Endomag

Last updated
Endomag
Company type Private limited company
IndustryMedical device manufacturer, surgical guidance for cancer care
Founded2007 (2007)
Headquarters
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Dr Eric Mayes (CEO)
Dr Quentin Harmer (CTO)
Dr Andrew Shawcross (COO)
Mathew Stephens (CMO)
Website www.endomag.com

Endomag is a medical device manufacturer, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with a US office in Austin, Texas. Originally incorporated as Endomagnetics Ltd, the company was founded in 2007 and produces surgical guidance products which assist surgeons in locating and removing cancerous tumors, predominantly for breast cancer surgery. [1] The company's products are distributed by Leica Biosystems in North America and Sysmex Corporation across Europe.

Contents

The company's location at Cambridge Science Park in Cambridge is central to Silicon Fen, the cluster of high-tech businesses in the area which form one of the most important technology centres in Europe. [2] [3]

History

Endomag was founded in 2007 as Endomagnetics Ltd as a University spin-off from University College London and the University of Houston. Helped by initial seed money from UCL Business, Endomag has continued to develop its magnetic sensing technologies to improve minimally invasive procedures for oncologists.[ citation needed ]

In June 2014, the company acquired the magnetic hyperthermia assets of the US-based Actium Biosystems. [4] In 2015, the company moved offices from Cambridge Science Park to its current headquarters at The Jeffrey's Building on the St John's Innovation Park. The office was opened by Lord Sainsbury. [5]

In July 2018, the company announced a further round of venture capital funding, a Series C for $10m (£8m) led by Draper Esprit, the European arm of Silicon Valley investor, Tim Draper's venture capital business. [6] [7]

Technologies

Endomag's Sentimag probe is a sensitive magnetometer which detects either an implantable magnetic marker, Magseed, or an injectable superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle tracer, branded Magtrace.[ citation needed ]

The Magseed marker is placed in a tumor under imaging guidance prior to surgery, and located and removed during surgery. The company's magnetic probe can indicate the distance from the Magseed marker, which helps guide the surgical excision of the cancerous tumor. [8] The Magtrace liquid marker is injected near the tumor prior to surgery and migrates to the lymph nodes draining the primary tumour, the so-called ‘sentinel’ nodes. These can then be detected and excised during a sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure. The company's products are a radiation-free alternative for breast cancer surgeons. [9]

Endomag's Magseed marker product has received FDA 510(k) clearance for localizing tumors in soft tissue in 2016 [10] and its Magtrace and Sentimag Magnetic Localization System received FDA premarket approval (PMA) in 2018 to identify and remove sentinel lymph nodes in women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. [11]

Awards

The company has won a number of business, engineering and science awards since its inception. In 2015, the company was shortlisted for the MacRobert Award, a leading UK engineering award. [12] The following year saw Endomag awarded with an Institute of Physics Commended Innovation award. [13]

In 2018, Endomag received a Queen's Awards for Enterprise in the Innovation category. [14] [15] In July 2018, the company was presented this award by Julie Spence OBE, the current Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire. In October 2018 the company received a Business Innovation Award from the Institute of Physics for its use of magnetism for minimally invasive surgical guidance. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mastectomy</span> Surgical removal of one or both breasts

Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. A mastectomy is usually carried out to treat breast cancer. In some cases, women believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation as a preventive measure. Alternatively, some women can choose to have a wide local excision, also known as a lumpectomy, an operation in which a small volume of breast tissue containing the tumor and a surrounding margin of healthy tissue is removed to conserve the breast. Both mastectomy and lumpectomy are referred to as "local therapies" for breast cancer, targeting the area of the tumor, as opposed to systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or immunotherapy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breast cancer</span> Cancer that originates in mammary glands

Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of skin. In those with distant spread of the disease, there may be bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or yellow skin.

Cancer staging is the process of determining the extent to which a cancer has grown and spread. A number from I to IV is assigned, with I being an isolated cancer and IV being a cancer that has metastasized and spread from its origin. The stage generally takes into account the size of a tumor, whether it has invaded adjacent organs, how many regional (nearby) lymph nodes it has spread to, and whether it has appeared in more distant locations (metastasized).

