Translate
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Ronny Allan
Please read this before asking questions
This is the story of a new treatment, a technique rather than a drug. It can be equated to liver embolization or tumour ablation but uses what would appear to be a more effective targeted therapy. It’s early days, the fact that it has been approved by FDA (see wording below) is about all we know but this blog will be kept live.
You are firing off questions to me, but I do not have many answers yet.
1. I do not know for sure which hospitals will be purchasing. But I will open up a section below if I get firm details. This does not mean you can access the treatment.
2. No, there are no trials just for NET (why would there be? It’s not a drug). Read more below.
3. No, I don’t know the patient selection criteria, but I guess the clinical trial inclusion/exclusion criteria is a hint. In reality, as an operational system, eligibility will be decided by healthcare professionals and hospitals, and this may differ from country to country, state to state and perhaps even hospital to hospital.
4. As of 12th Nov 2023, this is only approved in USA. Other approvals will follow but I have not seen anything yet. My ear is to the ground
5. No, I do not know if your insurance will approve. Although one (CMS) has suggested a price of $17,000 (I have no idea what the breakdown of that cost is).
6. The trial locations no longer have the equipment.
HistoSonics®, (www.histosonics.com), the manufacturer of the Edison® System and novel histotripsy therapy platforms, announced today the marketing authorization of its “Breakthrough” platform via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) De Novo Classification Request process, a rigorous pre-market review pathway for medical devices with no existing predicate. Marketing authorization makes Edison the first and only histotripsy platform available in the Unites States.
The Edison System is indicated for the non-invasive destruction of liver tumors, including unresectable liver tumors, using a non-thermal, mechanical process of focused ultrasound.
I first published this new treatment via the clinical trials information – you can read the background to that information by clicking here. I want to use this new post to track deployment and updates as it becomes more well known.
FDA authorization was based, in part, on data from the #HOPE4LIVER Trials in 13 trial sites across the US and Europe. Data pooled from both the US and European/UK trials were used to assess the clinical safety and efficacy of histotripsy in destroying targeted primary and secondary liver tumors.
Histotripsy was noted to have achieved both primary safety and efficacy endpoints in the pooled data where 44 subjects were evaluated for safety and 44 tumors treated were evaluated for efficacy. Important to note was the heterogeneity of the treated subjects, 18 of which had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors and 26 had metastatic tumors to the liver from the colon, rectum, breast, and other primary origins. As recently presented at the annual CIRSE Congress in Copenhagen, a technical success rate of 95.5% was achieved indicating that physicians can precisely target and destroy liver tissue and unresectable liver tumors. Also, only 3 procedure related CTCAE Grade 3 or higher adverse events through 30 days post-histotripsy were observed across all 44 subjects treated, representing a complication rate of 6.8% with each event being common to focal liver therapies and not specific to histotripsy.
HistoSonics Edison System Recognized With BioTech Breakthrough Award For “MedTech Innovation Of The Year”
BioTech Breakthrough, a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout life sciences and biotechnology companies, products and services around the globe today announced that HistoSonics®, the manufacturer of the recently FDA cleared Edison® Histotripsy System and developer of novel, non-invasive sonic beam therapy platforms, is the recipient of the “MedTech Innovation of the Year” award in the third annual BioTech Breakthrough Awards program.
Mike Blue, President, and CEO of HistoSonics. Blue added, “We are very grateful to our early clinical partners who are in the process of being trained on the platform and will be the first ever to deliver histotripsy in routine clinical care, offering its unique benefits to the patients suffering from significant liver disease.” The Company noted it has expanded its commercial and operational capacity over the previous year in preparation for commercial activities. Premier medical centers like The University of Rochester Medical Center, The University of Michigan Medical Center, The University of Wisconsin Medical Center, The University of Chicago Medicine, and other top clinics are on their way to being the very first in the world to institute histotripsy programs for the many patients they serve.
In addition to an FDA Grant for the system’s use for liver tumors, HistoSonics is also conducting an ongoing clinical trial for histotripsy of the kidney in the UK, called the CAIN Trial. The company expects to initiate additional liver and kidney trials in 2024, along with early research into pancreas and prostate to follow.
How does it work?
The science of histotripsy uses focused sound energy to produce controlled acoustic cavitation that mechanically destroys and liquifies targeted liver tissue, including tumors, at sub-cellular levels. HistoSonics’ Edison System uses proprietary technology and advanced imaging to deliver personalized, non-invasive histotripsy treatments with precision and control. The company believes that the novel mechanism of action of their proprietary technology may provide significant advantages to patients, including the ability of the treatment site to recover and resorb quickly. Uniquely, the HistoSonics’ platform also provides physicians the ability to monitor the destruction of tissue under continuous real-time visualization and control, unlike any modality that exists today.
“As a surgeon, it’s rewarding to be able to offer a procedure where we can precisely destroy liver tumors without using a scalpel or needles, hopefully enabling the patient’s quick recovery while avoiding certain complications like surgical site infections or radiation illness common with other modalities,” commented Joe Amaral MD, VP Medical Affairs for HistoSonics. “Based on the data and patient experiences in our studies we are confident histotripsy will have a meaningful impact for patients suffering from unresectable liver disease, including liver tumors, and we look forward to the role histotripsy will play in treatment strategies going forward,” added Amaral.
