Cancer rates are rising worldwide and as diagnostic techniques continue to improve, new surgical ablation devices are becoming crucial weapons in the growing arsenal of cancer treatment tools. These devices allow doctors to burn away tumors with precision, speed and safety, without the side-effects that patients undergoing radical cancer therapy often experience. This article provides an overview of the cancer ablation market, highlights the key players working on these devices and discusses their potential applications. It also includes critical insights from a leading interventional urologist on the pros and cons of using these various technologies in treating prostate cancer.

Use of ablation technology is emerging as a potentially gentler treatment option for breast cancer, and cryo and thermal ablation in particular are on the verge of regulatory approval that could lead to wider use. A growing number of physicians are already using cryotherapy for breast cancer, but without FDA clearance, reimbursement can be a difficult issue.

Derived from Strategic Transactions, Elsevier Business Intelligence’s premium source for tracking life sciences deal activity, the Recent Financings Of Private Companies column provides a comprehensive monthly review of emerging life science companies that have received venture funding, including companies within the In Vitro Diagnostics, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceuticals sectors.

Novian Health Inc. will use its recent $11 million Series A round to kickstart multicenter clinical trials on its Novilase Interstitial Laser Therapy for ablating early-stage breast cancer.