Varian Medical Systems Announces Supply Agreement With Department of Veterans Affairs for Cancer Treatment Systems | Varian

{ "pageType": "news-article", "title": "Varian Medical Systems Announces Supply Agreement With Department of Veterans Affairs for Cancer Treatment Systems", "articleDate": "12 June 2001", "introText": "", "category": "Oncology" }

Varian Medical Systems Announces Supply Agreement With Department of Veterans Affairs for Cancer Treatment Systems

PALO ALTO, Calif., Jun 12, 2001 (BW HealthWire) --

Varian to be a Provider of Radiotherapy Equipment, Including SmartBeam IMRT Technology
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (NYSE:VAR) has signed a renewable contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be one of the agency's providers of advanced radiotherapy systems for treating cancer.

Under the terms of the agreement, Varian Medical Systems will offer VA Medical Centers access to its line of state-of-the-art equipment and software for advanced radiation therapy. Varian's products include Clinac(R) medical linear accelerators, Ximatron(R) treatment simulators, multi-leaf collimators, and other accessories for SmartBeam(TM) IMRT, a highly precise cancer care treatment that targets cancer cells with high doses while minimizing the exposure of nearby healthy tissue. Varian Medical Systems' products also include software for planning treatment and managing patient information, brachytherapy systems, and medical imaging systems.

"Our priority is to provide health care organizations with the means for delivering the most effective cancer treatments currently available," said Timothy Guertin, president of Varian Medical Systems' oncology business. "Varian's latest IMRT technology can help hospitals improve speed, efficiency, and patient outcomes."

The VA network of facilities includes 172 hospitals and clinics. The VA spends between $2 million and $10 million annually on radiation oncology equipment.

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., (NYSE:VAR) of Palo Alto is the world's leading manufacturer of integrated cancer therapy systems as well as X-ray tubes and flat-panel sensors for imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 2,400 people and reported sales of $690 million in its most recent fiscal year ended Sept. 29, 2000. For more information, visit www.varian.com.

With a budget of more than $20 billion, the Veterans Health Administration provides health care to veterans through approximately 180,000 staff, 173 medical centers, over 771 ambulatory care and community based clinics, 134 nursing homes, 42 domiciliaries, 206 readjustment counseling centers and various other facilities. In addition to its medical care mission, the veterans health care system is the nation's largest provider of graduate medical education and one of the nation's largest medical research organizations. It also provides backup to the Department of Defense and the National Disaster Medical System.

This press release contains certain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which provides a "safe harbor" for these types of statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of Varian Medical Systems, Inc. to differ materially from management's current expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, product demand and market acceptance risks; new product development and commercialization; the impact of managed care initiatives in the U.S. on capital expenditures and resulting pressures on medical equipment purchases; and other risks detailed in Varian Medical Systems, Inc. filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

CONTACT: Varian Medical Systems
Spencer Sias, 650/424-5782
spencer.sias@varian.com
Meryl Ginsberg, 650/424-6444
meryl.ginsberg@varian.com