The video below is courtesy of HistoSonics® Meet Edison®
What happens next?
HistoSonics is a privately held medical device company developing a non-invasive platform and proprietary sonic beam therapy utilizing the science of histotripsy, a novel mechanism of action that uses focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy and liquify unwanted tissue and tumors.
The company is currently focused on commercializing their Edison System in the US and select global markets for liver treatment while expanding histotripsy applications into other organs like kidney, pancreas, and others. (Note: Clinical Trials have been added for Primary Solid Renal Tumors).
Please note:
The Edison® System is intended for the non-invasive mechanical destruction of liver tumors, including the partial or complete destruction of unresectable liver tumors via histotripsy. The FDA has not evaluated the Edison System for the treatment of any disease including, but not limited to, cancer or evaluated any specific cancer outcomes (such as local tumor progression, 5-year survival or overall survival). The System should only be used by persons who have completed training performed by HistoSonics, and its use guided by the clinical judgment of an appropriately trained physician. Refer to the device Instructions for Use for a complete list of warnings, precautions and a summary of clinical trial results, including reported adverse events.
Where can I get this treatment if I am eligible?
I have some quite firm sounding information, but it is all currently anecdotal:
- ” I’ve seen Dr. Kunstman from Yale, Dr. Starr from Mayo in Florida, and Dr. Liu in Denver all saying they are getting the machine.”
- “Update: Cleveland clinic has a histotripsy machine. Doctor’s will train in it next week (~21 Nov 23)”
- to follow when I hear or find more.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or any form of medical professional, practitioner or counsellor. None of the information on my website, or linked to my website(s), or conveyed by me on any social media or presentation, should be interpreted as medical advice given or advised by me.
Neither should any post or comment made by a follower or member of my private group be assumed to be medical advice, even if that person is a healthcare professional.
Please also note that mention of a clinical service, trial/study or therapy does not constitute an endorsement of that service, trial/study or therapy by Ronny Allan, the information is provided for education and awareness purposes and/or related to Ronny Allan’s own patient experience. This element of the disclaimer includes any complementary medicine, non-prescription over the counter drugs and supplements such as vitamins and minerals.
Top 10 Posts & Pages in the last 48 hours (auto updates) (Click the titles to read them)
Thanks for reading.
Personal Facebook. Like this page please.
Blog Facebook. Like this page please.
Awareness Facebook Like this page please.
Sign up for my newsletters – Click Here
My Diagnosis and Treatment History
Check out my online presentations
Check out my WEGO Health Awards
Check out my Glossary of Terms – click here
Please Share this post for Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness and to help another patient
A Spotlight on Neuroendocrine Cancer Syndromes – Carcinoid Syndrome
What is Carcinoid Syndrome? Carcinoid syndrome (CS) is the most frequent hormonal complication accompanying neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and is defined by chronic diarrhoea and/or flushing in the
Somatostatin Receptor Positive Advanced Bronchial Neuroendocrine Tumors – PRRT vs Everolimus
I was delighted to see this clinical trial which looks at the efficacy of PRRT (Lu177) vs the efficacy of Everolimus (Afinitor). The latter is
Opinion: Let’s attack Cancer metaphors
Since I started blogging, I’ve read dozens of articles on the subject of ‘cancer metaphors’ and in particular their use in describing cancer experiences with
A review of November 2023 on RonnyAllan.NET – Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer
November is always busier as I help spread awareness for 10th Nov (remembering that every day is 10th Nov on my site!). I also managed
European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) 2023 guidance paper for Digestive Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
This ENETS guidance paper, developed by a multidisciplinary working group, provides up-to-date and practical advice on the diagnosis and management of digestive neuroendocrine carcinoma, based
Neuroendocrine Cancer – Clinical Esoterica
One of the key awareness messages for Neuroendocrine Cancer is the hormonal syndromes that can often accompany the diagnosis for many people. As it’s a
Neuroendocrine Cancer – The F Words
When I first created my blog in April 2014, I had to find some material to lead up to my 84 mile walk (at the
Laughter is the best medicine
Laughter is important. This is a remastered version of one of my early blog posts. It centred on a ‘get-well’ card I received recuperating in
European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS) 2023 guidance paper for gastric neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) G1–G3
The ENETS 2023 guideline for gNETs are combined with the guidelines for Duodenal NET (dNET) due to their close relationship in anatomical terms. Gastric neuroendocrine
Subscribe to Blog via Email
A cup of tea
I would also mention those who contributed to my “Tea Fund” which resides on PayPal. You don’t need a PayPal account as you can select a card but don’t forget to select the number of units first (i.e. 1 = £4, 2 = £8, 3 = £12, and so on), plus further on, tick a button to NOT create a PayPal account if you don’t need one. Clearly, if you have a PayPal account, the process is much simpler
Through your generosity, I am able to keep my sites running and provide various services for you. I have some ideas for 2023 but they are not detailed enough to make announcements yet.
This screenshot is from every single post on my website and depending on which machine you are using, it will either be top right of the post or at the bottom (my posts are often long, so scroll down!)
