DGAP-News: With the launch of the latest multimodality software generation for industry partner Hologic, MeVis Medical Solutions sets a new benchmark in image-based breast cancer diagnostics

27.11.2009

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Leading breast diagnostic software used on Hologic SecurView(R) DX multimodality diagnostic workstations is now supporting innovative cross-modality workflow

* First license sales of the new multimodality software generation customized for use on Hologic SecurView(R) DX diagnostic workstations * Innovative software technologies for all imaging modalities are combined in a single diagnostic workstation software package * User-defined clinical cross-modality workflows enhance multimodality breast diagnostics

Bremen, November 27, 2009 - MeVis Medical Solutions AG [ISIN: DE000A0LBFE4], a leading medical imaging software company with focus on dedicated, disease-oriented clinical applications, today announced that the new multimodality version of its breast diagnostics software have been integrated into Hologic's latest software release for its SecurView(R) diagnostic workstation. Hologic, Inc., supplies the SecurView(R) DX, diagnostic workstations and markets them globally. The new workstation software supports review of all breast imaging modalities, including 3D tomosynthesis images generated on the Hologic Selenia(R) DimensionsTM system, in concert with review of digital mammograms. Hologic's Selenia(R) DimensionsTM Breast Tomosynthesis system is available in Europe, Canada, and other countries and awaiting FDA approval in the United States.

Breast cancer is the most common form of malignant tumor in the world according to the American Cancer Society, which estimates that in 2007 a total of more than 1.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide. That corresponds to approximately 23 percent of new cases of cancer in women, and to approximately 10.6 percent of all new cancer cases in men and women combined. In addition to the digital mammography used in screening programs, a range of new imaging technologies have been developed for the specific purpose of improving the diagnosis of breast cancer (mammary carcinomas). These include contrast-enhanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound, and, most recently, the highly innovative digital tomosynthesis of the breast. The spatial perspective of this imaging modality offers clear advantages over two-dimensional digital mammography, which is used as standard in breast cancer screening at present. These benefits become particularly relevant in the case of dense breast tissue, where the spatial perspective can help the doctor distinguish between overlapping tissue and real suspicious densities. Moreover, the specific diagnostic advantages of contrast-enhanced MRI mean that it is becoming increasingly important for patients with a high risk of breast cancer. Women who have already suffered from breast cancer in the past or who have the so-called 'breast cancer gene' BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 are regarded as being at high risk.

The multimodality approach in breast cancer diagnostics is particularly valuable because the different imaging modalities provide medical professionals with complementary information. In the words of Dr. Carl J.G. Evertsz, Chairman and CEO of MeVis Medical Solutions AG, 'Our partnership with Hologic has resulted in the first workstation designed to combine the latest innovations in digital mammography, breast MRI, digital breast tomosynthesis, and breast ultrasound. At the same time, we provide medical professionals with state-of-the-art cross-modality workflow concepts. This enables them to utilize the wide variety of image data as efficiently and effectively as possible both in early detection and in diagnostics and biopsy'.

'This new product generation offers considerable potential for a fundamental improvement in early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer,' said Dave Mislan, workstation product manager for Hologic. 'With the expanded support for all breast imaging modalities, we are ensuring that patients continue to have access to the best technologies available on the market in the field of women's health.'

In order to further increase the pace of innovation in the multimodality approach, the MeVis Group and the Fraunhofer Institute for Medical Image Computing MEVIS teamed up with leading international partners in the EU-funded international project HAMAM at the end of 2008. The objective is to develop a patient-specific diagnostic system for breast cancer that is universally usable and adaptable.

Images relating to this press release can be found at: http://www.mevis.de/mms/en/press_material.html

MeVis Medical Solutions AG was founded in 1997 and is one of the world's leading independent manufacturers and vendors of medical imaging software with focus on dedicated, disease-oriented clinical applications. Over the past few years, there has been an enormous increase in the complexity and volume of medical imaging data derived from digital imaging processes such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US). MeVis Group's products analyze and process this data in such a way as to provide medical professionals with crucial information for early detection, diagnosis and intervention in the areas of cancer and lung diseases as well as neurological conditions. The Group develops its software solutions in close consultation with the world's leading medical experts and original equipment makers in the medical technology sector and primarily markets this software via these partnerships.

27.11.2009 Financial News distributed by DGAP. Medienarchiv at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de

Language: English
Company: MeVis Medical Solutions AG
Universitätsallee 29
28359 Bremen
Deutschland
Phone: +49 421 330 74-0
Fax: +49 421 330 74-50
E-mail: ir@mevis.de
Internet: http://www.mevis.de
ISIN: DE000A0LBFE4
WKN: A0LBFE
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Freiverkehr
in Berlin, München, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart

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