Key Points
- Last month, a team traveled to China and Korea to meet with focused ultrasound companies and other stakeholders in the region.
- The trip also provided an opportunity to connect with the directors of the Focused Ultrasound Hong Kong Foundation.
Last month, Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD, and Managing Director Jessica Lukens traveled to China and Korea to meet with focused ultrasound companies and other stakeholders in the region.
The pair held many notable meetings in China with physicians, investors, and leading manufacturers. The companies they visited included:
- Shenzhen PRO HITU Medical Co., LTD., an international research and development company that builds ultrasound-guided focused ultrasound systems for the treatment of uterine fibroids and other applications, such as pancreatic cancer.
- Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co., Ltd., a device manufacturer specializing in treating uterine fibroids at 400 centers across 30 countries. Dr. Kassell and Mrs. Lukens toured company’s manufacturing complex and participated in roundtable meetings with the Chongqing team and physicians.
- Hangzhou FoSurg Co., Ltd., a focused ultrasound company that has designed an innovative device to treat the thyroid. A clinical trial is now underway.
- Shanghai A&S Science Technology Development Co., Ltd., a company that manufactures and markets diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound devices internationally. Its tumor ablation device, HIFUNIT9000, is used to treat uterine fibroids and various cancers.
- Zhonghui Medical Technology Co., Ltd, or Sinoways, a focused ultrasound company based in Shanghai that is developing and testing a focused ultrasound device for the noninvasive treatment of uterine fibroids.
The trip also served as a chance to connect with directors of the Focused Ultrasound Hong Kong Foundation Limited (FUSHK): Jessica Che-yi Chao, Carolyn Yeh, and the newest director, Oliver Weisberg.
Ms. Yeh organized an awareness luncheon, where Dr. Kassell presented on the current state of the field, including the rapid expansion of the technology throughout Asia, and led an engaging Q&A session. More than 40 people attended the event, which was hosted by the Yale Club, Harvard Business School Club, Penn Club, and UVA Club.
From China, Dr. Kassell traveled to Korea, where he met with a number of physicians and two important focused ultrasound manufacturers:
- Alpinion Medical Systems, a focused ultrasound manufacturer. Its Alpius HIFU device is used to treat uterine fibroids and adenomyosis, andthe device is also being tested to address pancreatic cancer.
- IMage Guided Therapy (IMGT, Co., LTD), a Korean company developing a nanotechnology-based gene and drug delivery system for enhanced immunotherapy solutions. Plans are underway to begin clinical trials for treating breast cancer, sarcoma, and pancreatic cancer.
“This was our first trip to Asia since 2019, and the progress that has taken place in that period is astounding,” said Dr. Kassell. “In 2021, we launched our sister Foundation in Hong Kong to raise funds to support research and education of focused ultrasound in Asia. We are pleased to have had the opportunity to strengthen our relationships with the research and clinical sites and manufacturers in the region.”