Devon Robotics Announced as U.S. Distributor of Life-Critical Chemotherapy Drug Preparation Robot CytoCare™
King of Prussia, PA – December 3, 2008 – The Devon International Group (DIG) today announced a new company, Devon Robotics (www.devonrobotics.com), as the exclusive distributor and licensee of Health Robotics’ (www.health-robotics.com) CytoCare™ robot in North America and the Caribbean Islands. CytoCare is the world’s first and only automated robotic system for the safe preparation of hazardous, patient-specific cancer therapy medications and intravenous admixtures. Joseph J. Santoro, long-time healthcare and medical technology executive, has been named president. View CytoCare here.
CytoCare is a robotic solution that automates the dangerous and costly processes associated with compounding hazardous IV admixtures in multiple container types and sizes. Multiple scientific studies have shown the need for improvement in both patient and staff safety with respect to hazardous drugs.
DIG recently acquired exclusive distribution rights in the region for CytoCare from Health Robotics, and also for Health Robotics’ i.v.STATION™, an automated solution for preparation of non-hazardous IV medications with general availability in 2009. Devon Robotics will immediately assume implementation and service responsibilities for the six U.S. hospitals where CytoCare is installed and will be responsible for U.S. distribution, installation, maintenance, service and marketing for CytoCare. MedSurg Specialty Devices, a subsidiary of ITOCHU International Inc., has been selected as the sales channel for CytoCare. Devon Robotics will seek strategic healthcare partnerships with other key North American companies to optimize Health Robotics’ products in the region.
"In the high-risk area of oncology, medication errors can mean the difference between life and death. CytoCare’s state-of-the-art robotics technology eliminates human handling of chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs during preparation and greatly improves accuracy, reducing potentially fatal medication errors," says Santoro. "Increased safety for patients and clinicians, higher accuracy of IV preparations, reduced waste, and improved efficiency of hospitals’ pharmacy workflow are among the benefits of CytoCare, and combine to reduce hospitals’ expenses significantly. Health Robotics is an innovative, forward-thinking company, and we share their vision to utilize robotics technology to improve patient care and revolutionize the workflow of sterile drug preparations, both hazardous and non-hazardous. We look forward to working with hospitals, cancer centers, and their pharmacy staffs to make CytoCare and i.v.STATION the gold standards in North America."
CytoCare will make live drug preparations in booth 1307 at the 43rd American Society of Hospital-Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting in Orlando, Florida, from December 7-10. CytoCare features proprietary software that integrates with hospital pharmacy systems, a six-axis robotic arm, an automated waste disposal system, and other technologies. Pharmacists plan the preparation cycle at the managing station and load CytoCare with proper drugs and final containers, including IV bags, syringes, and vials. Admixtures are prepared and all toxic wastes are safely discarded. Dose accuracy is checked by three independent systems. Unused drugs and final containers are then unloaded and ready to administer to patients. Live demonstrations of i.v.STATION at ASHP are also scheduled.
"We have developed and deployed the only totally automated system for safe handling and preparation of hazardous IV admixtures in the world, and are proud to be making a significant advancement in patient safety and clinician safety in Europe," says Werner Rainer, CEO of Health Robotics. "CytoCare is installed at over 60 healthcare institutions worldwide, including some of the top hospitals in the United States. We are thrilled that Devon International Group will be our largest strategic partner to date and that Devon Robotics will be the new brand in the NAFTA market. DIG’s expertise in healthcare, information technology, and the global business environment will help us connect with hospitals and oncology centers and further improve patient care."
CytoCare is utilized in oncology pharmacies but can also produce patient-specific IV admixtures to treat Crohn’s disease, organ transplants, Multiple Sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other infectious diseases. Health Robotics’ proprietary robotics technology is also used across Europe in the Monoclonal Antibodies Therapy field for both hazardous and non-hazardous intravenous medications.