MDS Nordion's TheraSphere(R) for Unresectable Liver Cancer (HCC) Now Covered by Two Large U.S. Insurers
05 Febrero 2010 - 7:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Health Insurance Companies Amend Policy on Radioembolization
Coverage OTTAWA, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MDS Nordion, a
global leader in providing products and services for medical
imaging and radiotherapeutics, today announced that two of the
largest health insurers in the United States have recently approved
coverage of radioembolization to treat unresectable liver cancer,
which includes the use of MDS Nordion's TheraSphere(R) treatment.
The two insurance companies and their affiliates together serve
more than one-quarter of Americans and do business in all 50
states. These changes in policy mark the largest such favorable
determinations for reimbursement coverage of radioembolization for
liver cancer treatment by U.S. insurers. Medicare and many other
commercial insurance carriers also reimburse TheraSphere when
medically necessary. "The decisions by these two large insurers
underline the growing acceptance of the role that
radioembolization, which includes the use of TheraSphere, plays in
the treatment of certain types of liver cancer patients," said
Steve West, MDS Inc. CEO. Radioembolization refers to a process by
which small beads or microspheres, containing the radioactive
element yttrium-90, are delivered directly to the tumor using the
tumor's own blood supply. TheraSphere is one form of
radioembolization. Another name for this type of treatment is
selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT). "Radioembolization can
offer options to patients who are not eligible for surgery," said
Matthew Johnson, MD, Professor of Radiology and Surgery at Indiana
University School of Medicine, who offers TheraSphere treatment.
"Patients and their families also appreciate that the procedure is
performed on an outpatient basis with side effects that are
normally milder than many other treatments." About 22,600 cases of
primary liver cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., according
to the American Cancer Society. About 1 million cases are diagnosed
each year globally. The most common form of primary liver cancer is
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which in the U.S. is commonly
caused by alcohol abuse or by the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus.
HCC is the fifth most common form of cancer in the world and is
increasing globally due to an increase in the incidence of
hepatitis. Treatment options for patients with primary liver cancer
are limited. HCC is usually unresectable, meaning that it cannot be
surgically removed. Unlike TheraSphere, many of the treatments
offered for unresectable HCC require inpatient hospitalization and
also produce strong side effects that can reduce a patient's
quality of life. "I'm so pleased there will now be major private
insurance coverage for TheraSphere," said Suzanne Lindley, a cancer
survivor and nationally known patient advocate who heads the YES
organization. "Radioembolization was a crucial step in my journey.
Now, so many others will be able to take advantage of this
procedure." TheraSphere is typically an outpatient procedure that
does not require inpatient hospitalization. It is also well
tolerated by patients, with side-effects that are normally milder
than with many other treatments for unresectable HCC. Because the
procedure is directed to the tumor, there is minimal injury to
non-targeted tissue. After treatment, most TheraSphere patients are
eligible for further therapeutic options because the procedure
preserves liver vascularity. About TheraSphere(R) TheraSphere is a
low toxicity, liver cancer therapy that consists of millions of
micro-glass beads containing radioactive yttrium-90. The product is
injected by physicians into the main artery of the patient's liver
through a catheter, which allows the treatment to be delivered
directly to the tumor via blood vessels. The TheraSphere treatment
can generally be administered on an outpatient basis and does not
usually require an overnight hospital stay. TheraSphere, 100%
reimbursed by Medicare and many commercial health insurers, is
authorized in the U.S. as a Humanitarian Use Device for the
treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, also referred to as primary
liver cancer, and is further authorized for patients who also have
partial or branch portal vein thrombosis and who are identified as
suitable candidates by their physicians. Humanitarian Use Device
approvals are based on demonstrated safety and probable clinical
benefit, however, effectiveness in the indication has not been
established. TheraSphere treatment has some common side effects,
including mild to moderate fatigue, pain and nausea for about a
week. Physicians describe these symptoms as similar to those of the
common flu. Some patients will experience some loss of appetite and
temporary changes in several blood tests. For details on rare or
more severe side effects, please refer to the TheraSphere package
insert at http://www.mdsnordion.com/TheraSphere. About MDS Nordion
MDS Nordion, a business unit of MDS Inc., is a global leader in
providing products and services for medical imaging and
radiotherapeutics, and sterilization technologies for the
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. MDS Nordion's
products and services are used on a daily basis by pharmaceutical
and biotechnology companies, medical-device manufacturers,
hospitals, clinics and research laboratories and benefit the lives
of millions of people in more than 70 countries around the world.
Find out more at http://www.mdsnordion.com/. About MDS MDS Inc.
(TSX: MDS; NYSE: MDZ) is a global life sciences company that
provides market-leading products and services that our customers
need for the development of drugs, and the diagnosis and treatment
of disease. We are a leading global provider of innovative
technologies for use in medical imaging and radiotherapeutics,
sterilization, and pharmaceutical contract research. MDS has more
than 2,400 highly skilled people in nine countries. Find out more
at http://www.mdsinc.com/ or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a
day. DATASOURCE: MDS Nordion CONTACT: Media: Shelley Maclean, (613)
592-3400, ext. 2414, ; Investors: Catherine Love, (905) 267-4230,
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