In a groundbreaking development for prostate cancer care, EDAP TMS SA and Avenda Health have announced a collaboration that promises to transform the landscape of treatment options. This partnership will integrate Avenda's cutting-edge Unfold AI technology with EDAP's Focal One robotic system, potentially offering unprecedented precision in high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures.

The Focal One system, initially introduced by EDAP TMS in 2013, has been at the forefront of non-invasive prostate cancer treatment using ultrasound technology. Now, with the integration of Avenda's FDA-cleared Unfold AI platform, the system is poised to take a significant leap forward in personalized cancer care.

Unfold AI, developed by Avenda Health, is a multimodal artificial intelligence decision-support tool that creates detailed, three-dimensional maps of a patient's cancer. This technology claims to unveil previously undetectable tumor extents, enabling physicians to target cancerous tissue with remarkable accuracy while preserving healthy surrounding areas.

The collaboration between EDAP and Avenda comes at a critical time. Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among men in 112 countries, accounting for approximately 15% of all male cancers worldwide. Alarmingly, projections suggest that new cases could more than double from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.9 million by 2040, underscoring the urgent need for advanced treatment options.

Dr. Wayne G. Brisbane, an assistant professor of urology at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, has already witnessed the potential of this combined approach. Having performed the first Focal One procedures utilizing Unfold AI data, Dr. Brisbane noted the seamless integration of these technologies, emphasizing their ability to guide ablation precisely for optimized cancer control while minimizing side effects.

Avenda Health, which emerged from UCLA in 2017 with support from the National Cancer Institute, has been on a mission to address the shortcomings of traditional prostate cancer treatments. The company points out that conventional methods often lead to significant urinary and sexual dysfunction in over half of the patients treated. Moreover, focal treatments have historically left a substantial percentage of patients with residual cancer.

In contrast, Avenda claims that patients treated with Unfold AI are 71% more likely to be cancer-free. The company also asserts that while an MRI typically detects only 34% of cancer, Unfold AI can identify an impressive 97%, providing doctors with unprecedented clarity in treatment planning.

Shyam Natarajan, Ph.D., CEO of Avenda Health, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the complementary nature of Unfold AI and Focal One robotic HIFU. He believes this partnership will empower urologists to map and eradicate tumors with newfound confidence.

EDAP TMS, headquartered in Lyon, France, emphasizes that the Focal One system combines state-of-the-art imaging and ablation technologies. It meets all the requirements for focal ablation, including accurate MRI and 3D biopsy image fusion, a non-invasive approach, and precise HIFU energy delivery.

As this collaboration unfolds, the medical community watches with keen interest. The integration of artificial intelligence with robotic HIFU technology represents a significant step forward in the fight against prostate cancer. If successful, this approach could set a new standard in personalized cancer care, offering hope to millions of men worldwide facing a prostate cancer diagnosis.