Cancer treatment systems maker BSD Medical Corp (BSDM) is in the final phase of implementing a dedicated global distribution network for its novel MicroThermX Microwave Ablation product line. In this regard, the company has strategized to use the network of specialty distribution firms, which markets products in the interventional radiology area. BSD Medical’s ablation products are targeted at this market.
The company has already identified seven regional U.S. specialty distribution firms and plans to finalize distribution agreements with them over the coming weeks. These identified firms will supply as many as 60 sales professionals to promote and market the company’s MicroThermX products in the U.S. Initial training of these distributors is currently underway. Nationwide distribution coverage is expected within the first quarter of 2011.
BSD Medical is leveraging the successful demonstration of the MicroThermX Microwave Ablation System (“MTX-180”) at the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (“CIRSE”) meeting in October 2010 to draw the attention of international interventional radiology distribution firms.
The company is currently negotiating with select Europe-based firms and expects to commence international shipment of the MTX-180 in January 2011. BSD Medical is expanding its marketing and sales force to support the global roll-out of its MicroThermX products.
The MTX-180, which was approved in the U.S. in August 2010 for soft tissue ablation (destruction), leverages BSD Medical’s proprietary synchronous phased array technology to deliver precision-guided microwave energy to ablate soft tissues using a single-patient-use disposable antenna.
The minimally-invasive device has been developed to provide treatments as a stand-alone therapy and has applications in open surgical and percutaneous (via needle-puncture of the skin) ablation procedures. As such, it can be used by both surgeons and interventional radiologists.
The MTX-180 system offers several key advantages over the legacy radio frequency-based systems including delivery of wider ablation zones in less time employing microwave energy.
BSD Medical recently reported the successful roll-out of the MTX-180. The company has successfully placed three of these tissue devices at clinical sites across Utah and Michigan with the deployment of a fourth system underway.
BSD Medical competes with established players like Boston Scientific (BSX) and Angiodynamics (ANGO) in the thermal ablation market. The global market potential for soft tissue ablation has been estimated to exceed $2.3 billion, offering a significant opportunity for BSD Medical.
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