PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Novocure, a
commercial stage private oncology company, announced today that it
has entered into a long-term supply agreement with ITT Electronic
Systems, a subsidiary of global engineering and manufacturing
conglomerate ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT). ITT Electronic Systems
supplies Novocure with the piezoelectric ceramic components used to
manufacture the disposable electrodes for the NovoTTF-100A System,
an FDA approved device indicated for the treatment of adult
patients with recurrent glioblastoma brain tumors (GBM).
“The NovoTTF-100A System is a highly engineered therapeutic
medical device that must consistently perform within precise
operating parameters,” said Mike Ambrogi, Novocure’s COO. “ITT
Electronic Systems was able to adapt piezoelectric ceramic
electrode sensing technology from an advanced military application
to meet our rigorous technical specifications.”
The NovoTTF-100A System consists of an electronic field
generator, disposable electrodes, and related accessories. The
disposable electrodes utilize piezoelectric ceramic components from
ITT Electronic Systems’ facility located in Salt Lake City, Utah
that were originally developed to provide underwater sensing
capabilities for US Navy anti-submarine forces. The NovoTTF-100A
electrodes integrate high tolerance sensors that ensure the
NovoTTF-100A System delivers electric fields to target tissues
within parameters known to be safe and therapeutically effective
and are insulated to prevent transmission of electric currents. The
electrodes are used by patients over multiple days and then
discarded and replaced.
“The electrodes are among the most technically advanced
components of the NovoTTF-100A System and Novocure will benefit
from the extraordinary engineering and manufacturing capabilities
of ITT Electronic Systems,” said Asaf Danziger, Novocure’s CEO. “We
can now scale production of the NovoTTF-100A electrodes to satisfy
the ant
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