AVO.L Regulatory News (AVO)

20 February 2014

ADVANCED ONCOTHERAPY PLC

("Advanced Oncotherapy" or "the Company")

Appointment of Non-Executive Director

Advanced Oncotherapy (AIM: AVO), the developer of innovative medical technology for cancer treatment, announces the appointment of Euan Thomson as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect. Dr. Thomson earned a B.S. in Physics, an M.S. in Radiation Physics, and a Ph.D. in Physics and is the author of numerous scientific papers and personally holds six U.S. patents.

Dr Thomson is a scientist and business professional and is currently an Operating Partner at venture capital firm Khosla Ventures (Menlo Park, California) where he is guiding companies in the new and emerging field of mobile and digital health. He has played pioneering roles with a series of breakthrough technologies in his career, with more than 14 years of experience as a CEO managing both private and public companies prior to joining Khosla Ventures.

Trained as a physicist at the University of London, Dr Thomson devoted more than 15 years to research, teaching, clinical practice, and administration within the United Kingdom healthcare system. In parallel, he formed a successful consultancy practice, providing advice for companies and hospitals on scientific development, product marketing, and management. Serving clients such as Varian Medical Systems and Radionics, Inc., he specialised in development, positioning, regulatory approvals, pricing and reimbursement of U.S. products for international markets.

In 2002, Dr Thomson joined Accuray Inc., then a small, privately-held company. Directing the company's evolution, he secured worldwide clinical acceptance for CyberKnife® Radiosurgery through the creation of protocols and studies for the treatment of tumours in the brain, spine, lung, liver, pancreas, prostate and breast. He improved Accuray's intellectual property portfolio from five issued US patents in 2001 to 290 issued US and Foreign patents by the end of 2012. Expanding both the reach and scope of the organisation, Dr Thomson built distribution channels in more than 80 countries; he executed a strategic sales alliance with Siemens Healthcare and consummated the successful acquisition of TomoTherapy®, Inc. in 2011.

Both at Accuray and his prior company, Photoelectron Inc, Dr Thomson initiated and directed a host of sophisticated financial transactions including private and public investments and Initial Public Offerings. The successful 2007 Accuray IPO was priced above range and approximately ten times oversubscribed. At Accuray, he oversaw revenue growth from $10 million in 2002 to more than $400 million in fiscal year 2012.

Dr Thomson is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hospice of the Valley, a hospice facility serving individuals with life-limiting illnesses. He has served as Chair of the California Division of the American Cancer Society's CEO's Against Cancer. He is the recipient of an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award (N. California, Health & Life Sciences), and an ABBY Award from the Adaptive Business Leaders Organisation for his innovation in biotechnology.

Advanced Oncotherapy's Chairman, Lord Evans of Watford, said, "Euan's skill set is exactly what we need at this stage of the Company's development. His enthusiasm for our technology is a solid endorsement of our business proposition. I am delighted to welcome him to the Board." 

Commenting, Euan Thomson said, "There is huge potential for low cost proton technology to radically change the field of cancer treatment. The team at AVO combines strong scientists and experienced and passionate management. It is a pleasure to be joining the Board at such an exciting time."

Additional information:

Euan Stuart Thomson, aged 51, is currently a director, or has held directorships at the following companies during the previous five years:

There is no further information to be disclosed under Schedule 2(g) and Rule 17 of the AIM rules in respect of Mr Thomson's appointment today as Non-Executive Director.

For further information contact:

About Advanced Oncotherapy Plc

1. AVO is a provider of radiotherapy services that harnesses the best in modern technology. As a result, we offer cancer patients affordable access to innovative treatments with proven better health outcomes.

2. AVO's acquisition of ADAM, a company spin off from CERN (The Large Hadron Collider), focuses on the development of proprietary radiotherapy equipment called LIGHT. This patented technology offers patients and providers the benefits of proton beam therapy at significantly reduced capital and running costs.

3. AVO's subsidiary company, Oncotherapy Resources Ltd, offers an exclusive mobile service for intraoperative radiotherapy (SD-IORT). This form of radiotherapy is used in a variety of cancers, notably breast cancer, and offers a convenient, safe and effective alternative for the patient. It is currently available in the UK through BMI, Spire and other hospitals.