EDAP Highlights Ablatherm-HIFU and Sonolith i-move at European Association of Urology Conference

Planet edap Inc.
Apr 22,2010

EDAP Highlights Ablatherm-HIFU and Sonolith i-move at European Association of Urology Conference

LYON, France, Apr 22, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- EDAP TMS SA (Nasdaq:EDAP), the global leader in therapeutic ultrasound, reported today that its Ablatherm-HIFU technology and new Sonolith i-move lithotripter were featured at the 25th Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Conference, held in Barcelona, Spain, from April 17-20 2010.

The EAU conference is the world's premier urology event. The conference provided EDAP with the opportunity to showcase its minimally invasive technology, highlighted by the official launch of its latest innovation, the Sonolith i-move lithotripter.

Marc Oczachowski, EDAP's Chief Executive Officer commented, "Despite lower attendance than usual at the conference due to the effects of the Icelandic volcano, we are pleased with the strong interest and feedback we received from urologists related to our innovative Sonolith i-move lithotripter and its unique infrared stereo-vision ultrasound system designed to automatically track urinary stones. We will continue to aggressively promote and market the device to the urological community as our Sales and Marketing team will focus their efforts on reaching out to those physicians who were unable to attend the EAU event."

During EAU, EDAP also highlighted the growing clinical results and physician experiences with Ablatherm-HIFU. Key opinion leaders and long-term Ablatherm users from Germany and France presented updated patient data from EDAP's @-Registry centralized database. This comprehensive registry compiles valuable long-term data on Ablatherm-HIFU that continues to demonstrate treatment benefits and validate the technology as a minimally invasive solution for localized prostate cancer.

The growing adoption of HIFU was further supported by recent updates to EAU guidelines that integrate the use of HIFU into a recommended treatment option for the management of prostate cancer in patients with recurrence of cancer after radiotherapy. This update is a significant endorsement for HIFU and a great step forward for the technology as 30% of patients treated with radiotherapy show a recurrence of their cancer and are unable to undergo additional radiotherapy sessions. HIFU offers a valuable solution that addresses the recurrence of cancer and can also be repeated. In addition, EAU also acknowledged that HIFU's focal therapeutic approach strongly positions the therapy for broader management of localized prostate cancer.

Marc Oczachowski, continued, "These recommendations and updated guidelines from EAU confirm HIFU's growing credibility and acceptance as a minimally invasive and valuable solution for patients with prostate cancer. We are confident that Ablatherm-HIFU is positioned as the optimal therapy for those patients who have failed initial radiotherapy treatment. We will continue to pursue our efforts to grow the adoption of HIFU technology and develop our strong @-registry patient database to validate HIFU effectiveness."

The EAU organization officially launched an e-learning portal called "EAU Education Online" that includes an on-line treatment simulation using the Ablatherm-HIFU device. This innovative e-learning fast-track program was presented during a dedicated workshop and is part of a partnership between EDAP and the EAU to increase interest and make urologists more comfortable with using Ablatherm-HIFU technology.

About EDAP TMS SA

EDAP TMS SA develops and markets Ablatherm, the most advanced and clinically proven choice for high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of localized prostate cancer. HIFU treatment is shown to be a minimally invasive and effective treatment option with a low occurrence of side effects. Ablatherm-HIFU is generally recommended for patients with localized prostate cancer (stages T1-T2) who are not candidates for surgery or who prefer an alternative option, or for patients who failed radiotherapy treatment. Approved in Europe as a treatment for prostate cancer, Ablatherm-HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) is currently undergoing evaluation in a multicenter U.S. Phase II/III clinical trial under an Investigational Device Exemption granted by the FDA, the ENLIGHT U.S. clinical study. The Company also is developing this technology for the potential treatment of certain other types of tumors. EDAP TMS SA also produces and commercializes medical equipment for treatment of urinary tract stones using extra-corporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). For more information on the company, please visit http://www.edap-tms.com, http://www.hifu-planet.com and http://www.pcaresearch.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These include statements regarding the company's growth and expansion plans. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties, including the uncertainties of the regulatory process, and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ablatherm-HIFU treatment is in clinical trials, but not FDA-approved or marketed in the United States.

This news release was distributed by GlobeNewswire, www.globenewswire.com

SOURCE: EDAP TMS SA

CONTACT:  EDAP TMS SA
Investor Relations / Legal Affairs
Blandine Confort
+33 4 72 15 31 72
bconfort@edap-tms.com
The Ruth Group
Investors:
R.J. Pellegrino
646-536-7009
rpellegrino@theruthgroup.com

(C) Copyright 2010 GlobeNewswire, Inc. All rights reserved.

News Provided by COMTEX