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ART Advanced Research Technologies Ships First of Two Optix Systems to U.S. National Cancer Institute(Marketwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) MONTREAL, CANADA, September 17 / MARKET WIRE/ -- ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. ("ART") (TSX: ARA), a Canadian medical device company and a leader in optical molecular imaging products for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, announced today that it has shipped the first of two Optix? MX2 units ordered by the National Cancer Institute - Frederick (NCI-Frederick), in Maryland, USA. "We are very proud to see that the NCI has chosen our Optix molecular imaging systems to conduct its world-class research and to have them among our growing base of clients," said Sebastien Gignac, Chairman & CEO of ART. "The fact that the NCI has ordered two Optix systems in succession is testimony to the power of our technology to address the needs of leading researchers in the field of oncology", added Mr. Gignac. One of two NCI campuses, NCI-Frederick is located in Maryland and is devoted solely to biomedical research. Through its many advanced technologies, NCI-Frederick strives to speed the translation of laboratory discoveries into therapies for patients. About the Optix? system Based on time-domain technology, which allows measurement of the light's time of arrival, the Optix? in vivo optical molecular imaging device is the most sensitive optical imager commercially available on the preclinical market, allowing for detection of lower concentrations of signals deeper inside the body. Unique to the Optix system is the ability to recover fluorescence lifetime, which can be used to separate and quantify probe distributions depending on their respective biochemical environment. Also part of the Optix product offering is a CT fusion software package allowing researchers to export the scan obtained using Optix in DICOM format, and fuse it with microCT for a full 3D anatomical reference. About ART ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. is a leader in molecular imaging products for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. ART has developed products in medical imaging, medical diagnostics, disease research, and drug discovery with the goal of bringing new and better treatments to patients faster. The Optix? optical molecular imaging system, designed for monitoring physiological changes in living systems at the preclinical study phases of new drugs, is used by industry and academic leaders worldwide. The SoftScan? optical medical imaging device is designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Finally, the Fenestra? line of molecular imaging contrast products provides image enhancement for a wide range of preclinical Micro CT applications allowing scientists to see greater detail in their imaging studies, with potential extension into other major imaging modalities. ART is commercializing some of these products in a global strategic alliance with GE Healthcare, a world leader in mammography and imaging. ART's shares are listed on the TSX under the ticker symbol ARA. For more information on ART, visit our website at www.art.ca. About NCI The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose the Public Health Service (PHS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The NCI, established under the National Cancer Institute Act of 1937, is the Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research and training. NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information, please visit the NCI Web site at http://www.cancer.gov. This press release may contain forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that would cause actual events to differ materially from expectations. These risks and uncertainties are described in ART's most recent Annual Information Form and the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Contacts: ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. Jacques Bedard Chief Financial [email protected] ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. Dino DiCamillo Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Preclinical Imaging [email protected] / www.art.ca Copyright ? 2008 Marketwire |