June 25 2019
Radioembolization treatment for primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer now available in Argentina

Argentina, 25 June 2019

Argentina now the second South American country to offer TheraSphere™ treatment for liver cancer patients

June 25, 2019: BTG plc (LSE: BTG), a global healthcare company, announced today that Argentina is the second South American country to offer TheraSphere™ radioembolization treatment for patients diagnosed with primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer. Liver cancer mortality in Argentina is considerably higher than in other Latin American countries. In 2018, 2,343 people in Argentina were newly diagnosed with liver cancer and 2,113 liver cancer patients died1.

TheraSphere™ is a targeted therapy that consists of millions of glass microspheres containing radioactive yttrium-90. The microspheres are about 20-30 micrometers in diameter – about a third of the width of a human hair. They are delivered directly to liver tumors through the hepatic artery via a catheter. The glass microspheres flow directly into the liver tumor through its blood vessels and become permanently lodged there. TheraSphere™ is delivered into the hepatic artery to selectively target and destroy tumor cells while minimizing distribution and impact to normal tissue. The radioactive microspheres continue to deliver radiation to the tumor over the course of several weeks after treatment. TheraSphere™ can also be used as a bridge to reduce tumour burden and/or progression prior to surgical removal of diseased tissue or transplantation in these patients.

To date, more than 30,000 patients worldwide have been treated with TheraSphere™.

In Argentina, TheraSphere™ is approved for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia. Hepatic neoplasia (primary liver cancer) includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and metastatic liver cancer or cancer that has spread to the liver from another point of origin. TheraSphere™ is distributed in Argentina by Unifarma.

“With TheraSphere™ now commercially available in Argentina, we are very proud to offer interventional radiologists in Argentina with another treatment option for their liver cancer patients,” says Brad Pearson, BTG VP Commercial Operations for Canada and Latin America. “As we continue to build our presence throughout Latin America, BTG is pleased to be able to offer innovative healthcare solutions to the patient populations in Latin America.”
 

About TheraSphere™

TheraSphere™ Glass Microspheres have a high specific activity so fewer microspheres need to be administered to achieve the desired dose. As a result, glass microspheres have minimal embolic effect. This allows deeper penetration within the tumour, where the primary mechanism of action is radiation. A key benefit of TheraSphere™ is the ability to achieve high absorbed dose in the tumour leading to improved tumour response and better patient outcomes.

In Mexico, the EU, Singapore, South Korea and Canada, TheraSphere™ is approved for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia. In Brazil, TheraSphere ™ is approved for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia for use as an adjuvant to chemotherapy or an option when chemotherapy cannot be used or is not effective. In the USA, TheraSphere™ is approved under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) for use in radiation treatment or as a neoadjuvant to surgery or transplantation in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who can have placement of appropriately positioned hepatic arterial catheters. The device is also indicated for HCC patients with partial or branch portal vein thrombosis/occlusion, when clinical evaluation warrants the treatment. The effectiveness of this device for this use has not been demonstrated. For full instructions for use and important safety information, please visit www.therasphere.com.

For more information contact:

BTG plc
Chris Sampson, Corporate Communications Director
Email: media@btgplc.com
+44 20 7575 1595; Mobile: +44 7773 251 178