Varian Medical Systems debuted its UNIQUE line of radiation therapy systems at the 10th Biennial ESTRO Conference on Physics and Radiation Technology in Maastrict, The Netherlands on Monday, according to the company.

Priced at under $2 million, the low-cost, low-energy radiotherapy system is designed primarily for emerging markets, such as India, other parts of Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe, according to Neil Madle, Communications Director of Varian in Europe.

UNIQUE will be able to treat the most common forms of cancer worldwide, including breast, prostate and cervical cancers.

"It's in keeping with our mission to save more lives by making proven advanced radiotherapy technology available to people who currently do not have access to it," Dow Wilson, president of Varian's Oncology Systems, said.

The small machine fits most treatment bunkers. Currently, Varian intends to market two versions: The Performance Edition, which will be bundled with image-guidance software, and will cost $1.5-2 million, and the Power Edition, cheaper at around $1 million, but with no frills.

Madle expects the first units to ship around the globe in May 2010. UNIQUE is not available in the United States, Canada or Japan, and will not be until it can meet "country specific approval prior to clinical use," says Madle. But Madle thinks most business will come from the emerging, not the established, markets. "U.S. customers traditionally don't go for low-energy accelerators," he says.

SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems

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