Elekta's Flexitron brachytherapy afterloading platform approved in China

Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) announces that the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has approved Elekta's Flexitron^® brachytherapy afterloading platform for sale and marketing in China.

In China there is a high prevalence of gynecologic cancers, as well lung, breast, colorectum and esophagus cancers. Many patients with such cancers can be effectively treated with brachytherapy. With the introduction of Flexitron^®, hundreds of thousands of cancer patients can benefit from being treated with this new, advanced afterloading platform.

For hospitals offering brachytherapy, Flexitron^® can reduce workflow complexity and improve efficiency. It is revolutionizing safety and workflow in the modern brachytherapy practice. By being designed around an upgradable architecture, Flexitron represents a truly safe investment for the future.

Anming Gong, Elekta's Managing Director for China, says: "Elekta is happy to introduce to China an effective brachytherapy solution – especially for gynecologic cancers. The timing is perfect as recently published guidelines from the 2014 CSTRO/SANTRO Symposium in October state that brachytherapy is a key technique for cervical cancer treatment and is instrumental in improving the control and survival rates of women with these cancers."

There are about 130,000 new cervical cancer patients per year in China and about 40,000 Chinese patients are treated with brachytherapy annually.

Elekta offers complete brachytherapy solutions, including afterloading platforms, applicators and treatment planning. For Asian patients in particular, Elekta has developed dedicated small applicators designed to fit their anatomy.