Terumo Europe NV has announced the first commercial clinical case using Quiremspheres—the next generation radioembolization microspheres for advanced unresectable liver cancer.
Quiremspheres are the only commercially available microspheres that contain the radioactive isotope holmium-166. In recent trials, holmium microspheres have been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of advanced liver cancer, a press release from Terumo says.
Unlike the widely adopted yttrium-90 microspheres, Quiremspheres can be visualised in low concentrations by means of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and MRI. This allows clinicians to quantitatively assess the distribution of microspheres in the liver, enabling accurate evaluation of treatment directly after the radioembolization procedure.
Quiremspheres have been used for the first time outside of a research setting, in clinical practice at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany. A multidisciplinary team, consisting of R T Hoffmann and J Kotzerke and their dedicated teams performed the radioembolization procedure on a patient with metastatic colorectal cancer in the liver.
Hoffmann, head of Interventional Radiology at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus said: “As a radiologist, I value the unique imaging capabilities of Quiremspheres. SPECT and MR-imaging opens new opportunities that we look forward to exploring. This will give us the confidence we need to start individualising treatments.”
In addition to the unique imaging capabilities, Holmium-166 also has a shorter half-life than Yttrium-90. Kotzerke, head of the Nuclear Medicine department at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus commented: “The short halftime of holmium-166 results in a high initial dose rate. Therefore, we expect to see an improved radiobiological effect.”
In reflection of the physician-led collaboration for the development of this treatment, Marnix Lam, heading the Nuclear Medicine department of the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands said “I am excited to see this treatment, which has been developed at our hospital, now becomes available for patients across Europe.”
Peter Coenen, president of Interventional Systems Terumo EMEA said: “We are grateful for the confidence that the Dresden clinical team places in us and QuiremSpheres. We strongly believe that the unique imaging capabilities of Quiremspheres can be a game changer in the field of radio-embolization and this first patient treatment is an important milestone towards realising its full potential.”
Jan Sigger, CEO of Quirem Medical BV, the manufacturer of Quiremspheres said: “We are excited that, after more than 15 years of research, Quiremspheres has become available for clinical use. Through our strategic partnership with Terumo, liver cancer patients across Europe can now benefit from the next generation microspheres for radioembolization.”
For any questions, please contact Alexandra Vassiliades, group manager, Marketing Communications Terumo Interventional Systems, EMEA: [email protected]
