Interview with James Norman, MD, FACS, FACE

On October 6th, 2009, Doctor James Norman, one of the world's foremost experts on parathyroid disease and the most experienced parathyroid surgeon in the world, met up with Theraclion’s Team in Paris. He sat with us and replied to a few questions about his collaboration with the medtech leader in treating hyperparathyroidism non-invasively.

Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Doctor James Norman. I am a parathyroid surgeon in Tampa, Florida.

Your practice is the place where the largest numbers of parathyroidectomies are carried-out every year, worldwide. How do you explain this success and could you please describe in few words your practice and daily operation?

My two partners (Douglas Politz, MD and Arnold Goodman, MD) and I consult on more patients with parathyroid diseases and performed more parathyroid operations than any institutions in the world, by over ten times more. We are the only practice worldwide that does just parathyroid disease. We perform an average of 13 parathyroid operations per day, 3 days a week. We do approximately 40 parathyroid operations per week. These patients come from all over the US. Once or twice a week, we typically operate somebody from Canada and, once a week, somebody from outside America.

Several things explain our success. In the early 90’s, I was one of the first developers of minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. Over the last 15 years, I have been pushing to make smaller incisions and have shorter operation time, changing 4 hours operation into 20 minutes operation and pushing forward, instead of being in the hospital for 2 or 3 days after the operation, you would be in the hospital for 1 or 2 hours. So, I have gained a reputation of taking good care of patients and the practice just continues to blossom.

What is the most important to you when treating patients?

We treat them like family, treat them with respect. Never hurt them and then cure them.

How did you first hear about Theraclion?

I read Theraclion’s abstract at the 2007 American Parathyroid Association meeting in San Francisco. I presented at that same meeting 3 papers on parathyroid issues. Then I have not heard anything from the company in 2 years. And, a couple of months ago, David (David Del Bourgo, VP Business Development) emailed me. I was immediately intrigued and emailed him back. This is how we started our relationship. Then I met Theraclion’s team in the US. They appreciated my knowledge of the topic and I appreciated their very promising technology. Since that time, we started to work together.

How do you think Theraclion’s could contribute to your practice and why?

With Theraclion’s technology, we have the ability to cure parathyroid diseases in a non-invasive approach that could be safe and take less than 10 minutes. This is incredibly attractive to many people suffering from this disease.

I think they are 3 aspects:
- People who are very concerned about a scar;
- There is a second group who are avoiding or delaying or surgery because they are afraid of the procedure and of the pain;
- Plus, this is an ability to allow more patients with this condition to be operated on because the referring physicians will realize that this is non-invasive. Therefore it opens up the gates for more people who are potentially sicker or have other medical issues on-going and prevent them of having one more major operation.

How do you think your patients will perceive the alternative of a scarless solution?

On average, once a day, I have a patient who is getting afraid of the operation. This is why I think the concept of non-invasive surgery will make a tremendous impact on patients. Remember, 75% of patients with this condition are women. In general, women are more concerned about the scar, about the pain.

According to you, what are the keys aspects to success with the TH-One (Theraclion’s product)?

It is safe, non-invasive, , scarless, curative, more cost-effective and takes less than 10 minutes.

Thanks for the interview, any closing comments? Perhaps you could give us your feedback now than you saw the TH-One and met the team?

I am very impressed with 2 things after my visit. Number one, the Theraclion’s technology is first class. That includes the interface that insures safe application and is very easy to use. I am also impressed with the team: the leadership, the software developers, the engineers. The product is much better than I expected and this product is ready to go to Tampa*

(*) Device not yet approved for sale in the United-States.