Leading radiosurgery systems maker Accuray Incorporated (ARAY) recently reported the launch of a global organization for the users of its popular CyberKnife radiosurgery system and TomoTherapy radiation therapy system.
The organization dubbed Accuray Exchange in Radiation Oncology (“AERO”) is geared to advance patient care through global clinical and technical alliances. The formation of AERO was triggered by the increasing need for supporting a large user base for both CyberKnife and TomoTherapy platforms globally.
A board consisting of clinicians and physicists from across the globe will lead and co-direct AERO. The entity will be administratively managed within Accuray’s “Medical Affairs” group, a functional organization formed to boost data collection and utilization of the CyberKnife system.
AERO will consist of two main units, one for the fields of stereotactic radiosurgery (“SRS”) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (“SBRT”) and the other for intensity modulated radiation therapy (“IMRT”) and conventional radiation therapy. All eligible CyberKnife and TomoTherapy users can become a member of AERO.
AERO will provide a global platform for exchanging clinical and technical information between clinicians and physicists for setting a new standard in patient care and safety across SRS/SBRT, IMRT and conventional radiation therapy. AERO members can access global and regional online communities for exchanging information.
Accuray is a global leader in the field of radiosurgery and provides a non-surgical treatment option for patients diagnosed with cancer. The acquisition of rival TomoTherapy in June 2011 has bolstered its foothold in the radiation oncology space.
The CyberKnife system is a non-invasive alternative to traditional surgery and is the first and only commercially available intelligent robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat solid tumors anywhere in the body. The TomoTherapy system targets tumors more precisely than conventional radiation therapies while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
While Accuray is expected to benefit from the gradual recovery in hospital capital equipment spending, it remains susceptible to reimbursement uncertainties surrounding its products. Moreover, its CyberKnife systems face a stiff challenge from competitive product offerings of Varian Medical (VAR). Accuray is due to report its fourth-quarter fiscal 2011 results. Currently, we are Neutral on the stock.
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