Gov. Doyle: Dedicates TomoTherapy radiation system at leading Tokyo hospital

Contacts: Carla Vigue, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

TOKYO – Governor Jim Doyle today joined leaders from TomoTherapy to launch the Madison-based medical device company’s Hi-Art system at Edogawa Hospital in Japan. TomoTherapy’s Hi-Art system is one of the worlds most advanced and versatile radiation therapy systems helping university research centers, hospitals and cancer treatment centers treat a wide variety of cancer types.

”TomoTherapy is furthering innovation that will bring new cancer treatment to millions around the world,” Governor Doyle said. “Wisconsin is a world-leading research state with businesses like TomoTherapy and CellCura and public universities all transferring lab discoveries into commercial applications. Products and innovations from Wisconsin are growing in Japan and around the globe.”

TomoTherapy’s Hi-Art system integrates optimized planning, image-guidance and helical delivery to provide precise, continuous radiation therapy from all angles around the patient. The state-of-the-art system allows for better patient planning, more accurate delivery of radiotherapy, better dosage control, and fewer side effects. TomoTherapy’s innovation and ability to reach critical markets is making it one of the state’s fastest growing companies.

The Hi-Art system installations bring TomoTherapy and Wisconsin innovation into the Japanese market – placing the company and the state in a strong position to compete in the world’s largest and most underserved radiotherapy market.

The installation at Edogawa Hospital in the Tokyo metropolitan area is the 16th in that country.

Japan is Wisconsin’s 5th largest export market overall. For 2008, the state’s exports to Japan totaled $725 million, up from $655 million in 2007.

Governor Jim Doyle is leading a trade mission to Japan and China that began on September 13 and ends September 22, 2009. The trade mission is providing participants with opportunities to meet with distributors, potential customers, and key business and government officials. The Governor is also promoting investment by Japanese and Chinese companies in Wisconsin.

For more information on exporting from Wisconsin contact Mary Regel, director of the Bureau of Export Development at: mary.regel@wisconsin.gov or 608/266-1767.