TIVERTON, ON – September 4, 2019 – Bruce Power, Nordion, and Xcision have entered into a collaborative framework agreement to support the use of Cobalt-60 and the GammaPod™ for life-saving cancer treatments.
“The GammaPod is an amazing technology that could shorten the course of treatment, simultaneously increasing patient convenience, and allowing treatment to begin sooner, thereby reducing patient wait times,” said James Scongack, Executive Vice President at Bruce Power. “Ontario has been an early leader in radiotherapy programs that are advancing the science of breast cancer treatment. GammaPod potentially represents a major step forward in improving the treatment experience for patients.”
The framework highlights the important role that Ontario’s nuclear industry plays in providing a secure, long-term supply of Cobalt-60, a medical isotope used, amongst other purposes, to sterilize medical devices and treat cancer. Bruce Power is a key global supplier of medical-grade Cobalt-60, which is processed and distributed by Nordion to customers, such as Xcision, who are using it to revolutionize cancer therapies.
“The continued production of Cobalt-60 in Ontario and Canada’s overall leadership in isotope technologies are essential to our success,” said Professor Cedric Yu, Chief Executive Officer of Xcision Medical Systems. “Technologies like the GammaPod have the potential to revolutionize the management of localized breast cancer and create real value for patients and healthcare providers.”
“Nordion pioneered the use of Cobalt-60 sources for cancer therapy over seventy years ago, and we are delighted to see innovative companies such as Xcision developing new and exciting cancer therapies utilizing Cobalt-60,” said Kevin Brooks, Nordion’s President. “We look forward to working in partnership with Xcision and Bruce Power to bring the benefits of the GammaPod to cancer patients.”
Working together, Bruce Power, Xcision, and Nordion hope to improve the practice of radiation oncology to be able to treat more patients using precise, non-invasive therapies with the benefit of less discomfort.
This collaboration is in addition to a number of agreements Bruce Power has recently signed to advance its production of medical radioisotopes. The company’s recent announcements signal its sustained focus on providing a reliable, long-term supply of medical nuclear isotopes. Bruce Power, Xcision, and Nordion are members of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC), which advocates for Canada’s continued role in the production of the world’s supply of life-saving radioisotopes. Over 30 leading organizations from Canada and around the world participate on the council.
How it works:
- Xcision’s first product, GammaPod, is a new stereotactic radiotherapy system optimized for the treatment of breast cancer.
- GammaPod delivers focused radiation to early-stage breast cancer and serves to provide a breast-conserving treatment.
- The GammaPod uses a continuously rotating multi-source Cobalt-60 system to create thousands of intersecting beams that deliver a full dose to a focal spot while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.
About Bruce Power
Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable, low-cost nuclear power to families and businesses across the province. Bruce Power is also a significant source of Cobalt-60, a radioisotope used for the sterilization of medical equipment around the world as well as a specialized form of cancer treatment called the Gamma Knife. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
About Nordion
Nordion, a Sotera Health company, has been a leading provider of Cobalt-60 to global customers for more than 70 years. The gamma rays emitted by Cobalt-60 are used for sterilization of medical devices, pharmaceuticals, reduction of pathogens in food, irradiation of high-performance industrial materials, and cancer treatment. Sotera Health LLC, along with its business entities, is the world’s leading, fully integrated protector of global health. Sotera Health goes to market through its three best-in-class companies – Nelson Labs(tm), Nordion(r), and Sterigenics(r) – with the mission of safeguarding global health every day.
About Xcision Medical Systems, LLC
Xcision is a medical technology company developing advanced stereotactic radiotherapy solutions with the potential to significantly improve the quality of cancer care as well as the lives of patients. The company’s technology is designed to extend the benefits of radiation oncology to more patients and enable precision non-invasive treatments that allow patients to return to living fuller lives more quickly with less discomfort after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
For further information:
Paul Monlezun
External Communications Advisor
613-222-7184
paul.monlezun@publicaffairsadvisors.com