PROGRAM OVERVIEW

In recent months, one of our fellow radiation therapy vendors seems to have shifted its primary focus to speed of delivery. While clinical efficiency is certainly important, we believe it is our industry's obligation to remain focused—first and foremost—on quality of care. We owe this to our customers and their patients.

In an effort to refocus industry priorities and clear up potential marketplace confusion, TomoTherapy has issued a Treatment Quality Challenge.

Varian claims that “RapidArc™ delivers uncompromised treatments in "two minutes or less.” We believe that two-minute treatments inherently can be compromised, especially relative to plans achievable with the TomoTherapy^® Hi·Art^® radiation therapy platform.

A MESSAGE FROM TOMOTHERAPY

Since day one, TomoTherapy’s mission has been to help physicists and clinicians deliver the highest-quality radiation therapy to the widest range of cancer patients. We stand strongly behind this commitment, and believe we continue to lead the industry in achieving this goal. In an effort to bring forward the truth in radiotherapy system performance, TomoTherapy has decided to offer the Treatment Quality Challenge detailed here.

By making this offer, we hope to reinforce the understanding and acceptance that TomoTherapy clearly offers the gold standard in cancer treatment—a claim backed by hundreds of clinical papers that speak to the very high quality of treatment delivery derived from our unique, next-generation design. We believe this is a vital message to both cancer care providers and their patients. We look forward to working collaboratively with firmly-committed centers that have decided to acquire a new radiotherapy system and want the added confidence provided by an honest, side-by-side quality comparison.

CHALLENGE DETAILS

For the Treatment Quality Challenge, TomoTherapy will work collaboratively with eligible cancer centers to agree on the clinical quality protocol for comparatively assessing and documenting performance of a Hi·Art treatment delivery vs. a RapidArc™ treatment delivered in “two minutes or less”.

Key protocol attributes will focus on quality of cancer treatments for two to three patient CT data sets. Quality will be measured on target dose homogeneity, target dose conformity and region-at-risk avoidance. Treatment evaluation will consider both plan quality and proven treatment delivery verification within internationally accepted guidelines for accuracy.

In the prostate plans above, DOSE HOMOGENEITY is illustrated by a consistent red color across the target volume. DOSE CONFORMITY is illustrated by how "tightly" the red color (prescription dose) conforms to the target volume. The REGIONS AT RISK, or areas to avoid with radiation, are the rectum and bladder.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS & REGISTRATION

The TomoTherapy $250,000 Treatment Quality Guarantee is open to U.S.-based hospitals, cancer centers and community clinics considering a 2008 purchase/installation of new radiation therapy equipment. Eligible entities can register below. By registering, you agree to the terms and conditions of this program.

PROGRAM TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Centers must be pre-approved for a 2008 new system purchase and 2008 new system installation.
• Cancer center and TomoTherapy will agree on the clinical quality protocol for comparatively assessing and documenting performance of a Hi·Art treatment delivery vs. RapidArc treatment delivered in “two minutes or less”.
• Key protocol attributes will focus on quality (target dose homogeneity, target dose conformity and region-at-risk avoidance) of cancer treatments for two to three patient CT data sets.
• Tumor types will include prostate as well as head and neck cancers.
• Treatment evaluation will consider both plan quality and proven treatment delivery verification within internationally accepted guidelines for accuracy.
• The evaluation is to be completed within 60 days of protocol agreement.
• Comparisons must be generated and delivered on commercially available software/hardware.
• If the Hi·Art treatment system is deemed to outperform the competitive product in the evaluation, the hospital agrees to move forward with a Hi·Art treatment system purchase and system installation in 2008. If the competitive product outperforms the Hi·Art treatment system, TomoTherapy will pay the cancer center $250,000 towards the 2008 installation of a RapidArc^™-equipped linear accelerator, or toward the purchase of a TomoTherapy Hi·Art treatment system (provided the systems are installed and available for clinical use before December 31, 2008).
• All plans submitted for the Treatment Quality Challenge are the property of TomoTherapy.
• TomoTherapy reserves the right to change the conditions for this offer or withdraw this offer at any time without notice. This offer is available in the U.S. and is void where prohibited by law.

If your center agrees to the above program terms and conditions, please register now. Registration for the Treatment Quality Challenge closes on June 30, 2008, or after 10 eligible cancer centers have applied, whichever comes first.

RapidArc is a trademark of Varian Medical Systems. The above RapidArc image is from a Varian presentation available online.