Mauna Kea Technologies Reports the Success of ICCU 2014 and Announces the Implementation of Several Institutional Training Programs on Optical Biopsy

Regulatory News:

Mauna Kea Technologies (Paris:MKEA) (Euronext: MKEA, FR0010609263), leader in the Optical Biopsy market, announced today major progress in the adoption of Optical Biopsy around the world. While more than 260 physicians from 30 countries gathered in Opio, France, for two days to discuss results and lay out the roadmap for Optical Biopsy in Gastroenterology, Urology, Pulmonology, Pathology, Surgery and many other specialties, the company reports several key initiatives demonstrating the adoption of Optical Biopsy around the world.

Record attendance at the International Conference of Cellvizio Users (ICCU)

The International Conference of Cellvizio Users 2014 took place from April 4^th to April 6^th with an unprecedented attendance of more than 260 participants and a faculty of 85 experts. The conference focused on sharing the most recent findings in the various specialties where Cellvizio is used clinically, and on future developments currently being evaluated in pre-clinical and clinical research. The ubiquitous practice of Optical Biopsy, workflow modifications induced by the use of the technique, and image interpretation were at the center of the scientific program, with now a strong participation of pathologists who have acknowledged the validity of the real-time microscopic information provided by Cellvizio. Other sessions centered on the implementation of Optical Biopsy in routine clinical practice through hands-on and case studies sessions, as well as health economics discussions.

"This is my first participation at ICCU and I was very very impressed by multiple things. For one, there are participants here from the entire world and there are very few meetings in which you can get this, not only from the entire world but from many specialties, so you get this beautiful interchange between the various specialists (...)”, commented Maria Shevchuk, Professor of Pathology at Cornell Hospital in New York, USA, and chair of the in vivo microscopy committee of the College of American Pathology, "and the best part is that each presented their studies but many of those problems and solutions are applicable to other fields, so it's a great way to learn and get new ideas as well as start collaborations. But beyond that, there was such enthusiasm for this technology among people in the audience that it was just wonderful to see."

The full scientific program of ICCU 2014 can be downloaded here: click here

Several institutional training initiatives around the world

Training courses developed for physicians by public and private healthcare organizations are now available around the world. In France, the "University Diploma on Advanced Technologies in Diagnostic Endoscopy”, including a curriculum on Optical Biopsy, was established in 2013 in Nantes. Optical Biopsy is also part of the training offered by the French committee in charge of continuing medical education, expanding the reach to community-based practices. In Russia, a two-week institutional training course took place in March at several hospitals in Moscow. Similar programs were also launched in Brazil, at the hospital Santa Casa de Sao Paulo and at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute, as well as in China at Jinan Hospital.

A new e-learning platform

Simultaneously, the company launched its new educational web platform, www.cellvizio.net, to support medical professional training in the applications and use of Cellvizio. The updated website provides extensive content on how to use Cellvizio and how to interpret its microscopic images in Gastroenterology, Pulmonology and Urology applications. Its new credentialing program includes a formal evaluation and delivers a standardized training certificate in Optical Biopsy. The website also hosts additional training resources such as the electronic proceedings of the ICCU, and a revised atlas of representative Cellvizio videos.

"ICCU 2014 was an intense, live expression of how Cellvizio is changing medicine today, around the world, by engaging physicians from many specialties in a more efficient workflow for the benefit of the patient”, concludes Sacha Loiseau, CEO of Mauna Kea Technologies. "Seeing young physicians trained on Optical Biopsy through the implementation of these multiple training programs around the world is a strong sign in favor of the adoption of Optical Biopsy.”

About Mauna Kea Technologies

Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company focused on leading innovation in endomicroscopy and optical biopsy. The company designs, develops and markets innovative tools for real-time visualization and detection of cellular anomalies during standard gastrointestinal and pulmonary endoscopy procedures. The company’s flagship product, Cellvizio®, a probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (pCLE) system, provides physicians and researchers with high-resolution cellular imaging of internal tissues. Large-scale, international, multi-center clinical trials have demonstrated Cellvizio's ability to help physicians to more accurately detect early forms of diseases and make immediate treatment decisions. Cellvizio was designed to help physicians with their diagnosis, improve patient care, and reduce hospital costs. It can be used with virtually any endoscope. Cellvizio has 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration and CE Marking in the European Union for use in the gastrointestinal tract and the urinary and respiratory systems, for endoscopic exploration of the biliary and pancreatic ducts, and for fine-needle aspiration procedures.

For more information on Mauna Kea Technologies, visit www.maunakeatech.com