Elekta Unity MR-Linac Cleared by China’s NMPA
Elekta has announced that the world’s first high-field 1.5T MR radiation therapy system, Elekta Unity, has received clearance from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), clearing the technology for clinical use in China.
Elekta Unity is a state-of-the art MR-Linac that is setting a new standard for personalized adaptive radiation therapy. Elekta Unity provides the ability to reshape the dose based on daily changes in shape, size and position of the tumor and surrounding healthy anatomy and then enables accurate dose delivery with real-time visualization of the tumor. The system combines a Philips high-field 1.5T MRI scanner with a best-in-class 7MV linear accelerator and breakthrough online dose replanning software that are fully integrated to enable adaptive radiotherapy and real-time target monitoring.
Elekta Unity has followed strict clinical trials in top Chinese hospitals for nearly two years after its introduction, according to new NMPA guidelines. The system has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for people living with cancer and reduce side effects.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in China and the government’s Healthy China 2030 Planning Outline provides for comprehensive investments and solutions to improve current healthcare conditions. Anming Gong, Elekta’s Executive Vice President Region China, says: “The clearance to use Elekta Unity in China is in perfect harmony with these goals. Elekta Unity not only has the potential to transform accuracy, efficiency and clinical outcomes in radiation therapy but to also provide extraordinary potential for ‘hard to treat’ cancers, such as lung, liver, pancreas and colorectum cancers, which are among the leading types of cancer in China.”
According to GLOBOCON[1] statistics, an estimated 4.3 million new cancer cases and 2.9 million new cancer deaths occurred in China in 2018. With NMPA approval, many of these people affected by cancer will be offered a new hope for improved outcomes of their treatment.
