MRC Systems sells Radiation Therapy business to Siemens Medical Solutions

HEIDELBERG, July 25, 2003 – MRC Systems GmbH announced today that it has sold the Radiation Therapy Business to Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen Germany.

MRC was established in 1995 as a spin-off of the University of Heidelberg and the DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center). MRC´s radiation therapy technologies – including KonRad Radiation Treatment Planning (RTP) software, ModuLeaf Multileaf Collimator (MLC), and MRC’s microMLC system – were designed to assist clinicians to improve the quality of patient treatments with high precision radiation therapy.

"We see these technologies as key elements to enhance our Oncology Workflow Solutions™ portfolio of offerings," said Hermann Requardt, Ph.D., executive vice president of Siemens Medical Solutions. "KonRad will become an integral part of our COHERENCE™ Workspace for dosimetry and treatment planning. The DKFZ has been an important partner of Siemens Medical Solutions, and this acquisition will strengthen our collaboration with this world-renowned cancer center."

"What has begun with a small dedicated staff will now have the opportunity to provide better treatment options for cancer patients." said Bernhard Bauer, Ph.D., chief executive officer of MRC. "With its product portfolio in radiation oncology and its world wide distribution and support capabilities, Siemens Medical Solutions is the ideal partner for further growth of our products. We will now focus our activities to take the new neurosurgery laser system through clinical trials to the market introduction."

MRC Systems will continue to develop its unique Picosecond Laser System for minimal-invasive brain tissue resection, which combines the precision of non-thermal laser ablation with accurate stereotactic navigation.