Latest news with #histotripsy
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Groundbreaking cancer treatment which ‘destroys tumours with sound' to be rolled out on NHS
NHS patients will be the first in Europe to benefit from a pioneering new cancer treatment which uses ultrasound to destroy tumours. The technology, known as histotripsy, offers a non-invasive treatment capable of breaking down liver cancer tissue without surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, with minimal damage to the surrounding organs, according to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). First approved by US regulators in October 2023, histotripsy uses pulsed sound waves to create 'bubble clouds' from gases present in the targeted tissue and tumour. When these bubbles pop, within microseconds, a shockwave is released which is capable of breaking up a mass and killing cancerous cells, while avoiding the harms of radiation and reducing the risks of bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding non-targeted tissue. Treatment is delivered via a single session – potentially taking just 30 minutes – with limited or no pain, a quick recovery, and can be performed as a day case, according to the DHSC. The first NHS patients are set to be treated this summer at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where the technology – which uses a device called an Edison System, created by US firm HistoSonics – is being debuted after a donation from the Li Ka Shing Foundation. Cancer Research UK describes liver cancer as the 17th most common cancer in the UK and the 8th most frequent cause of cancer death. More than 8,000 people received a new diagnoses in 2022, with liver cancer incidence across the UK having surged by 42 per cent over the past decade, according to the British Liver Trust. So far, more than 1,500 patients worldwide have received treatment using histotripsy, mainly in the United States – following approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in late 2023. According to 12-month follow-up data from HistoSonics' previous clinical trials, which involved patients for whom other treatments had been either unsuccessful or unavailable, overall survival rates after one year were 73.3 per cent for primary liver cancer, and 48.6 per cent for those with secondary tumours. The paper, published in the Annals of Surgery journal in April, noted that both tumour control and survival rates were similar to those among other current treatments. The UK's new device is expected to be fully installed in Cambridge later this year, where it will be used initially to treat patients with primary and secondary liver tumours. Wider research on how this could potentially treat tumours in other organs – such as the pancreas and kidneys – is underway. The technology has been approved in the UK via the innovative devices access pathway, which aims to enable faster approvals of medical devices and treatments which evidence shows are safe, efficient and can fill unmet need. 'This is a strong example of smart, agile regulation in action,' said James Pound, of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). 'It's a major step forward for patients with liver cancer and shows how the UK can be a frontrunner in supporting responsible innovation that meets real clinical need.' While 'regulation is vital to protect patients', the government is 'slashing red tape, so game-changing new treatments reach the NHS front line quicker – transforming healthcare', said health secretary Wes Streeting. Hailing histotripsy as 'an exciting new technology that will make a huge difference to patients', Roland Sinker, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals, said: 'By offering this non-invasive, more targeted treatment we can care for more people as outpatients and free up time for surgeons to treat more complex cases. 'The faster recovery times mean patients will be able to return to their normal lives more quickly, which will also reduce pressure on hospital beds, helping us ensure that patients are able to receive the right treatment at the right time.' Fiona Carey, a kidney cancer patient who co-chairs Cambridge's patient advisory group, added: 'This is seriously good news. A new, non-invasive option to treat these cancers is very welcome indeed. 'For patients for whom ordinary surgery is no longer an option, this could make all the difference.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HistoSonics and Cambridge University Unveil Europe's First Edison™ Histotripsy System Powered by Li Ka Shing Foundation Gift
Milestone marks company's initial entry into the United Kingdom, following Unmet Clinical Needs Authorization (UCNA) Approval by MHRA MINNEAPOLIS, June 10, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HistoSonics, the manufacturer of the Edison® Histotripsy System and novel histotripsy therapy platforms, announced today that Addenbrookes Hospital of Cambridge University Hospital Foundation and Trust will be the first site in the United Kingdom and European continent to offer histotripsy to both NHS and private patients. This was made possible through a generous donation by the Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) as well as the expedited limited market access granted by the MHRA in April 2025. The milestone marks HistoSonics' official entry into the UK and European market. HistoSonics won a coveted place in the Innovative Device Access Pathway pilot in 2024 and through this program, in partnership with the DHSC, MHRA, NIHR, NHSE, and NICE expedited access to patients. HistoSonics will continue to work with UK healthcare stakeholders on our aligned goal of urgently expanding access for all NHS patients. The Li Ka Shing Foundation, established in 1980 by Hong Kong philanthropist Sir Ka-shing Li, has contributed nearly US$4 billion to advancing education, medical research and services, and poverty alleviation across the USA, UK, Canada, and Asia. Recognizing the transformative potential of technological innovation in healthcare, the Foundation's latest gift to the University of Cambridge will build upon its previous donations of five Edison systems with three to Hong Kong, one to Singapore, and one recently to Stanford University. This new gift not only