TomoTherapy: Attendance doubles at TomoTherapy Annual EMEA user symposium

Clinicians from 34 hospitals in 11 countries exchange solutions for advancing the quality of cancer care

MADISON, Wis.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TomoTherapy Incorporated (NASDAQ: TOMO) today announced that its annual EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) User Symposium, held May 7-9 in Prague, Czech Republic, attracted a record number of customers, doubling attendance compared to the 2008 event. Attendees from 34 hospitals in 11 countries gathered to share perspectives on the integration and application of the TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® treatment system for image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT).

The symposium was organized by TomoTherapy and its EMEA User Group Steering Committee, chaired by Professor Klaus Herfarth, M.D., vice chairman of Radiation Oncology at Heidelberg University Clinic, Heidelberg, Germany. Attendees participated in scientific sessions covering clinical, operational and physics topics, as well as interactive workshops dedicated to TomoTherapy treatment planning best practices and future platform enhancements.

A total of 44 abstracts were submitted to the steering committee for review, with 23 chosen for presentation during the symposium. Scientific sessions addressed the use of TomoTherapy technology for a wide variety of clinical applications and scenarios, operational and workflow considerations, and physics-related findings and investigations.

According to Prof. Dr. Herfarth, participants gained invaluable insight and continued education from the growing community of clinicians experienced in the use of TomoTherapy’s breakthrough radiation therapy technology.

“The steering committee worked closely with TomoTherapy to create an interactive program with a mix of topics to interest and inform all members of the radiation oncology team,” said Prof. Dr. Herfarth. “Particularly successful was a treatment planning forum where multiple departments returned planning studies that were analyzed to determine effective strategies for achieving utmost plan quality.”

Jef Van Dam, EMEA general manager, TomoTherapy Inc., was equally pleased with the symposium: “The program was guided by a committee that peer-reviewed all educational submissions. We are thankful for their dedication and guidance in creating an extremely high quality meeting, and we are pleased that so many TomoTherapy customers were able to participate.”

Van Dam said the symposium exemplifies TomoTherapy’s commitment to creating an ongoing relationship with customers by providing best in class innovation and support to ensure optimal patient care. One symposium attendee strongly echoed this sentiment in a symposium survey.

Said Olivier de Hertogh, M.D., head of Oncology Department, C.H. Peltzer – La Tourelle, Verviers, Belgium: “I have both excellent commercial and scientific relations with TomoTherapy Incorporated. I have used TomoTherapy for several years, since it has been brought to Europe in 2005. From that day, it has become — and remains as of today — the best tool on the market for IMRT and IGRT, with better target conformality than any linac-based solution. . . When I schedule a Hi·Art treatment for a patient, I feel confident proposing state-of-the-art radiation therapy for them.”

About TomoTherapy Incorporated

TomoTherapy Incorporated has developed, markets and sells the TomoTherapy® Hi·Art® treatment system, an advanced radiation therapy system for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers. The Hi·Art treatment system combines integrated CT imaging with conformal radiation therapy to deliver sophisticated radiation treatments with speed and precision while reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. The company’s stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol TOMO. To learn more about TomoTherapy, please visit TomoTherapy.com.