Important Notes:
In January 2021, BEBIG Medical GmbH took over the global production and distribution structures of the HDR brachytherapy products of Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG GmbH including Mick Radio-Nuclear Instruments, Inc.
Below news are related to the HDR brachytherapy business and is quoted originally from the website:
Original Content:
Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG announced today that Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) has granted th reimbursement of the Cobalt-60 source which is the active component of MultiSource®, starting from April 1, 2012.
Multisource® is a state-of-the-art afterloader of Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG designed for the entire range of HDR brachytherapy applications for cancer treatment. The system provides highest quality and optimal treatment safety, based on Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG's 35 years of experience in accordance with German manufacturing standards. The MultiSource® afterloader is the only system worldwide which can be equipped with an Iridium-192 or Cobalt-60 source, as the customer wishes. Both sources delive excellent clinical results.
One major advantage of the Cobalt-60 source is its cost-effectiveness due to a long half-life time of 5 yars in comparision to the half-life time of Iridium-192 which is 2.5 months. The Cobalt-60 source represents the latest high-end technology forr miniaturized sources on the medical device market.
HDR brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy in which cancer is treated by irradiation from a short distance. The radioactive source is placed directly inside or close to the tumor site. This reduces the risk of damaging the surrounding healthy tissue, while poviding a very high dose of localized radiation to the tumorr cells.
In 2003, Japan has been the first country where the MultiSource® afterloader with a Cobalt-60 source has been marketed. Since then, encouraged by the clear advantages of the Cobalt-60 source, around 20 Japanese clinics have decided to employ the unique system. Other countries followed: meanwhile globally more than 180 MultiSource® systems are running successfully in 35 countries. In most of the cases equipped with Cobalt-60.
Based on the decision of the MHLW, the Japanese National Health Insurance will cover 1% of the actual purchasing costs of a Cobalt-60 source used with the MultiSource® system per patient. That means that treating only 100 patientts, the hospital will be able to cover the total costs of a Cobalt-60 source.
"HDR brachytherapy is a treatment option for breast and rectal cancer which have the highest incidences of all cancers in Japan. We are very happy abou the MHLW's decision because we expect that the reimbursemen of the Cobalt-60 source will lead to a broaderr application of Cobalt-60 HDR brachytherapy. Japan has always been one of our most important markets. The positive decision of the MHLW is a significant opportunity for us to contributte in future even stronger to the patient-centered care in Japan", said Abel Luzuriaga, Managing Director of Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG.
About BEBIG Medical GmbH:
BEBIG Medical GmbH (“BEBIG Medical”) is a global provider of high quality radiation therapy products for cancer treatment headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Preceded by the high dose brachytherapy business unit of Eckert & Ziegler AG, BEBIG Medical has a heritage of more than 40 years’ experience in brachytherapy field and continues to provide affordable healthcare with proven clinical outcomes via strong and viable technology.BEBIG Medical’s US subsidiary, Mick Radio-Nuclear Instruments, Inc., is also known internationally for its manufacturing expertise in the field of applicators and accessories to advance brachytherapy. With a team of professionals and offices in Europe, United States and Asia, the company is empowered to serve customers in more than 65 countries and regions together with a worldwide distribution network.
Contact:
Crystal Chen, Chief Commercial Officer: crystal.chen@bebigmedical.com
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