A Medical Device Daily

North American Scientific (Chatsworth, California) reported that L. Michael Cutrer, company founder and president/CEO, plans to transition out of the president/CEO positions to become the company’s executive vice president and chief technology officer, and the company’s board has formed a committee to immediately initiate a search for his successor.

As chief technology officer, Cutrer, in addition to other responsibilities, will continue to play a leadership role in the company’s breast brachytherapy program and remain a member of the company’s board.

Gary Wilner, MD, company chairman, said, “Mike has expressed his wish to focus on the company’s breast brachytherapy program as well as other future radiation therapy projects. We support him in this change of role ... and will seek an appropriate successor chief executive officer.”

Cutrer said, “We have an outstanding business opportunity in breast brachytherapy, and I am excited to have the chance to concentrate my efforts in this area and in new product development where I believe I can make the greatest contribution. I intend to lead the company through a smooth transition.”

North American Scientific develops radiation therapy products and services, including radioisotope-based brachytherapy seeds, needles and strands used primarily in the treatment of prostate cancer and marketed under the names Prospera, and SurTRAK, external beam radiation therapy products for Serial Tomotherapy intensity modulated radiation therapy and image-guided radiation therapy.