BSD Medical is Now Pyrexar Medical

According to the Global Cancer Observatory, the top three cancer indications in China are lung cancer, liver cancer, and stomach cancer. Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in China, accounting for approximately 25% of all cancer cases. Liver cancer is the second most common type of cancer, accounting for around 19% of cases, and stomach cancer is the third most common, accounting for about 8% of cases. These three types of cancer are a significant public health concern in China and are a major focus of cancer research and treatment in the country.

Recently, Ray Lauritzen, the VP of Service at Pyrexar Medical, visited several hospitals in China to observe the use of the BSD-2000 hyperthermia system. This system uses heat to target cancer cells and has been shown to be an effective complementary therapy to traditional treatments. Its adoption in China is growing and for good reason.

In addition to the use of hyperthermia, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is also an important aspect of cancer treatment in the country. It is based on the idea that the body is a complex system of interconnected parts that work together to maintain health and well-being.

Traditional therapies such as acupuncture and herbal remedies are often used with modern Western treatments to help patients manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. With modern hospitals and skilled medical professionals, China is well-positioned to provide comprehensive and effective cancer care to its citizens.

A special thank you to the team at Dailan Orientech Co.,Ltd. for hosting the tours and continuing to expand hyperthermia throughout the region.

Great news! We are excited to share that our CE mark for Pyrexar Medical's product line of RF Hyperthermia Systems, including the BSD-500 Superficial/Interstitial Hyperthermia System, the BSD-2000, BSD-2000 3D and BSD-2000 3D/MR Deep Regional Hyperthermia System, has been renewed.

Although this may not come as a surprise to some, we wanted to highlight that the process of receiving this certification has become much more rigorous under the new EU MDR (European Union Medical Device Regulation 2017/745) framework. This was necessary to ensure a more robust, transparent, sustainable, and predictable regulatory framework and improve the overall level of health and safety of medical devices, while still supporting innovation in the industry.

We understand that this has resulted in many medical device manufacturers withdrawing products from the European Union, but at Pyrexar Medical, we believe that the benefits of hyperthermia are important for patients worldwide. We are committed to continuing to bring these benefits to the European Union and all parts of the world, and the rigorous process of receiving the CE marking is an important step in that direction.

Although the process was expensive and time-consuming, it was well worth it, and we are excited to continue to innovate and improve healthcare through our hyperthermia systems. Thank you for your support and trust in Pyrexar Medical.

The Hyperthermia European Adjuvant Trial (HEAT) was a study that involved 117 patients with pancreatic cancer. It was an open-label, multicenter trial with two groups: a control group and an adjuvant therapy group. The control group received only gemcitabine, a standard chemotherapy drug, while the adjuvant therapy group received gemcitabine along with cisplatin and hyperthermia, using the BSD-2000 3D Deep Regional Hyperthermia System.

Although the disease-free survival was slightly better in the group receiving hyperthermia (12.7 months) compared to the control group (11.2 months), the 5-year overall survival was much better in the hyperthermia group (28.4%) compared to the control group (18.7%). This is a significant increase compared to the 5-year overall survival rate for PDAC of ~20%.

Note: In the middle of the study, the standard of care was changed from gemcitabine to folfirinox, which prevented the population of the study from reaching the original target.

The study, "Regional hyperthermia with cisplatin added to gemcitabine versus gemcitabine in patients with resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: The HEAT randomised clinical trial" by Dr. Rolf Issles et al, was published in the European Journal of Cancer. [Eur J Cancer. 2022;181:155-165. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2022.12.009]. A link to the abstract can be found here.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to announce the opening of the Tumor Hyperthermia Center and the installation of a Pyrexar BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System. The recent addition of a Mevion radiotherapy system makes this the first dual therapy, deep regional hyperthermia/proton center in Asia. 

The BSD-2000 Hyperthermia System is used to treat cancer tumors and aid radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments by raising the tumor micro-environment to 43˚C. This increase in temperature improves blood flow and perfusions, promotes immune modulation, prevents cancer cells from DNA repair and leads to cancer cell death.

The facility, located in the Guangdong Province, is a joint-venture between Jinshazhou Hospital and Australia's ICON Group. The University of Wollongong in New South Wales also collaborates with the center to provide medical physics research, training, and education.

A special thank you to the team at Orientech for their hard work and dedication in placing this system in the hospital.