heralds the introduction of the first Edison system in the UK and Europe but also celebrates the enduring partnership between the Li Ka Shing Foundation and Cambridge in their collaborative efforts to fight cancer. By supporting cutting-edge medical technologies that can deliver low cost and highly efficient solutions, the Foundation hopes to enhance patient access with improved healthcare around the world. "This donation is an historic milestone that brings non-invasive treatment of liver tumors using histotripsy to the UK," said Mike Blue, President and CEO, HistoSonics. "We are grateful to the Li Ka Shing Foundation for their visionary support. With Addenbrookes as our first NHS hospital site under UCNA, we are laying the foundation for future expansion into innovation driven hospitals across the UK." The Edison System, which received FDA De Novo clearance in October 2023, uses non-invasive therapeutic focused ultrasound energy to mechanically destroy and liquefy targeted tissue and tumors without the invasiveness or toxicity of traditional procedures, reducing the risks of bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding non-targeted tissue. HistoSonics' initial FDA clearance is for the destruction of liver tumors, with ongoing studies focusing on kidney tumors (HOPE4KIDNEY Trial NCT05820087) and pancreas tumors (GANNON Trial NCT06282809). Professor Deborah Prentice, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said: "We are very fortunate that through the generosity of Sir Ka-shing Li, Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge will be able to use cutting-edge histotripsy technology to improve outcomes for NHS patients. It is technology such as this that allows Cambridge to remain at the forefront of understanding and treating tumors, a position we aim to strengthen further with Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital." With installations soon to be in five countries including the US, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, HistoSonics is actively expanding access to its histotripsy platform and is working closely with clinical leaders, national health systems, and philanthropic partners to accelerate global adoption of histotripsy as a new category of health care. HistoSonics is also pursuing broader UK and European market access via CE marking. United Kingdom Intended Use Statement: The Edison System is intended for the non-invasive mechanical destruction of liver tumours, including the partial or complete destruction of unresectable liver tumours via histotripsy. This includes malignancy linked to primary liver cancer and cases of metastatic disease in the liver. The device should only be used by people who have completed training performed by HistoSonics Inc., and its use guided by the clinical judgement of an appropriately trained physician. Users must read this user guide to understand the warnings, precautions, and clinical trial summary, including reported adverse events. The Edison System has not been evaluated for the treatment of any specific disease, including, but not limited to, cancer or evaluated any specific cancer outcomes (such as local tumour progression, 5-year survival or overall survival). United States Intended Use Statement: 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 physicians 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. About HistoSonics 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, prostate, and others. HistoSonics has offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Minneapolis, MN. For more information on the Edison Histotripsy System please visit: For patient-related information please visit: View source version on Contacts Media contacts:Josh KingVice President of 608.332.8124 Kimberly HaKKH Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
New ultrasound forecast to cut Addenbrooke's treatment times
NHS patents will be the first in Europe outside a trial setting to have access to a liver cancer treatment described as "cutting-edge and non-invasive".Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge will start using a histotopsy system, an ultrasound treatment that can be delivered in a single short session. It could potentially take no longer than 30 minutes with limited or no pain and a quick Sinker, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH), said the technology could make a "huge difference" and reduce cancer treatment times. The Edison Histotripsy System, made by US-based HistoSonics, is expected to be fully installed at CUH later this year. It will initially be used to treat patients with primary and secondary liver tumours, and research is exploring its potential on treating other hard-to-reach Sinker said: "Histotripsy is an exciting new technology that will make a huge difference to patients. "By offering this non-invasive, more targeted treatment, we can care for more people as outpatients and free up time for surgeons to treat more complex cases. "The faster recovery times mean patients will be able to return to their normal lives more quickly, which will also reduce pressure on hospital beds, helping us ensure that patients are able to receive the right treatment at the right time." The incisionless surgery uses pulsed sound waves to create "bubble clouds" from gases present in the targeted form and collapse in microseconds, creating mechanical forces able to destroys tumours without surgery, scalpels or has been procured following a donation to the University of Cambridge from the Li Ka Shing Foundation, a supporter of cancer research at the Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor of the university, said: "Through his longstanding support of cancer research at Cambridge, Sir Ka-shing Li continues to make a significant impact on outcomes for cancer patients. "Cutting-edge technology such as this histotripsy machine allows Cambridge to remain at the forefront of understanding and treating cancer, a position we aim to strengthen further with Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital."Previously, 23 patients from Europe were recruited in a histotripsy clinical trial. More than 1,500 patients worldwide have received the treatment, mainly in the United States. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
