CSA Medical Kills Cancer with Liquid Nitrogen Spray

BALTIMORE, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Two perfect strangers called, an ego
was set aside, and technology to kill cancer was discovered, Timothy Askew,
president, CSA Medical, told Greater Baltimore Committee members on July 10.
"These strangers explained in very real and human terms how our technology
could change lives."
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080721/NEM114LOGO )
Askew's company developed an endoscopic cryoablation technology that uses
a liquid nitrogen spray to destroy unwanted tissue. To date, the energy source
typically used to destroy unwanted gastroenterology (GI) tissue has been
extreme thermal heat, said Askew. Now, there is a "SuperCool
Choice(TM)."
After abandoning plans for medical school, earning an MBA, buying
and selling a couple of companies, he came across Crymed Technologies. While
the company was tinkering with cryo spray technology, Askew followed a
physician and engineer around and decided to make a small investment.
A phone call from "patient no. 11," their first cancer patient, hooked him
when they said, "You have had an incredible impact on me and my family, don't
stop." Askew decided to buy more of the company and named it CSA -- for
CryoSpray Ablation -- Medical.
Following some success, the second stranger, Dr. William Krimsky, an
interventional pulmonologist at Franklin Square Hospital Center, called and
said the procedure will work in the lungs. Askew had thought it would puncture
them. "This was my 'Krimsky Moment,' a humbling moment to broaden my horizons
and take a step out of my comfort zone," said Askew. Askew put $200,000 into
funding lung treatment calculations and animal tests with Krimsky, and then
launched a small-scale human clinical trial that showed the CSA system can
safely kill tumor tissue in the lungs.
In July 2007, the GI system was launched, followed by 36 systems in the
field killing cancer. "It kills cancer and doesn't hurt -- no 'burning'
-- no 'cutting,'" said Askew.
The CSA system has been successful in treating esophageal cancer and
Barrett's esophagus, a condition that often progresses to esophageal cancer.
This version of the device won the GBC's 2008 Best New Product or Progress
Award.
The next step was to build the brand CSA Medical so that "SuperCool" would
resonate with everyone and not just focus on the device and technology. The
new brand message became "Freeze the Disease. Free the Patient. How Cool is
that."
Askew and his company are pursuing the development of new treatment tracks
by focusing on six categories, including asthma, chronic bronchitis,
emphysema, pleural disease, and malignant/benign tracheobronchial
obstructions. The plan is to launch these new tracks, called "Reset Medical,"
in July 2009, he said.
In July 2008, CSA Medical closed on $9 million in new funding from
50 of the original investors. CSA Medical is now at that next level treating
more patients. "I finally learned to drop the ego and take the call from
Krimsky," said Askew. "I learned the hard way and 'patient no. 11' put courage
in my heart to step out."
SOURCE CSA Medical

Ric Hughen, +1-443-921-8053, rhughen@csamedical.com