Galaxy Lung Cancer Biopsy Robotic System Completes 500 Procedures in the U.S., Reaches Major Milestone

January 24th, 2024 - US-based surgical robotics company Noah Medical (NYSE: NOAH) has announced that its Galaxy Lung Cancer Biopsy Robotic System, which it developed, has successfully completed 500 surgeries in the United States, a significant milestone in the commercial rollout of the company's robotic-assisted bronchoscopy system.

Galaxy Completes 500th Surgery

This milestone 500th procedure was performed by Dr. Krish Bhadra at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is also the first hospital in Tennessee to use Galaxy technology.

The Galaxy system is a robotic system for lung cancer biopsy that integrates a number of innovative technologies and features. It utilizes proprietary integrated laminar imaging with enhanced fluorescence (TiLT+ Technology™), single-use bronchoscopes, and a compact body design with a small footprint that easily adapts to a variety of bronchoscopy suite environments. The latest preclinical trial results show that the Galaxy system has a 100% success rate in navigating to the lesion site, with 100% diagnostic gain and 95% lesion site tool accuracy; in human trials, lesion site tool accuracy was 100% and diagnostic gain ranged from 90-95%.

Since the first human trials were completed at Macquarie University Hospital in Sydney, Australia, and the first U.S. procedure at the University of Chicago School of Medicine in early 2023, the Galaxy system has seen widespread adoption and rapid growth in installed base.

Appreciating this, Dr. Krish Bhadra said, "Finding lesions in the lungs and successfully biopsying them using current tools and first-generation robotics can sometimes feel like flying an airplane blindfolded. the Galaxy system has fundamentally disrupted this technology and brought clarity to our work. I want to congratulate the Noah Medical team on reaching this important milestone. I am thrilled that CHI Memorial Hospital is able to participate and is the first hospital to offer this service to patients in Tennessee, a technology that will dramatically reshape the way we fight this disease."

Dr. Jian Zhang, founder and CEO of Noah Medical, said that their success in completing 500 surgeries in the U.S. using the Galaxy system is just the beginning. Their goal is to contribute to the future of healthcare by improving patient care and improving clinical workflow.

The Galaxy Lung Cancer Biopsy Robotic System was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 and has been commercially available since May 2023 in the United States. This is the first commercially available robotic system launched by Noah Medical. The company's vision is to provide viable clinical solutions through innovative endoluminal technologies to enhance the quality of life of patients worldwide.

Galaxy System

The Galaxy System™ is the smallest footprint robotic system on the market today, with a single robotic cart that has a footprint of only 0.58 square meters for any bronchial suite. The innovative design of this system includes a single arm that can be seamlessly integrated with a C-arm or cone beam CT system. Notably, this cart is 40% lighter than other systems, making it easier to position and move from room to room.

The Galaxy System™ also features industry-leading TiLT⁺ Technology™, which is designed to improve overall diagnostic rates by resolving discrepancies or deviations between the CT scan image and the actual human anatomy.TiLT⁺ Technology™ allows for real-time updating and guided navigation of all areas of the lungs and includes enhanced fluoroscopic capabilities This feature allows graphic overlays during real-time fluoroscopy to help localize non-visual lesions. In addition, this proprietary technology includes enhanced fluorescence capabilities, which overlay graphics during real-time fluorescence video to help localize non-visual lesions.

In addition, the Galaxy System™ is the only robotic platform to offer disposable bronchoscopes, which may help reduce cross-contamination and the overall burden of reprocessing reusable scopes.The Galaxy System is equipped with world-class oscilloscopes and an integrated camera for always-on vision and is designed to reach anywhere in the lungs up to 2 centimeters from the pleura.

Noah Medical

Noah Medical is a company founded in 2018 by Jian Zhang, who was previously the founder and CEO of Auris Health, a surgical robotics company owned by Johnson & Johnson. The company, which is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, is backed by a number of high-profile institutional investors.Noah Medical's team members all have extensive experience in surgical robotics, medical devices, and healthcare.

The company's first commercially available robotic system is Galaxy, a product that provides clinical solutions through innovative technology designed to enhance the quality of life for patients worldwide. In March 2022, Noah Medical unveiled the Galaxy system and announced the opening of two new research centers in California, one in Sunnyvale with 10,000 square feet and the other in San Carlos with 15,000 square feet.

By March 2023, the Galaxy Surgical Robotic System received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the first human trials began that same month. This marks an important advancement in the field of surgical robotics for Noah Medical and a higher quality of life for patients worldwide.