Zeiss Medical Technology launches INTRABEAM 600 device in India to treat breast cancer

So far, ZEISS has installed more than 350 INTRABEAM devices across the world and the first one in India is now available at the Fortis Cancer Institute, Bengaluru

Zeiss Medical Technology has introduced INTRABEAM 600 device to provide Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) in India. INTRABEAM 600, Zeiss Meditec’s IORT device offers the least disruptive treatment method available to patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. So far, ZEISS has installed more than 350 INTRABEAM devices across the world and the first one in India is now available at the Fortis Cancer Institute, Bengaluru.

ZEISS Meditec is also investing 10 million euros annually in CARIn (Center for advance research in India) as it launches the IORT Innovation Lab to boost cancer research in India. The IORT lab will be the center of innovation and experimentation to develop solutions to make IORT technology more affordable and provide better outcomes to patients. CARIn, currently, has 170 software and automation engineers, data scientists, clinical and quality specialists who are working on innovative solutions to advance microsurgery.

Highlighting both developments, Amarjeet Singh Tak, Strategic Business Unit Head (SBU Head), Microsurgery, ZEISS Medical Technology said, “We are very proud to be announcing these two important developments for India today. The INTRABEAM 600 device is a major breakthrough in the treatment of early-stage breast cancer in women. But that’s not all.  Zeiss Medical Technology is committed to working for the advancement of microsurgery promoting research and innovation to democratize and ease the treatment of fatal diseases like cancer. Our investment in CARIn and the launch of IORT Lab is a big step towards boosting our research and innovation capabilities here in India.”

The IORT procedure available through INTRABEAM 600 takes less than one session of 45 minutes to complete during the surgery. A single dose of intra-operative radiotherapy given after the removal of the tumor has significantly better outcomes as compared to whole breast radiotherapy. Equally importantly, it comes without the additional risk of affecting vital organs (the heart & lungs) and eliminates the challenges of the patient traveling to the hospital for multiple weeks for radiotherapy sessions. IORT cuts down the chances of regrowth of the tumor as it is delivered immediately after the removal of the tumor when compared with conventional radiotherapy where the patient has to wait a few weeks before starting the radiotherapy treatment. This way 30 days of treatment is delivered in 30 minutes.