Terumo India Unveils Occlusafe & LifePearl Therapy Devices for Liver Cancer Management

These therapies are poised to make a substantial impact in the field of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer in India.

Terumo India, a medical device company, has introduced therapy devices Occlusafe and LifePearl, to enhance liver cancer management.

Sharing on the benefits that these therapies can bring, Shishir Agarwal, MD of Terumo India, said, "We aim to bring the latest Japanese medical technologies to India to advance the quality of care for patients and physicians. Occlusafe and LifePearl will offer alternate management options to support liver cancer care in India."

Hepatocellular carcinoma has been a growing concern in India, with over 20,000 new cases reported annually. Various management approaches are available, ranging from surgical resection to minimally invasive options. One such minimally invasive method is embolization, which involves blocking the blood supply to the tumour, depriving it of vital nutrients and oxygen, leading to the death of cancerous cells.

Occlusafe, based on Terumo's Balloon-TACE (B-TACE), an advanced therapy for liver cancer management, allows precise and targeted delivery of chemotherapy drugs to the tumour while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This approach has shown improved response rates, reducing the need for repeat treatments and potentially preserving liver function.

LifePearl is another solution that releases chemotherapeutic drugs in a controlled and sustained manner at the targeted tumour site within the liver. Occlusafe and LifePearl are expected to enhance clinical outcomes for liver cancer patients treated with TACE.

Terumo, a global medical device company originating from Japan, was founded in 1921. The company operates in over 160 countries and regions, striving to contribute to global healthcare.

In a related development in the field of oncology, Huma Therapeutics has partnered with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to create a digital solution to enhance the understanding and management of cancer conditions and treatments.

This collaborative effort will develop a Cross-Indication Disease Management Platform, initially available to patients receiving cancer therapies from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

In another instance, the Department of Defense (DoD) collaborated with Google to develop a smart microscope called an Augmented Reality Microscope (ARM) that utilises AI to aid doctors in identifying different types of cancer. This collaboration aims to support doctors in smaller labs dealing with staffing shortages and a growing caseload.