Joint MOU with TECHNA Institute and TERA

RNS Number : 2958V

Advanced Oncotherapy PLC

27 October 2014

 



ADVANCED ONCOTHERAPY Plc

("Advanced Oncotherapy" or the "Company")

Joint MOU with TECHNA Institute and TERA

Advanced Oncotherapy (AIM: AVO), the developer of next generation proton therapy systems for cancer treatment, announces that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the TECHNA Research Institute of the University Health Network ('UHN') in Canada to advance developments in radiation treatment technology.

In 2013, Advanced Oncotherapy acquired the entire share capital of ADAM S.A. ('ADAM'), the particle physics CERN spin-off company based in Geneva. As well as bringing to the Company its core proton technology platform the acquisition also included exclusive rights to various IP developed by TERA, an Italian foundation for hadron therapy which is advancing new particle physics based technology for therapeutic use.

The Memorandum of Understanding between TECHNA, TERA and Advanced Oncotherapy, provides a framework to explore the advancement of TERA's Carbon Booster for Therapy in Oncology ('CABOTO') technology and to evaluate the feasibility of integration of complementary therapeutic tools.  

TERA IP, owned by Advanced Oncotherapy, provides a base for development of a compact accelerator for dual carbon-ion and proton beam therapy, an alternative form of particle therapy which also uses both larger carbon ions and smaller proton particles. Carbon-ion therapy is currently less developed than proton therapy; it is indicated for treatment for radio-resistant tumours, which represent around 10% of radiotherapy cases. 

UHN is comprised of four centres for patient care and research based in Toronto, Canada. This includes the renowned Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, a teaching hospital that now stands as the largest cancer centre in Canada and one of top five cancer research centres in the world. 

Commenting on the collaboration, Sanjeev Pandya, CEO, said:

"I am delighted that AVO and TERA have established this important relationship with the team at TECHNA. We have inherited a very valuable IP portfolio through the acquisition of ADAM last year and this agreement allows us to continue to explore ways to unlock maximum value for our shareholders. Our primary focus remains the LIGHT machine and management's time and shareholder funds will be centred on our proton therapy LIGHT system."

Advanced Oncotherapy Plc	www.avoplc.com
Sanjeev Pandya, CEO	Tel: [phone]
Nicholas Serandour, CFO
Westhouse Securities (Nomad & Joint Broker)	Tel: [phone]
Antonio Bossi / David Coaten
Beaufort Securities (Joint Broker)	Tel: [phone]
Saif Janjua / Jon Levinson
Walbrook PR (Financial PR & IR)	Tel: [phone] or [e-mail]
Paul McManus / Anna Dunphy	Mob: [phone] / Mob: [phone]

About Advanced Oncotherapy Plc www.avoplc.com

Advanced Oncotherapy's team based at CERN in Geneva focuses on the development of a proprietary proton accelerator called Linac Image Guided Hadron Technology (LIGHT). LIGHT accelerates protons to the energy levels achieved in legacy machines but in a unit that is a quarter of the size and between a quarter and a fifth of the cost. This compact configuration delivers proton beams in a way that facilitates a greater precision and electronic control which is not achievable with older technologies.

Advanced Oncotherapy is a provider of particle therapy with protons that harnesses the best in modern technology. As a result, Advanced Oncotherapy will offer healthcare providers affordable systems that will enable them to treat cancer with an innovative technology as well as better health outcomes and lower treatment related side effects.

Advanced Oncotherapy continually monitors the market for any emerging improvements in delivering proton therapy and actively seeks working relationships with providers of these innovative technologies. Through these relationships, the Company will remain the prime provider of an innovative and cost-effective system for particle therapy with protons.

 

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