Top Liver Cancer Specialists Gather in Denver, Colorado for TheraSphere® Summit

Nordion providing training, discussion forum for advanced users of radioactive glass microsphere treatment

OTTAWA, Feb. 22, 2012 /CNW/ - Nordion Inc. (TSX: NDN) (NYSE: NDZ), a leading provider of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, is pleased to present the fourth TheraSphere Summit for Advanced Users, taking place February 24 in Denver, Colorado.

Nordion has invited over 100 interdisciplinary liver cancer specialists from hospitals and universities across the U.S. and Canada to attend the Summit. Moderated by Dr. Riad Salem, a world-renowned expert in interventional radiology and liver cancer treatment, the full-day program is a master class for experienced users of the innovative TheraSphere device, a radioactive glass microsphere treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a form of primary liver cancer.

"The TheraSphere Summit is for physicians who are already familiar with the device but want to improve their knowledge and hone their skills to better serve their patients," said Dr. Salem, Professor of Radiology, Medicine and Surgery and Director, Interventional Oncology at Northwestern University in Chicago. "It's an opportunity for them to gain insight from highly respected specialists representing a wide range of disciplines and experience."

Attendees will hear presentations about the latest techniques, research findings and case studies. The user community will also have a chance to share their feedback on every aspect of TheraSphere, from training programs to clinical support services, with senior members of the Nordion team.

"Hosting these sessions for our advanced users demonstrates Nordion's commitment to driving excellence within the TheraSphere brand," said Kevin Brooks, Nordion's Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "These physicians are on the front lines of the fight against liver cancer, and we want to make sure they are armed with the best training and most up to date information available." 

About TheraSphere
TheraSphere is a liver cancer therapy that consists of millions of small glass beads (20 to 30 micrometers in diameter) containing radioactive yttrium-90 (Y-90). The product is injected by physicians into the artery of the patient's liver through a catheter, which allows the treatment to be delivered directly to the tumour via blood flow.

TheraSphere is used to treat patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and can be used as a bridge to surgery or transplantation in these patients. It is also indicated for the treatment of HCC patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT).  Patients will typically receive 1.8 treatments over their lifetime. TheraSphere is approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE). HDE approvals are based on demonstrated safety and probable clinical benefit. However, effectiveness of the indication for use has not been established.

Common side effects include mild to moderate fatigue, pain and nausea for about a week. Physicians describe these symptoms as similar to those of the flu. Some patients experience some loss of appetite and temporary changes in several blood tests. For details on rare or more severe side effects, please refer to the TheraSphere package insert at www.nordion.com/therasphere.

About Nordion Inc. 
Nordion Inc. (TSX: NDN) (NYSE: NDZ) is a global health science company that provides market-leading products used for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. We are a leading provider of medical isotopes, targeted therapies and sterilization technologies that benefit the lives of millions of people in more than 60 countries around the world. Our products are used daily by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical-device manufacturers, hospitals, clinics and research laboratories. Nordion has more than 500 highly skilled employees in three locations. Find out more at www.nordion.com and follow us at http://twitter.com/NordionInc.

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SOURCE: Nordion