CRAWLEY, England, March 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced that it has been selected to equip and service two new national proton therapy centers in England with the Varian ProBeam® proton therapy system. Under a public tender, Varian was selected as the preferred supplier to provide equipment and service to operate two three-room centers to be constructed in London and Manchester in a contract valued at up to £80 million. Varian expects to conclude and sign the contract and book the equipment portion of the order in the summer.
Equipment installation is expected to take place from August 2017, with patient treatments expected to begin from 2018. The UK's two national proton therapy centers will be located at UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust) in London and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester.
"Varian is proud to have been selected as the preferred equipment supplier for the proton therapy centers at UCLH and The Christie," said Dow Wilson, Varian's chief executive officer. "As the leading supplier of radiotherapy equipment and software to the National Health Service we will be able to leverage our existing UK-based engineering and logistics infrastructure to deliver industry leading technology while meeting the NHS requirements for value for money. This major project will result in a number of additional highly-skilled engineering jobs and an expansion of our UK organization, which currently includes both manufacturing and support."
Varian's ProBeam system with Dynamic Peak™ Scanning is uniquely capable of high-speed intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) which is the most precise form of proton therapy available.
Proton therapy makes it possible to treat certain types of cancer more precisely and with potentially fewer side effects than is possible with conventional radiation therapy. With proton therapy, the risk of damage to healthy tissues and potential side effects is reduced because the beam stops and deposits dose within the tumor site rather than passing all the way through the patient. In pediatric patients the risk of developing a new, radiation-induced cancer later in life may be reduced.
Varian's ProBeam technology is being used to treat patients at the Scripps Proton Therapy Center in San Diego, the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich, and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland. Varian also has contracts for system installations at eight other sites around the world.
About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, focuses energy on saving lives by equipping the world with advanced technology for fighting cancer and for X-ray imaging. The company 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 also a premier supplier of X-ray imaging components, including tubes, digital detectors, and image processing software and workstations for use in medical, scientific, and industrial settings, as well as for security and non-destructive testing. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,800 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.
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; the company's future business, including orders and revenues; market acceptance of or transition to new products or technology for proton therapy, and any statements using the terms "can," "will," "may," "expected," "possible," "potential" 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 the effect of economic conditions; currency exchange rates and tax rates; demand for the company's products; the company's ability to develop, commercialize, and deploy new products; the company's ability to meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory requirements for product clearances or to comply with FDA and other regulatory regulations or procedures; changes in the regulatory environment, including with respect to FDA requirements; challenges associated with the successful commercialization of the company's particle therapy business; the company's reliance on sole or limited-source suppliers; the company's ability to maintain or increase margins; 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:
Elisha Finney (650) 424-6803
elisha.finney@varian.com
Neil Madle (+44) 7786 526068
neil.madle@varian.com
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SOURCE Varian Medical Systems