BSD-2000

The BSD-2000 Hyperthermia System, or the BSD-2000, family of products includes the BSD-2000, the BSD-2000/3D and the BSD-2000/3D/MR. These systems non-invasively deliver localized therapeutic heating (hyperthermia) to solid tumors by applying radiofrequency (RF) energy to certain cancerous tumors, including those located deep within the body. These systems consist of four major subsystems: an RF power generator delivery subsystem; a proprietary, thermistor-based, thermometry subsystem; a computerized monitoring and control subsystem; and an applicator subsystem that includes an applicator and patient support system; as well as various accessories. The BSD-2000 delivers energy to a patient using a power source and an array of multiple antennae that surround the patient’s body. The BSD-2000 systems create a central focusing of energy that can be adjusted to target the shape, size, and location of the tumor, thus providing dynamic control of the heating delivered to the tumor region. The basic BSD-2000 has eight microwave antennae, enabling electronic steering of energy within the patient’s body. The BSD-2000/3D has 24 microwave antennae enabling additional electronic steering along the long axis of the body. The 3D steering is particularly useful when used with a magnetic resonance system that provides non-invasive 3D imaging of the heated regions, thus permitting the clinician to view the heating pattern in the tumor and steer the energy to the tumor site.

We have received CE Marking for the BSD-2000 family of products, which allows us to market the BSD-2000 systems in the thirty countries that comprise the EU and the EFTA. CE Marking is also recognized in many countries outside of the EU, providing us the ability to market the BSD-2000 family of products to a number of international markets. We have also obtained regulatory approval for the sale of the BSD-2000 in the People’s Republic of China.

On May 18, 2009, the FDA granted HUD designation for our BSD-2000 for use in conjunction with radiation therapy for the treatment of cervical carcinoma patients who are ineligible for chemotherapy. This is the first of the two steps required to obtain HDE marketing approval. Subsequent to the FDA granting the HUD for the BSD-2000, which confirms that the intended use population is fewer than 4,000 patients per year, we filed an HDE submission with the FDA.

On November 21, 2011, we announced that the Company had obtained HDE marketing approval for the BSD-2000 from the FDA. The BSD-2000 is approved for use in conjunction with radiation therapy for the treatment of cervical cancer patients who normally would be treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation but are ineligible for chemotherapy due to patient related factors. The HDE approval authorizes the commercial sale of the BSD-2000. An HDE approval is obtained after a company has demonstrated the product’s safety and probable benefit for the treatment of a disease affecting fewer than 4,000 people in the United States every year. In addition, we cannot charge an amount for an HDE approved device that exceeds the costs of research and development, fabrication, and distribution. A device can have both PMA and an HDE approval as long as the approvals are for different indications for use. In addition, a product can have multiple HDE approvals for different applications, and we may decide to pursue a PMA and/or additional HDE approvals for the BSD-2000 in the future.

Development of the BSD-2000, the BSD-2000/3D and the BSD-2000/3D/MR has required substantial effort involving the cooperative work of such United States research institutions as Duke University, Northwestern University, University of Southern California, Stanford University, University of Utah and University of Washington St. Louis. Contributing European research institutions include Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center of the Academisch Ziekenhuis (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Haukeland University Hospital (Bergen, Norway), Dusseldorf University Medical School, Tübingen University Medical School, Essen University Hospital, Charité Medical School of Humboldt University (Berlin), Luebeck University Medical School, Munich University Medical School Grosshadern, Interne Klinik Argirov of the Munich Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Erlangen (all of Germany), University of Verona Medical Center (Italy), Graz University Medical School (Austria) and Kantonsspital Aarau (Switzerland).