Varian Medical Systems and BrainLAB Join Forces to Introduce Novalis Tx® - the World's Most Powerful and Versatile Stereotactic Radiosurgery System | Varian

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Varian Medical Systems and BrainLAB Join Forces to Introduce Novalis Tx® - the World's Most Powerful and Versatile Stereotactic Radiosurgery System

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a move to offer superior noninvasive treatment options for patients, Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE: VAR) and BrainLAB have teamed up to create Novalis Tx®, integrating the most successful radiosurgery technologies from both companies for imaging, treatment planning, and treatment delivery.

Novalis Tx integrates Varian's Trilogy® Tx linear accelerator and new HD120 multi-leaf collimator offering 2.5 mm leaves for finer beam shaping (see related press release entitled Varian Medical Systems Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for High-Definition Collimator that Enables Ultra-Fine Intensity-Modulated Radiosurgery).

The ultra-precise Novalis Tx radiosurgical instrument will use a variety of standard and configurable options including Varian's On-board Imager® device, the BrainLAB ExacTrac® X-Ray 6D room mounted X-Ray imaging system, BrainLAB iPLAN® treatment planning software as well as Varian's Eclipse™ treatment planning and ARIA™ information management software.

"This powerful platform enables both companies to offer radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons and other medical specialists the sharpest knife available for radiosurgery," said Tim Guertin president and CEO of Varian Medical Systems. "This product introduction is a natural extension of a relationship that has been in place since 1996, when BrainLAB and Varian incorporated linear accelerator and multileaf collimator technologies to create the Novalis line of radiosurgery products."

"Building upon our long-time relationship with Varian and the strengths of both organizations, Novalis Tx integrates the most powerful and advanced capabilities available on the market today," said Stefan Vilsmeier, President and CEO, BrainLAB. "More versatility and efficiency will mean new hope for more patients."

The Novalis Tx offers the widest range of treatment options for the largest number of indications, including malignant and benign lesions, brain metastases, arteriovascular malformations, and functional lesions. It features the highest dose delivery rates in the industry, dynamic beam shaping, and frameless patient positioning for more rapid, effective, and comfortable treatments. Unlike other radiosurgical devices which are limited to a 6 million electron volt (MEV) energy level, the Novalis Tx allows multiple beam energies from 6 to 20 MEV for treating deep-seated tumors and sparing surrounding healthy tissue more effectively. Clinics should be able to treat twice the number of patients per day than with any other radiosurgery system on the market.

The Novalis Tx offers the most comprehensive image guidance system available, including Varian's machine-mounted 3D CT scanner with 2D radiographic and fluoroscopic imaging capability as well as BrainLab's room-mounted X-Ray imaging system for real-time imaging and motion management. Coupled with BrainLAB's 6D robotic couch, this system offers an extremely fast and accurate solution for setting up and verifying proper patient position during treatment.

The treatment planning and information management software products present clinicians with the fastest, most user-friendly and versatile platform for managing, planning, and delivering radiosurgery.

The Novalis Tx is currently on display at the 57th annual meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), taking place through September 20 in San Diego.

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 4,400 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and approximately 60 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com/.

BrainLAB develops manufactures and markets software-driven medical technology that enables procedures that are more precise, less invasive, and therefore 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 information for better informed decisions. With more than 2,500 systems installed in over 65 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 around 900 people in 15 offices across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. For more information, visit http://www.brainlab.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements concerning industry outlook, including market acceptance of or transition to new products or technology such as stereotactic radiosurgery, image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), ; growth drivers; the company's orders, revenues, backlog, or earnings growth; future financial results and any statements using the terms "should," "will," "allows," or similar statements are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include demand for the company's products; the company's ability to develop and commercialize new products; the company's ability to meet demand for manufacturing capacity; the company's reliance on sole or limited-source suppliers; the company's ability to maintain or increase operating margins; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the effect of economic conditions and currency exchange rates; the effect of changes in accounting principles; the company's ability to meet Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory requirements for product clearances or to comply with Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory regulations or procedures; the possibility that material product liability claims could harm future revenues or require the company to pay uninsured claims; the company's ability to protect the company's intellectual property; the impact of managed care initiatives, other health care reforms, and/or third-party reimbursement levels on capital expenditures for cancer care; the potential loss of key distributors or key personnel; the risk of operations interruptions due to terrorism, disease (such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Avian Influenza) or other events beyond the company's control; and the other risks listed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
  Spencer Sias, Varian Medical Systems
  (650) 424-5782
  spencer.sias@varian.com

  Kate Franco, BrainLAB
  (708) 638-3482
  kate.franco@brainlab.com

SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

CONTACT: Spencer Sias of Varian Medical Systems, +1-650-424-5782,
spencer.sias@varian.com; or Kate Franco of BrainLAB, +1-708-638-3482,
kate.franco@brainlab.com

Web site: http://www.varian.com/
http://www.brainlab.com/