Philips Joins Focused Ultrasound Initiative to Treat Metastatic Bone Cancer

Philips announced that its healthcare division would join forces with researchers in the United Kingdom and the United States to expand clinical use of focused ultrasound for the treatment of metastatic cancer. In the U.K., the Dutch healthcare giant will collaborate with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and the London-based Institute of Cancer Research. In the U.S., the company will join forces with The Focused Ultrasound Foundation (Charlottesville, VA).

As of now, the company has not publicly shared the financial details of its focused ultrasound initiative. However, research will be based at both of its U.K partners. The goal of the research initiative will be to promote expanded use of focused ultrasound. In addition, the company hopes to establish standardized and regulated training and treatment procedures.

As a first step, the company and its research partners will launch a clinical trial in the coming months to study the safety and efficacy of focused ultrasound for the treatment of bone metastases in patients suffering from cancer. The company notes that the University of Virginia launched a similar initiative four years ago. However, that earlier initiative concentrated on the use of focused ultrasound for the treatment of brain disorders.

Both researchers and Philips see focused ultrasound technology as an effective, clean way to provide targeted treatment for patients. By focusing ultrasound energy on cancerous tissue, an ultrasound therapy machine can thermally destroy cancerous growths in a patient's bones.