FDA approves low-dose radiation implant

Brachytherapy, a form of radiation therapy in which a radiation source is implanted next to the area requiring treatment, is at the core of CivaTech Oncology®, Research Triangle Park, N.C., products. The company’s second low-dose rate (LDR) implantable device, CivaSheet™, has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treatment of a variety of cancers. The CivaSheet encapsulates LDR palladium in a bioabsorbable polymer-based membrane. The small, flat dots of palladium on the sheet can be custom-fitted to direct the optimal amount of radiation to a specific patient’s cancer—while protecting healthy tissue from collateral damage.