Paxman expands use of scalp cooling system with FDA clearance

^{Scalp cooling technology provider Paxman has gained FDA clearance for an expanded indication of its system in the US, the company has announced.}

The company’s advanced scalp cooling system has now been cleared for use during the treatment of patients with solid tumours. The expanded clearance significantly increases the number of new cancer patients that the system can be used with in the US.

The Paxman Scalp Cooling System has been indicated to reduce the chances of chemotherapy-induced hair loss in cancer patients with solid tumours.

Paxman hopes that the clearance will help increase of the number of patient enrolments for systems already installed in the US.

The Paxman Cooling System works by reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees immediately before, during and after the administration of chemotherapy. This helps alleviate the damage caused to the hair follicles by chemotherapy.  Liquid coolant passes through cap extracting heat from the patient’s scalp, ensuring the scalp remains at a constant temperature to minimise hair loss.

Professor Debu Tripathy of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said: “This is another step forward in making cancer therapy more personalised and putting the patients in the driver’s seat as we create more options and pathways our patients.”

Steven Isakoff of Massachusetts General Hospital, added: “Scalp cooling has been a real game changer for so many of our patients with breast cancer, minimising the risk of one of the most dreaded side effects of chemotherapy.  Thanks to the recent expanded FDA indication for the Paxman Scalp Cooling system, so many more patients with solid tumors in the US can now consider this option as a safe and effective way to keep their hair during chemotherapy.  We are already working on plans to make this available to all of our patients with solid tumors.”

Nancy from The Rapunzel Project, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping chemotherapy patients keep their hair during treatment said they were thrilled.

She said: “Now all solid tumor patients will have the opportunity to choose this revolutionary technology to save their hair during chemotherapy. Reducing the likelihood of hair loss, a dreaded side effect of chemo, as well as protecting one’s identity and privacy while being treated for cancer, are game changing benefits for patients!”