Top Norwegian Cancer Center Selects Varian Equipment for Major Upgrade | Varian

{ "pageType": "news-article", "title": "Top Norwegian Cancer Center Selects Varian Equipment for Major Upgrade", "articleDate": "16. June 2005", "introText": "", "category": "Oncology" }

Top Norwegian Cancer Center Selects Varian Equipment for Major Upgrade

OSLO, Norway, June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ullevaal University Hospital, one of Norway's leading cancer centers, has placed a $14m (USD) order for cancer radiotherapy technology with Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) as part of a major upgrade of cancer fighting capabilities in the nation's capital, Oslo. The order encompasses five Clinac® linear accelerators -- three of them equipped with On-Board Imager™ accessories complete with cone beam CT -- along with an Acuity™ imaging and planning device and a full suite of Varian treatment planning and data management software.

The equipment will be installed throughout 2006 and the acquisition of the new On-Board Imager devices will enable Ullevaal to start a program of treatments using image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for better imaging and tracking of tumors, and an intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) program for more targeted treatment delivery. Equipment for tracking of tumor movements due to respiratory motion also forms part of the project.

"This major expansion of our facilities will provide a truly comprehensive cancer center that will benefit cancer patients predominantly from the Eastern Health Region of Norway," says Torfinn Nilsen, chief physicist at Ullevaal University Hospital. "There have been great advances in radiation therapy treatments in recent years and this new equipment will enable us to utilise the very latest technology in our treatments.

"Varian was selected as the supplier of choice after a rigorous, comprehensive and challenging tendering process, where we had the privilege of choosing from the best equipment available from the major vendors," he adds.

The expansion means that the hospital is doubling its total of linear accelerators -- the machines that deliver treatments -- from three to six. The clinic has also ordered the latest versions of Varian's VARiS Vision™ information management and imaging software system, as well as the Eclipse/Helios™ treatment planning system. As a result, the hospital will have a fully automated and integrated network that will improve efficiency, speed up processes and enable more effective treatments to take place.

"Varian Medical Systems is the leading supplier of integrated and automated solutions for radiotherapy, including IGRT," says Walter Frei, Varian's European VP sales & marketing operations. "We are delighted that cancer patients in Norway will benefit from this ambitious and comprehensive upgrade program."

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California is the world's leading supplier of equipment and software for treating cancer. The company is also a premier supplier of components including X-ray tubes and flat-panel detectors for medical, scientific, and industrial imaging. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 3,280 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in its 55 sales and support offices around the world. The company operates manufacturing and engineering centers in Crawley (England), Helsinki (Finland) and Baden (Switzerland) and has headquarters for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) based in Zug, Switzerland. Additional information is available on the company's web site at http://www.varian.com/.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms "can" and "expect," constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

High-resolution image available on request

Editorial contact: Neil Madle, Varian Medical Systems, +44 7786 526068, neil.madle@varian.com.

SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

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