(16/01/2004) IBA announces the commercial release of the VISICOIL(TM) marker

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, January 16, 2004 - IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.: Reuters IOBAt.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB) announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, RadioMed Corporation based in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, had launched and received first sales of VISICOILTM. VISICOIL is a flexible gold linear fiducial marker used to localize patient cancerous tumors. It is easily implanted inside the patient body through a minimally invasive procedure. Designed for stability in tissue, it conforms to the organ in which it is implanted. Visible under all imaging modalities, VISICOIL marker significantly facilitates patient alignment and enhances the targeting capability. It allows to plan the treatment, to correct organ movements and to accurate targeting of the prescribed dose of radiation to cancerous tumors while minimizing dose to the surrounding healthy tissue. This is a key element allowing the precise treatment capability of technologies. 'This innovative device represents a significant advance in the ability to mark the organs within the abdominal cavity for quick patient positioning. Early sales indicate the timeliness of the product and the demand in radiotherapy for markers with enhanced features,' stated Piran Sioshansi, Ph.D., President & CEO of RadioMed Corporation. 'Unlike anatomical landmarks or surface markers, these linear fiducial markers reduce the subjectivity of daily patient positioning in fractionated treatments,' observed Patrick Kupelian, M.D., Director of Clinical Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando, Florida. About RadioMed Corporation RadioMed Corporation, IBA's wholly owned subsidiary, based in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, has developed an advanced brachytherapy source based on a unique coiled-wire technology. The coiled line source, GENETRATM, offers many advantages over the more traditional rice-sized 'seeds', including improved dose distribution, stability of the implant in tissue, and ultrasound visibility that allows source placement by a smaller gauge needle, causing less trauma to the gland and enhancing patient comfort. Based on the revolutionary coiled-wire concept, RadioMed has recently introduced VISICOILTM, an advanced linear, fiducial, soft tissue marker. VISICOIL is designed to enhance the targeting capability of treatment techniques such as proton therapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), allowing more accurate targeting of the dose to cancerous tumors while minimizing dose to the surrounding healthy tissue. This so-called Image-Guided-Radiation-Therapy' (IGRT) technique relies on the unique visibility of the VISICOIL marker under a variety of imaging modalities. RadioMed products are patented and have received clearance from the United Stated Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Website: www.radiomed.com About IBA Founded in 1986, IBA is a global innovator in the design and development of particle accelerators, therapeutic and diagnostic dosimetry equipment, sterilization and ionization services, and the production and distribution of radiopharmaceuticals. With operations at more than 50 sites, spanning 12 countries and 3 continents, IBA provides extensive expertise and state-of-the-art services and equipment to numerous world markets in healthcare and industry. A selection of IBA clients includes top-ranking medical device manufacturers, specialized centers for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and the United States Postal Service. IBA stock is listed on the pan-European stock exchange, EURONEXT, and is part of the market segment NextEconomy. Website: www.iba-worldwide.com. For further information please contact: IBA S.A. Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium Paul-Emmanuel Goethals Business Development & Investor Relations Manager Telephone: +32 10 47 58 16 E-Mail: goethals@iba.be Yolaine d'Udekem Communication Manager Telephone: +32 10 47 59 60 E-Mail: ydu@iba.be (C) Companynews