Gamma Medica Expands into European Breast Imaging Market Through Partnership with Medical Supplies Distributor, Hospital Services Limited
Global footprint enables women in the United Kingdom, Ireland and
Channel Islands access to LumaGEM® Molecular Breast Imaging for
secondary breast cancer screening
SALEM, N.H.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Gamma
Medica, a leader in molecular breast imaging (MBI) technology, today
announced it has partnered with Hospital
Services Limited (HSL), an established medical device company that
distributes, installs and services radiology capital equipment and
medical devices. This partnership will provide women with dense breast
tissue access to Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM®
Molecular Breast Imaging system in the United Kingdom, Ireland and
the Channel Islands.
Women are eligible for the United
Kingdom’s NHS breast screening programme at age 50-79 years, with
women being invited to be screened every three years.1 Similarly
in Ireland,
women 50-69 years-old are eligible for breast screenings every two years.2
Dense breast tissue not only increases the risk of developing breast
cancer, but decreases the visibility of a cancer on conventional
mammograms and other forms of anatomical imaging devices. Dense breast
tissue and cancer both appear white on mammograms making it difficult to
distinguish between the two—it’s like trying to find a snowflake in a
snowstorm. This may lead to false negatives, unwarranted biopsies or
delayed diagnoses.3
Ideal for dense breast tissue, MBI is a groundbreaking technology that
significantly improves early detection of breast cancer in women with
dense breast tissue. The technology has proven
to be as effective as a secondary screening method compared to
ultrasound or MRI with far fewer false positives.4
Peer-reviewed clinical research reports the use of LumaGEM MBI reduces
the need for tissue biopsies by 50 percent compared to other modalities.4
MBI is also more comfortable and better tolerated by most patients than
conventional mammography or MRI.
“We are pleased that through our collaboration with HSL, women with
dense breasts in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, will soon have
access to the LumaGEM MBI technology,” said Philip Croxford, Gamma
Medica President and CEO. “This partnership is the first step in Gamma
Medica’s global expansion to increase awareness and access to clinical
superior breast imaging technology worldwide. Leveraging HSL’s network
enables Gamma Medica to continue to promote early detection on an
international scale.”
A breakthrough retrospective study, which complemented earlier published prospective
clinical research, was published in the American
Journal of Roentgenology’s August issue.5 This
retrospective study monitored over 1,700 women with dense breast tissue
over a three-year period. The study confirmed LumaGEM’s additional
cancer detection rate of 7.7 cancers per 1,000, an increase from three
cancers per 1,000 with mammography alone. The study also concluded that
of the additional breast cancers found, approximately 85 percent of
these cancers were invasive and node negative, indicating they were
detected at an early stage and therefore presented the patient with the
likelihood of a better prognosis.6
“Hospital Services Limited distributes market-leading technology and we
are thrilled to add Gamma Medica’s LumaGEM Molecular Breast Imaging to
our product offerings for our clients,” said Dominic Walsh, CEO of
Hospital Services Limited. “Introducing Gamma Medica to the European
market will enable women outside of the United States to receive the
early detection technology they need. We’re excited to be Gamma Medica’s
partner in this endeavor.”
Gamma Medica launched the Be
Certain campaign in the United States to raise awareness about
breast density and breast cancer screening options. By sharing patient
and physician testimonials, breast density facts and statistics and the
latest news relating to breast density and breast screenings, the
educational website aims to provide the most accurate information for
physicians, patients and caregivers.
For more information about breast density and screening options, visit www.becertain.info.
About Gamma Medica, Inc.
Gamma Medica, Inc. is a women’s
health company focused on overcoming the limitations of anatomical
imaging experienced by mammography and other screening modalities in the
early detection of breast cancer. The company’s LumaGEM® MBI system is
the first commercially available, FDA-cleared, fully solid-state digital
imaging system utilizing dual-head Digital Direct Conversion Gamma
Imaging™ (DDCGI™) technology for molecular breast imaging. With over 90
percent sensitivity and specificity, LumaGEM MBI has been shown to
significantly improve cancer detection in women with dense breast tissue
with fewer false positives relative to anatomical imaging technologies,
such as MRI and whole breast ultrasound. For more information visit, www.gammamedica.com.
About Hospital Services Limited
Hospital Services Limited
(HSL) is a leading provider of products & services to the healthcare
sector in both Ireland and the UK. HSL’s Radiology division has over 50
years’ experience working within this diagnostic imaging arena. HSL
offers unprecedented levels of quality products, services and technical
assistance. HSL representatives with extensive imaging experience,
supply products and support to all levels of medical staff with a major
focus on providing quality service to the individual customer, whilst
manufacturer trained engineers ensure equipment is maintained to
exacting standards. HSL is committed to sourcing the latest technologies
available to help provide peace of mind to patients and physicians alike
while utilising cutting edge diagnostic tools.
1 Gov.uk, Breast Screening: Programme Overview, 2015. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/breast-screening-programme-overview
2
BreastCheck. http://www.breastcheck.ie/
3
Mayo Clinic. Tests and Procedures Mammogram. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/in-depth/dense-breast-tissue/art-20123968?pg=2
4
Rhodes DJ, Hruska CB, Conners AL, et al. JOURNAL CLUB: Molecular Breast
Imaging at Reduced Radiation Dose for Supplemental Screening in
Mammographically Dense Breasts. American Journal of Roentgenology.
2015;204(2):241-251.
5 Rhodes DJ, Hruska CB, Conners AL,
et al. JOURNAL CLUB: Molecular Breast Imaging at Reduced Radiation Dose
for Supplemental Screening in Mammographically Dense Breasts. American
Journal of Roentgenology. 2015;204(2):241-251.
6 Shermis
RB, Wilson KD, Doyle MT, Martin TS, Merryman D, Kudrolli H, Brenner RJ.
Supplemental Breast Cancer Screening with Molecular Breast Imaging for
Women with Dense Breast Tissue. American Journal of Roentgenology.
2016;207: 1-8. doi:10.2214/AJR15.15924.
Contacts
Racepoint Global
Alexandra Connelly, 1-617-624-3219
aconnelly@racepointglobal.com
