Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems Inc.
Public
Traded as NYSE: VAR
S&P 500 Component
Industry Medical Technology
Founded 1948 (1948)
Headquarters Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Key people
 Dow R. Wilson, President and CEO
Products Medical Devices
Revenue
  • Increase US$ 2,942.897 million (2013) [1]
  • Increase US$ 2,807.015 million (2012) [1]
  • Increase US$ 608.89 million (2013) [1]
  • Increase US$ 594.074 million (2012) [1]
  • Increase US$ 438.248 million (2013) [1]
  • Increase US$ 427.049 million (2012) [1]
Total assets
  • Increase US$ 3,468.474 million (2013) [2]
  • Increase US$ 2,878.726 million (2012) [1]
Total equity
  • Increase US$ 1,713.847 million (2013) [2]
  • Increase US$ 1,509.776 million (2012) [1]
Number of employees
 6,600
Website www.varian.com

Varian Medical Systems (VAR) of Palo Alto, California, USA, is a radiation oncology treatments and software maker. Their medical devices include linear accelerators and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies software for managing cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers, and medical oncology practices. Varian is a supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical diagnostics, dentistry, veterinary care, scientific, security, industrial inspection including high-energy X-ray technology for cargo screening. Varian Medical Systems employs more than 6,600 people at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales globally.[3]

History

Varian was founded in 1948 as Varian Associates by Russell H. Varian, Sigurd F. Varian, William Webster Hansen, and Edward Ginzton to sell the Klystron, the first tube which could generate electromagnetic waves at microwave frequencies, and other electromagnetic equipment.

By 1999, Varian Associates had branched into semiconductor, vacuum tube, and medical device fields. On April 2, 1999 these divisions split to become Varian Semiconductor, Varian, Inc. and Varian Medical Systems.

Acquired companies

Varian Medical Systems has acquired other companies including Pan-Pacific Enterprises,[4] ACCEL Instruments,[5] Bio-Imaging Research, Inc.[6] Sigma Micro Informatique Conseil,[7] Argus Software,[8] Velocity Medical Solutions.[9] and MeVis Medical Solutions AG [10]

In January 2018, the company announced the acquisition of Sirtex Medical for $1.3 billion.[11]

Spin-off companies

30.01.2017 spin-off of Varex Imaging Corporation (manufacturing of X-ray imaging products) from Varian Medical Systems had been successfully completed.[12]

Products

Linear accelerators

Varian manufactures a range of megavoltage LINACs with varying levels of features and complexity, for example different numbers of multileaf collimators or the ability to perform radiosurgery.[13]

TrueBeam is an advanced radiotherapy system that has been engineered from the ground up to deliver more powerful cancer treatments with pinpoint accuracy and precision. It uniquely integrates advanced imaging and motion management technologies within a sophisticated new architecture that makes it possible to deliver treatments more quickly while monitoring and compensating for tumor motion, opening the door to new possibilities for the treatment of lung, breast, prostate, head and neck, as well as other cancers.[14]

The EDGE radiosurgery suite was launched in 2012.[15] The first cancer centers to use the new system were the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.[16]

In 2017, Varian launched Halcyon, which is designed to achieve high-quality care by optimizing rapid image-guided IMRT and RapidArc® radiotherapy. The system features unique dual-layer MLC that enables high modulation with low leakage for every field or arc. [17]

Proton Therapy

Varian manufactures the ProBeam Proton Therapy System, with current and planned installations at several sites globally.[18] These are an all pencil-beam scanning proton therapy system utilizing IMTP (intensity modulated proton therapy), which was developed with PSI of Switzerland.[19] Varian also develops medical software and radiology information system for proton treatment-planning system.

Litigation

Free speech

In 1999 Varian Medical Systems, Inc. sued a former employee for defamation in Varian v. Delfino. The terminated employee Dr. Michelangelo Delfino posted numerous messages criticizing the company on the Internet. The case finally settled on undisclosed terms. The lawsuit itself was controversial, heavily publicized, and led to a landmark ruling about California's anti-SLAPP statute. Some market-based workers rights activists uphold Delfino as an example because he mortgaged his house to pay his legal bills related to the lawsuit with Varian.[20]

University of Pittsburgh

On April 25, 2012 a US federal judge in Pittsburgh awarded attorney fees, costs, and doubled damages totaling $73.6 million to the University of Pittsburgh after the university won a suit on medical patent infringement grounds against Varian.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC 2013 Annual Report Form (10-K)" (XBRL). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. November 26, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC 2014 Q2 Quarterly Report Form (10-Q)" (XBRL). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. May 5, 2014.
  3. ↑ https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/VAR?p=VAR
  4. ↑ MTB Europe - Varian acquires Chinese medical equipment distributor
  5. ↑ MTB Europe - Varian to acquire German proton therapy system supplier ACCEL Instruments
  6. ↑ "Varian Medical Systems Completes Acquisition of Bio-Imaging Research". 24 May 2007.
  7. ↑ Varian Medical Systems acquires Sigma Micro Informatique Conseil
  8. ↑ Varian Medical Systems Acquires Argus Software; Argus Software Automates Collection of Quality Control and Test Data for Radiation Equipment. | Company Activities & Management > Company Structures & Ownership from AllBusiness.com
  9. ↑ Varian Medical Systems Signs Agreement to Acquire Velocity Software Platform for Data Driven Clinical Decision Making in Cancer Centers
  10. ↑ "Varian Medical Systems acquires majority stake in MeVis Medical Solutions". Reuters. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  11. ↑ https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-biotech-m-a/biotech-ma-explodes-with-27-5-billion-of-january-deals-idUKKBN1FK26U
  12. ↑ Varex Imaging Completes Separation from Varian Medical Systems, Lists on the Nasdaq Stock Market
  13. ↑ "Varian High Energy Linear Accelerator Comparison Chart". Radiology Oncology Systems. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions: TrueBeam System | UCLA Radiation Oncology Technology". radonc.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  15. ↑ "VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS UNVEILS EDGE™ RADIOSURGERY SUITE -- A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION FOR NON-INVASIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURES". Varian. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  16. ↑ "Henry Ford 1st in N. America With New Targeted Radiosurgery Technology". Henry Ford Health System. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  17. ↑ "Introducing Halcyon: An Innovative Treatment Platform | Varian Medical Systems". www.varian.com. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
  18. ↑ "Varian ProBeam Compact single-room proton therapy system selected by Penn Medicine". MedicalPhysicsWeb. 27 October 2017.
  19. ↑ Freeman, Tami (22 April 2011). "Proton therapy: IMPT goes clinical". MedicalPhysicsWeb.
  20. ↑ Espe, Erik. "Ex-Varian employees cry `SLAPP'". Silicon Valley Business Journal. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  21. ↑ Lord, Rich (2012-04-25). "Pitt to receive $73.6 million for patent infringements". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
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