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Emerging Trends in Radioembolization Using Microspheres: A Clinical Workshop Highlights Latest Research and Data Regarding Treatments for Advanced Liver Tumors

Sirtex’s SIR-Spheres® Microspheres featured at third annual clinical symposium on liver-directed microsphere therapy

WILMINGTON, Mass. (June 5, 2007) – Liver cancer specialists from around the world gathered in Chicago, Ill. for the third annual symposium on Liver-Directed Microsphere Therapy entitled, Emerging Trends in Radioembolization Using Microspheres: A Clinical Workshop. More than 100 physicians and healthcare professionals attended the symposium, which was held May 4-5 at the W City Center Hotel.

Sirtex provided an educational grant to support the meeting, which was jointly sponsored by Wake Radiology Oncology Services in Cary, N.C. and Medical Education Collaborative in Golden, Colo. Sirtex manufactures SIR-Spheres® microspheres, the only FDA-approved microsphere therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.1

“The response to this year’s symposium was tremendous,” says Andrew Kennedy, M.D., F.A.C.R.O., co-medical director of Wake Radiology Oncology Services and course director for the event. “Not only was this the largest attendance to date for the annual symposium, but the volume of new data presented illustrates our increased understanding and knowledge of the role radioembolization can play in the treatment of advanced liver tumors.”

Highlights from the clinical symposium included a comprehensive summary of treatment outcomes and published data regarding the use of Yttrium-90 microspheres to treat colorectal liver metastases. This included a review of U.S. and EU data evaluating the use of microsphere therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer presented by Tobias Jakobs, M.D., Department of Clinical Radiology at the University of Munich in Munich, Germany.

An analysis based on a retrospective review of 680 microsphere treatments in 515 patients, representing the largest-ever study of patients treated with microspheres, was presented by Dr. Kennedy, lead author of the report. He and his colleagues concluded that radioembolization with Yttrium-90 microspheres is a safe and effective treatment for patients with liver tumors that cannot be surgically removed, and can be safely applied to a wider group of patients.

Other key presentations included an overview of recommendations from the Radioembolization Brachytherapy Oncology Consortium (REBOC) consensus panel report. Based on the earlier retrospective review and other data, panel members developed standardized guidelines for indications, techniques, treatment approaches and dosimetry regarding the use of Yttrium-90 microspheres. The guidelines are designed to improve patient selection, activity and to reduce potential complications from radioembolization.

Experts also presented groundbreaking laboratory research on the next generation of microsphere therapy. Abstracts included a presentation on the use of image-tagged spheres designed to improve imaging composition and to help physicians better assess radioactivity within the tumor and surrounding healthy tissue.

“Sirtex is once again proud to support the annual microspheres symposium,” says Nat Geissel, CEO, Sirtex Medical Inc. “Many of the presentations included new research regarding SIR-Spheres microspheres. For treating physicians, the symposium provided the opportunity for them to take this information back to their practices and directly impact how they treat their patients. ”

In addition to the scientific sessions, attendees participated in breakout clinical sessions. Topics included reimbursement guidelines for microsphere therapy and a detailed overview of angiographic techniques and latest treatment guidelines led by Charles Nutting, D.O., an interventional radiologist with Radiology Imaging Associates in Denver, Colo.

The final day of the symposium included a feature presentation on patient advocacy by Suzanne Lindley of Canton, Texas. Lindley, an eight-year colorectal cancer survivor, spoke about her personal experience with advanced liver tumors and receiving SIR-Spheres microspheres. She also founded the Yttrium 90 Microspheres Education and Support (www.y90support.org) group and spoke to physicians about the importance of being advocates for their patients and providing the support they need.

For more information on the symposium, or to receive additional details on the abstracts presented, please visit www.wakeoncology.com.

1 Sirtex Medical Inc.’s SIR-Spheres® microspheres are indicated for the treatment of non-resectable metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with intra-arterial FUDR chemotherapy. Information regarding other disease states or agents in combination with this device that is presented in peer-reviewed literature is different from the approved USA labeling for SIR-Spheres.

About Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) using SIR-Spheres microspheres
Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is a novel treatment for inoperable liver cancer that delivers high doses of radiation directly to the site of tumors. In a minimally-invasive treatment, millions of radioactive SIR-Spheres microspheres are infused via a catheter into the liver where they selectively target liver tumors with a dose of internal radiation up to 40 times higher than conventional radiotherapy, while sparing healthy tissue.

Clinical trials have confirmed that liver cancer patients treated with SIR-Spheres microspheres have response rates higher than with other forms of treatment, resulting in increased life expectancy, greater periods without tumor activity, and improved quality of life. SIRT has been found to shrink liver tumors more than chemotherapy alone.

SIRT using SIR-Spheres microspheres is approved for use in Australia, New Zealand, the United States of America (FDA approval), European Union (CE Mark), Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Israel, and India. SIRT is available in 140 treatment centers around the world, and more than 6500 patients have been treated to date.

Approximately 90 physicians in the United States use Sirtex’s SIR-Spheres microspheres in more than 86 medical centers. For more information, visit www.sirtex.com.

® SIR-Spheres is a Registered Trademark of Sirtex SIR-Spheres Pty Ltd