This is a list of terms related to oncology. The original source for this list was the US National Cancer Institute's public domain Dictionary of Cancer Terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lymphadenectomy</span> Medical procedure

Lymphadenectomy, or lymph node dissection, is the surgical removal of one or more groups of lymph nodes. It is almost always performed as part of the surgical management of cancer. In a regional lymph node dissection, some of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed; in a radical lymph node dissection, most or all of the lymph nodes in the tumor area are removed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumpectomy</span> Limited surgical removal of breast tissue

Lumpectomy is a surgical removal of a discrete portion or "lump" of breast tissue, usually in the treatment of a malignant tumor or breast cancer. It is considered a viable breast conservation therapy, as the amount of tissue removed is limited compared to a full-breast mastectomy, and thus may have physical and emotional advantages over more disfiguring treatment. Sometimes a lumpectomy may be used to either confirm or rule out that cancer has actually been detected. A lumpectomy is usually recommended to patients whose cancer has been detected early and who do not have enlarged tumors. Although a lumpectomy is used to allow for most of the breast to remain intact, the procedure may result in adverse affects that can include sensitivity and result in scar tissue, pain, and possible disfiguration of the breast if the lump taken out is significant. According to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, lumpectomy may be performed for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), invasive ductal carcinoma, or other conditions.

Lymph node biopsy is a test in which a lymph node or a piece of a lymph node is removed for examination under a microscope.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invasive carcinoma of no special type</span> Medical condition

Invasive carcinoma of no special type, invasive breast carcinoma of no special type (IBC-NST), invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) or invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (NOS) is a disease. For international audiences this article will use "invasive carcinoma NST" because it is the preferred term of the World Health Organization (WHO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel lymph node</span> First lymph node to receive drainage from a primary tumor

The sentinel lymph node is the hypothetical first lymph node or group of nodes draining a cancer. In case of established cancerous dissemination it is postulated that the sentinel lymph nodes are the target organs primarily reached by metastasizing cancer cells from the tumor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radical mastectomy</span> Removal of cancerous breast

Radical mastectomy is a surgical procedure that treats breast cancer by removing the breast and its underlying chest muscle, and lymph nodes of the axilla (armpit). Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. During the early twentieth century it was primarily treated by surgery, when the mastectomy was developed. However, with the advancement of technology and surgical skills in recent years, mastectomies have become less invasive. As of 2016, a combination of radiotherapy and breast conserving mastectomy are considered optimal treatment.

Ductal carcinoma <i>in situ</i> Pre-cancerous breast lesion

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as intraductal carcinoma, is a pre-cancerous or non-invasive cancerous lesion of the breast. DCIS is classified as Stage 0. It rarely produces symptoms or a breast lump that can be felt, typically being detected through screening mammography. It has been diagnosed in a significant percentage of men.

Breast cancer management takes different approaches depending on physical and biological characteristics of the disease, as well as the age, over-all health and personal preferences of the patient. Treatment types can be classified into local therapy and systemic treatment. Local therapy is most efficacious in early stage breast cancer, while systemic therapy is generally justified in advanced and metastatic disease, or in diseases with specific phenotypes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breast-conserving surgery</span> Surgical operation

Breast-conserving surgery refers to an operation that aims to remove breast cancer while avoiding a mastectomy. Different forms of this operation include: lumpectomy (tylectomy), wide local excision, segmental resection, and quadrantectomy. Breast-conserving surgery has been increasingly accepted as an alternative to mastectomy in specific patients, as it provides tumor removal while maintaining an acceptable cosmetic outcome. This page reviews the history of this operation, important considerations in decision making and patient selection, and the emerging field of oncoplastic breast conservation surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Male breast cancer</span> Medical condition

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a cancer in males that originates in their breasts. Males account for less than 1% of new breast cancers with about 20,000 new cases being diagnosed worldwide every year. Its incidence rates in males vs. females are, respectively, 0.4 and 66.7 per 100,000 person-years. The worldwide incidences of male as well as female breast cancers have been increasing over the last few decades. Currently, one of every 800 men are estimated to develop this cancer during their lifetimes.

