TOKYO, JAPAN – September 19, 2017 – Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543) announced today that it has launched QuiremSpheres® microspheres on September 18 in Europe. QuiremSpheres® are available in Europe with plans for expansion its sales area outside of Europe in the future.
QuiremSpheres®, the next generation of SIRT microspheres, are indicated for the treatment of advanced unresectable liver tumors and are the only commercially available microspheres that contain the radioactive isotope Holmium-166. Recent trials have shown the safety[1] and efficacy[2] of holmium microspheres for the treatment of advanced liver cancer.
Unlike the widely adopted Yttrium-90 microspheres, QuiremSpheres® can be visualized in low concentrations by means of SPECT and MRI. This allows clinicians to quantitatively assess the distribution of microspheres in the liver, enabling accurate evaluation of treatment directly after SIRT procedure. The half-life of QuiremSpheres® is 26.8 hours, which means that more than 90% of the radiation is delivered within the first 4 days following the implantation procedure.
Peter Coenen, President of Interventional systems Terumo EMEA said: “Terumo is one of the world’s leading company in the interventional oncology field offering micro catheters, bland embolization beads, and many other related products. We are grateful to offer new treatment options to physicians and patients. We believe Quiremspheres® enhances our position to be trusted as a top brand in the interventional oncology field.”
About Terumo Corporation
Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation is one of the world’s leading medical device manufacturers with over $5 billion in sales and operations in more than 160 nations. Founded in 1921, the company develops, manufactures and distributes world-class medical devices including products for use in cardiothoracic surgery, interventional procedures and transfusion medicine; the company also manufactures a broad array of syringe and hypodermic needle products for hospital and physician office use. Terumo contributes to society by providing valued products and services to the health care market and by responding to the needs of health care providers and the people they serve. Terumo Corporation’s shares are listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (No. 4543, Reuters symbol <4543.T>, or Bloomberg 4543: JP) and is a component of the Nikkei 225, Japan’s leading stock index.
About Quirem Medical BV
Quirem Medical is an emerging medical device company with a mission to develop the next generation microspheres for targeted interventional treatment of liver malignancies. It is based in Deventer, the Netherlands and is a spin-off company from the University Medical Center in Utrecht.
[1] The recommended whole liver dose of 60Gy was identified as the maximum tolerated radiation dose in a phase I trial (no dose-limiting toxicity occured in the 60Gy cohort) Smits et al, Lancet Oncol. 2012, Oct;13(10):1025-34. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01031784
[2] Study results have been published in PhD thesis of J.F. Prince; ISBN 978-90-393-6489-5; 2016. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01612325
