COLUMBIA, Md. and TORONTO, Jan. 03, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medifocus, Inc. (OTCQB: MDFZF and TSXV: MFS)
("Medifocus" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company with a portfolio of medical products encompassing thermotherapy systems for
the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Breast Cancer, today announced its Prolieve® Thermodilatation™
procedure for the treatment of BPH have been performed and reimbursed by insurance carriers in Hong Kong.
Dr. William Jow commented, “We are pleased that our efforts, together with the contribution from our Asian
partners, are starting to yield tangible financial results from Prolieve® sales. Through our resolution in promoting
Prolieve® in Asia and after having presented at three major international conferences within the past 16 months, I would
like to see Prolieve® sales start to pick up in the near future both domestically and internationally. We are
pleased to enter the fast-growing Asia markets where BPH and cancers of the prostate and breast are quickly becoming major public
health concerns.” Dr. Jow continued, “Now for the first time outside of the U.S., Prolieve® has been performed and
reimbursed by insurance carriers in Hong Kong, which is a very important milestone for our Global Market Expansion. We are also in
the process of helping our Asian partners open up Prolieve® markets in South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and
China as well. While we strive to expand our global markets, we also explore opportunities in utilizing Prolieve® as a
Minimally-invasive Focal Therapy treatment option for early prostate cancer patients, especially those men who elect to undergo
active surveillance rather than surgery or radiation.”
Dr. Jow added, “Another exciting news was our recent submission of a patent pending Microwave Thermotherapy and
Cluster Tissue Ablation biotechnology, adding to a large portfolio of domestic and international patents already granted to
Medifocus in the past. Our innovative cutting-edge technology will likely reduce systematic toxicities of radiation,
chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy agents such as checkpoint inhibitors, which can be used as combination therapy for better cancer
control and can be applied to our Prolieve® ThermoDilatation™ and APA 1000 Microwave Focal Therapy table developed by
M.I.T. In closing, Medifocus is the leader in Microwave Thermotherapy and is currently engaging prospective in-licensing
venture partners in perfecting our innovative Cluster Tissue Ablation biotechnology platforms in treating prostate, breast and
other cancers.”
About the Prolieve® Thermodilatation™ System
The Prolieve® Thermodilatation™ System offers potential relief to the millions of men who suffer from
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that becomes common as men age. About half of men over 50 have some enlargement of
the prostate gland, and this rises to about 90% among those over 70. As the prostate enlarges, it constricts the urethra, thereby
restricting the passage of urine. Persistent restriction and further progression of BPH, if left untreated, often results in
worsening of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Further complications of this process may result in urinary retention, bladder
stones and infection, as well as compromised bladder and kidney function.
The Prolieve® System is a novel focused heat therapy which utilizes a unique combination of focused
heat energy directed at the prostate in combination with a patented, water cooled and pressurized dilatation balloon to achieve
immediate and long-term relief of BPH symptoms with very minimal treatment related side effects after a brief in-office procedure
performed under local anesthesia. The unique advantage of this combined "heat plus compression" therapy is twofold: first, the heat
denatures local tissue proteins of the (balloon) dilated urethra, resulting in an expanded and stiffened urethral lumen functioning
as a biological stent. Second, the compression reduces local blood flow thus increasing the thermal efficiency of the microwave
energy to achieve apoptosis and tissue ablation in the targeted prostate gland. As the transurethral microwave energy is applied to
the entire prostate, a computerized feedback system involving the rectal temperature probe renders the rectal temperature not to
exceed 41-42 ?C, thus ensuring safety of the rectal wall and neurovascular bundles essential to preservation of erectile
function.
About Medifocus, Inc.:
Medifocus, Inc. (TSXV-MFS, OTC-MDFZF) is a Biotechnology Company with a portfolio of medical technologies that
utilize patented Focal Thermal Technology to treat conditions ranging from Prostate Diseases to Breast Cancer. Its
Prolieve® Thermodilatation™ System offers symptomatic relief to men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) through a
simple, fast, in-office treatment. Prolieve® is both FDA and Medicare approved for treating symptomatic BPH with over 100,000 cases
performed in the U.S. alone, and with proven long-term safety, efficacy and durability. Its APA 1000 Breast Cancer Treatment System
was licensed from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and developed by the Medifocus team. The Targeted Focal Thermotherapy has
been demonstrated in Phase 2 clinical trials to offer significantly better tumor shrinkage in patients treated with the combined
Chemothermal therapy compared those treated with Chemotherapy alone. APA 1000 was also shown to be effective in reducing margin
positivity among patients treated with such thermotherapy prior to lumpectomy.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of
the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more details, please visit:
www.medifocusinc.com
www.prolieve.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Medifocus-Inc-Company-Page/546315028715627
Company Relations: Medifocus, Inc. Tel: 410-290-5734 Email to info@medifocusinc.com