Rose Rehert Kushner was an American journalist and pioneering advocate for breast cancer patients. She wrote the 1975 book Why Me? What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Cancer to Save Her Life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gamma probe</span>

A gamma probe is a handheld device containing a scintillation counter for intraoperative use following injection of a radionuclide to locate sentinel lymph nodes by their radioactivity. It is used primarily for sentinel lymph node mapping and parathyroid surgery. Gamma probes are also used for RSL to locate small and non-palpable breast lesions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Fisher (scientist)</span> American biologist

Bernard Fisher was an American surgeon and a pioneer in the biology and treatment of breast cancer. He was a native of Pittsburgh. He was Chairman of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. His work established definitively that early-stage breast cancer could be more effectively treated by lumpectomy, in combination with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or hormonal therapy, than by radical mastectomy.

Technetium (<sup>99m</sup>Tc) tilmanocept Pharmaceutical drug

Technetium (99mTc) tilmanocept, sold under the brand name Lymphoseek, is a radiopharmaceutical diagnostic imaging agent used to locate lymph nodes which may be draining from tumors, and assist doctors in locating lymph nodes for removal during surgery.

Anne Louise Rosenberg is an American surgical oncologist retired from practice in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Emilia Dauway MD, FACS, FRACS is an American trained surgeon who is practicing general, breast and oncologic surgery in Australia. Dauway was co-inventor of the use of radioactive seeds in the breast to localise non-palpable breast cancers and the first in Australia to use magnetic seeds instead of radioactive seeds. This technique replaces hookwire or needle localisation improving patient safety, outcomes and satisfaction. The method was patented by the University of South Florida while Dauway was a fellow of surgical oncology. The method has been used since 1999 and has improved with the development of modern equipment. Dauway is also a Yoga Instructor, a Keynote speaker and is founder/director of Restore More, a non-profit initiative which provides education and funding to women in regional and geographically disadvantaged areas for breast cancer treatment and reconstruction.

References

  1. "Endomag". UCLB. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  2. Davies, Lizzie. "Hi-tech cluster keeps business booming in Cambridge". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. Connell, David; Probert, Jocelyn (January 2010). "Exploding the Myths of UK Innovation Policy" (PDF). Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  4. "Endomag: advancing cancer diagnosis". The Manufacturer. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  5. "Lord Sainsbury opens Endomag's Cambridge headquarters". Cambridge Network. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  6. Meddings, Sabah (22 July 2018). "Endomag offers new hope for breast cancer surgery patients". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  7. Sweeney, Kate (27 July 2018). "Endomag takes breast cancer war chest to $22m and excites US market - Technology News - Business news - Cambridge and the East of England". Business Weekly. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  8. Henriques, Carolina (15 September 2017). "Breast Cancer Surgery Marker Magseed Receives CE Mark Approval". Breast Cancer News. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  9. "Success story: magnetics offer a safer future in cancer care". GOV.UK. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  10. "Endomag Magseed Wins FDA Clearance to Localize Tumors in Any Soft Tissue -". Medgadget. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  11. "FDA Approves Magnetic System for Lymph Node Biopsy During Mastectomy". Oncology Nursing News. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  12. Curtis, Sohpie (21 May 2015). "Three British companies compete for prestigious engineering prize". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  13. Chapman, Jenny (20 October 2016). "Endomag receives high praise". Cambridge News. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  14. Scialom, Mike (26 April 2018). "Cambridge region yields nine Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2018". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  15. Gooding, Matt (20 April 2018). "Amazing Cambridgeshire firms celebrate Queen's Award success". Cambridge News. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  16. Physics, Institute of. "Endomag - 2018 winners". Institute of Physics - For physics • For physicists • For all. Retrieved 17 October 2018.