Littleton, MA, September 22nd, 2013/BUSINESSWIRE - Today, Mevion Medical Systems announced moving from acceptance testing to the clinical commissioning phase of its MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System installed at the S. Lee Kling Center for Proton Therapy at the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. The MEVION S250 is a unique proton therapy device designed to deliver the same precise, non-invasive treatment capabilities and advantages of conventional systems but with a significantly reduced size, improved reliability, efficient clinical workflow and lower implementation and operational costs. This important milestone marks the handover and operational control of the first MEVION S250 to the physics and radiation oncology proton teams from the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine for clinical commissioning and patient treatment.

Acceptance testing is a series of demanding tests designed to independently put the MEVION S250 through its paces, carefully validating that technical and clinical performance specifications are met and that the system is ready for clinical commissioning. The Washington University physics team led by Eric E. Klein, PhD, chief of proton therapy physics, performed these tests over a three-month period. "The results of our testing confirm that the MEVION S250 is ready to move into the clinical commissioning phase," said Dr. Klein. "We are excited to be in final clinical preparation for our first patient treatment later this year," added Jeffrey D. Bradley, MD, Washington University radiation oncologist and director of the S. Lee Kling Center for Proton Therapy.

The MEVION S250 proton therapy system at the Siteman Cancer Center is the first of many Mevion single room systems to come on-line in the United States. "The MEVION S250 has forever changed the economics and accessibility of proton therapy, delivering the only modern, advanced and practical proton therapy solution with a footprint similar to a conventional radiation therapy vault such that it can be integrated within any cancer center," said Joseph K. Jachinowski, chief executive officer of Mevion Medical Systems. Two additional MEVION S250 proton therapy systems have been delivered and are under installation at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ, and at the Stephenson Cancer Center at Oklahoma University in Oklahoma City, OK, with clinical start scheduled for next year. A fourth center at First Coast Oncology in Jacksonville, FL, has completed the facility construction and is already under installation with major gantry components already installed. The MEVION S250 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando is under construction and will be completed and ready for system components installation early next year. In addition, University Hospitals in Cleveland, OH just held their groundbreaking ceremony to commence construction of their new proton therapy center.

Mevion is showcasing the MEVION S250 and educating clinicians about the benefits of Practical Proton Therapy at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Atlanta, GA from September 22nd to the 24th.

About Mevion Medical Systems

Mevion Medical Systems, Inc. is a radiation therapy company dedicated to advancing the treatment of cancer. As the pioneering developer of modern proton therapy systems, Mevion provides innovative, safe, and effective solutions by transforming advances in medical technology and science into practical clinical reality.

Mevion's flagship product, the MEVION S250 Proton Therapy System, is designed to preserve all of the treatment benefits of traditional proton therapy systems while removing the obstacles of size, cost and complexity. Realizing this vision, Mevion has forever changed the economics and accessibility of proton therapy worldwide.

Founded in 2004, Mevion is a privately held company headquartered in the Boston metropolitan area with international offices in the United Kingdom and Japan.

Visit us at: www.mevion.com.

About the Siteman Cancer Center

The Siteman Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Missouri, is ranked among the top cancer facilities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Comprising the cancer research, prevention and treatment programs of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman is also Missouri's only member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

About Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a 1,315 bed teaching hospital affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. The hospital has a 1,763 member medical staff, with many recognized as "Best Doctors in America." Barnes-Jewish is a member of BJC HealthCare, which provides a full range of health care services through its 13 hospitals and more than 100 health care sites in Missouri and Illinois. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is also consistently ranked as one of America's best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

Contact:
Melanie M. Miller
Marketing Project Manager
Mevion Medical Systems
E: Melanie@mevion.com
P: 978-540-1551