockholm. In the EAU Guidelines 2014 edition, HIFU is recommended for the primary treatment of localized prostate cancer and received a "C" recommendation grade. HIFU was not previously recommended nor graded by the EAU. HIFU as a salvage therapy following failed radiation therapy was recommended in the 2014 edition with a "B" recommendation grade. In the 2013 edition, HIFU as salvage therapy was recommended as an experimental treatment option without a grade. The EAU Guidelines aim to help improve clinical practice and are based on a formal review of all of the evidence obtained from peer reviewed publications. Based on the EAU's methodology, each treatment is assigned a recommendation grade, which is not a scale but rather reflects the types of studies used to evaluate the treatment and make the recommendation. John Rewcastle, Ph.D., EDAP's Medical Director, commented, "The EAU Guidelines on Prostate Cancer are the primary reference for urologists in Europe and many other countries and the primary resource used to establish standards of care for the treatment of prostate cancer. Inclusion in the treatment guidelines as a recommended therapeutic option, which is based on clinical evidence, further validates HIFU technology and the procedure as an accepted clinical practice among health authorities and urologists." Marc Oczachowski, EDAP's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The EAU's recommendation for HIFU both as a primary treatment and salvage therapy clearly establishes HIFU as a standard of care for prostate cancer. This is another substantial positive recognition following the recently received reimbursement in France." Mr. Oczachowski concluded, "EDAP garnered strong visibility at this year's EAU Annual Congress. Focal therapy was a significant topic at the meeting having been featured prominently in both the scientific sessions and the continuing education courses. Our Focal One device is the key facilitator of this targeted treatment approach. The live demonstrations of the Focal One and Sonolith i-move devices in our booth yielded record attendance."