INSIGHTEC MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Receives Reimbursement from Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

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HAIFA, Israel and MIAMI, Sept. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

INSIGHTEC(R), a global medical technology innovator of incisionless surgery,

today announced that it has received national reimbursement from the Japanese

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for treating Parkinson's Disease.

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Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with an

incidence in Japan of 1 in 100 people above the age of 60, based on a survey

conducted by MHLW. INSIGHTEC's Exablate(R) Neuro uses focused ultrasound waves

to precisely target and ablate tissue deep within the brain with no incisions.

The treatment is performed under Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guidance for

real-time treatment monitoring.  

"Parkinson's Disease patients now have a new incisionless surgical treatment

option, focused ultrasound," commented Professor Takaomi Taira, Director of

Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo

Women's Medical University (TWMU), Tokyo, Japan. "Using focused ultrasound we

can precisely target and treat the brain regions which contribute to

improvements of the patient's symptoms."

Exablate Neuro is approved for targeting the thalamus for treating

Tremor-dominant Parkinson's Disease, and the globus pallidum for treating

advanced Parkinson's Disease in patients suffering from mobility, rigidity, or

dyskinesia symptoms.

"Japan is the first country in the world to cover focused ultrasound for

Parkinson's Disease with nationwide public health insurance," commented Maurice

R. Ferre MD, INSIGHTEC CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors. "This is a

major milestone for patients with Parkinson's Disease across Japan."

The Exablate Neuro device received MHLW approval for the treatment of

medication-refractory essential tremor and National Health Insurance coverage

in June 2019 and received a pre-market approval (PMA) for the treatment of

Parkinson's Disease in January 2020. There are currently 12 medical

institutions in Japan performing the MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment for

essential tremor on a routine basis.

"This extended coverage by the National Health Insurance provides an

incisionless treatment option for Parkinson's Disease patients," said Yair

Bauer, Country Manager, INSIGHTEC Japan. "This adds to the existing coverage

for treatment of tremor from essential tremor and Parkinson's Disease," he added

About INSIGHTEC Japan K.K.

INSIGHTEC Japan K.K. is a subsidiary of INSIGHTEC LTD. The company is the

regulatory market approval holder of Exablate Neuro (Exablate 4000) and its

distributor in Japan. Founded in 2005, its mission is to provide focused

ultrasound treatments for neurosurgery and women's health indications, in order

to significantly improve the quality of life for patients in Japan. For more

information please visit: www.insightec.com/JP 

About INSIGHTEC

INSIGHTEC is a global medical technology innovator transforming patient lives

through incisionless brain surgery with MR-guided focused ultrasound. Research

for future applications in the neuroscience space is underway in partnership

with leading academic and medical institutions. INSIGHTEC is headquartered in

Haifa, Israel, and Miami, with offices in Dallas, Shanghai and Tokyo.

For more information, please visit: www.insightec.com    

Contact:  Lyndsay Isaksen, 917-595-3032, lisaksen@gscommunications.com 

Source:  INSIGHTEC