Spin off: Collaboration Erasmus MC and Sensius
Rotterdam, 10 april 2015 - Erasmus MC Cancer Institute and Sensius BV have signed an agreement to collaborate on the advancement of head and neck cancer treatment through hyperthermia.
Erasmus MC Cancer Institute has developed a unique system for this approach, to be used in combination with radiotherapy: the chances for a positive outcome with this system are higher than application of just radiotherapy.
“Treatment options for head and neck tumors are limited when taking recurrence into account”, says Prof. G. van Rhoon PhD, chair of the research group hyperthermia at the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute. “With our solution we aim to increase the chances on a positive outcome and eventually create more treatment options”. Erasmus MC will seek collaboration with international clinics to jointly define and execute an international patient study.
Thermal Therapy as treatment modality
“Hyperthermia clearly offers better chances for patients”, says Paul van den Biggelaar, CEO and co-founder of Sensius. “Cancer clinics should apply this modality more often when there are proven good methods and solutions. Erasmus MC offers such method and solution. Based on the technology of Erasmus MC, Sensius will now start the development and production of a solution that allows for wide adoption of treatment of head and neck cancers with thermal therapy.”
InnovationQuarter as matchmaker
Sensius is a co-founded by Lavoisier, a network to connect technical developments in the clinical field to entrepreneurs in order to enable new products. Lonneke Baas, program manager Life Sciences and Health at Innovation Quarter, was matchmaker between Erasmus MC, Sensius and Lavoiser: “The value of the research can only be translated to a positive yield for patients if this is done in collaboration with a company. Medical technology demands a special approach. Lavoisier has a track record in this approach”, says Lonneke Baas.