SUNNYVALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS
WIRE)–U-Systems, the leader in automated breast ultrasound, today
announced that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the
premarket approval (PMA) application, for breast cancer screening indication
for use for the somov® Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) system, is
substantially complete and acceptable for review. The somov ABUS system is
currently FDA-cleared for diagnostic use as an adjunct to mammography.
The statistical data for the PMA submission was a result of
a multi-reader, multi-case (MRMC) ROC Reader Study conducted by a team from the
University of Chicago. “We are encouraged that the
data included in the PMA has been accepted by the FDA for review as we strongly
believe it provides a solid scientific basis for the use of breast ultrasound
as an adjunctive cancer screening tool for women with dense breasts,” said
Maryellen Giger, Ph.D., Professor of Radiology at the University of Chicago and
the Principal Investigator for the pivotal ABUS ROC Reader Study.
The ROC Reader Study cases were collected under the
SOMOINSIGHT Clinical Study, the largest trial ever undertaken by an ultrasound
company. The SOMOINSIGHT Study is designed to evaluate whether digital
mammography in combination with the Automated Breast Ultrasound System is more
sensitive than a routine screening mammogram alone in detecting breast cancer
in women with dense breast tissue. More 16,000 women have enrolled in the study
at multiple breast imaging centers nationwide.
“For most women, mammography remains the gold standard for
the early detection of breast cancer, but multiple studies have demonstrated
that it is not enough for women with dense breast tissue,” said Rachel Brem,
M.D., Professor of Radiology, Director of Breast Imaging and Intervention at
the George Washington University Medical Center and the Principal Investigator
of the SOMOINSIGHT Clinical Study. “Adding automated breast ultrasound
screening for women with dense breast tissue has the potential to significantly
improve cancer detection rates in this population,” Dr. Brem added.
“News that the FDA accepted our submission for a new
indication for use of the somov ABUS system is very exciting for us and for
many of the nations leading breast imaging experts who were involved in the
ABUS development and clinical evaluation process,” said Ron Ho, president and
CEO of U-Systems. “Breast density is particularly problematic as it not only
impacts early detection but also carries an increased risk of breast cancer.
Achieving this important FDA milestone puts us one step closer in our efforts
to significantly improve the early detection of cancer in women with dense
breasts.”
Dense breast tissue not only increases the risk of breast
cancer up to 4-6 times but also makes cancer more difficult to detect via
mammography according to multiple large studies. One study, published in the
New England Journal of Medicine, showed 35 percent of breast cancer goes
undetected by mammography in women with dense breasts as density masks
appearance of tumors (Boyd, et al, NEJM 2007:356:227-36M). As breast density
goes up, the accuracy of the mammogram goes down.
Using proprietary technology to automate the breast
ultrasound imaging process, the U-Systems somov ABUS system is ideally suited
for the high-volume, screening environment. The somoVIEWer™ Advanced 3D
Workstation enables fast, accurate review and archive of patient exams,
optimizing breast ultrasound screening workflow.
About U-Systems
As the leader in automated breast ultrasound technology U-Systems is
establishing the standard for breast ultrasound screening. The U-Systems
somov Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) system and somoVIEWer Advanced 3D
Workstation are cleared under 510(k) for diagnostic use as an adjunct to
mammography. For more information about U-Systems, please visit our website at http://www.u-systems.com.
