SonaCare Medical, LLC, a pioneer in minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies, has received de novo clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Sonablate 450 in the US for the ablation of prostate tissue.

Sonablate is the first high intensity therapeutic ultrasound (HITU) device to receive FDA regulatory authorisation for prostate tissue ablation. SonaCare Medical expects to begin US distribution this October.

"The FDA regulatory authorisation to market Sonablate in the US is a milestone for non-invasive prostate care and a tremendous gain for men's health," said Mark Carol, MD, chief executive officer of SonaCare Medical.

"Men all over the world, in the more than 49 countries where it has already been authorized for use, have had access to this technology for prostate ablation. There are numerous peer reviewed articles attesting to its value in ablating the prostate while minimizing the occurrence of side effects. Our company is appreciative of the collaborative efforts made on the part of the FDA to bring this technology to the US."

Sonablate trial investigator Michael Koch, MD, chairman of the department of urology at Indiana University, comments, "I believe that we are at a pivotal point in prostate care. Simultaneous advances in imaging, fusion technologies, and now more focused therapies are going to allow us to precisely diagnose prostate conditions, and ablate these targeted areas rather than perform whole gland prostate surgery, which carries a significant burden on quality of life. HIFU will become the work-horse of subtotal prostate therapy."

Herbert Lepor, MD, professor and Martin Spatz chairman, department of urology, NYU School of Medicine, who also participated in the Sonablate trial, further comments, "HIFU is a novel technology that has been used worldwide to ablate prostate tissue. Until now, this technology was not available in the US. It is anticipated that ablative urological surgeons in the US will quickly master and adapt this technology for their patients. HIFU offers the opportunity for the precise delivery of ablative energy to the prostate. Thus, it can be adapted to whole gland or focal gland ablation."

"The FDA's decision on Sonablate is an important step in providing men with prostate conditions access to this less invasive approach. We hope that focused ultrasound will eventually become a standard of care for treating the prostate," said Neal Kassell, MD, chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.

Sonablate is the company's second medical device to receive US FDA regulatory authorisation, complementing the 510(k) cleared Sonatherm laparoscopic HITU ablation device. "With the authorisation to sell Sonablate in the US, we can now offer a full HIFU surgical suite of technologies working off of the same basic platform and providing benefits throughout health care centers," said Mark Carol.

Dr. Carol continued, "In addition, this de novo clearance, together with the CE Mark for Sonablate500, will facilitate additional regulatory authorisations in markets beyond Europe and North America, further strengthening our world-wide market leadership in therapeutic HIFU devices."