Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 13 August 2018 - IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, and CYCLHAD (a CYCLotron for HADron Therapy), are pleased to announce that the first patients have been treated with proton therapy by the medical team from Centre François Baclesse at the CYCLHAD Centre in Caen, France. The patients (both with brain tumours) started proton therapy, a treatment that helps to preserve the surrounding healthy tissues, on 31 July 2018.
The treatments are being delivered using the Proteus®ONE solution at the CYCLHAD Centre. This single room solution has been installed within 12 months by IBA. Proteus®ONE is the only truly compact Image Guided Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IG-IMPT) solution in the industry. It has a unique open gantry environment designed to ease the work of radiation therapists during the treatment workflow and optimize the patient experience by providing a comfortable and calming environment. Its compact design makes it easy to install, operate, and finance. The CYCLHAD Centre, in Caen, is the third center in France being equipped with a proton therapy treatment room. In the future, the center will be able to treat up to 30 patients per day with this advanced technology.
IBA is actively preparing the second phase of the center’s development, in which it will collaborate with several French industrial partners and semi-public institutions, to develop the potential of carbon beam therapy. Carbon ions have the same physical characteristics as protons, but have the added advantage of being particularly effective for the treatment of radiation-resistant tumours. Within this collaboration, IBA will provide support and expertise for the development of a prototype carbon therapy system based on an advanced 400 MeV (megaelectron-volts) superconducting isochronous cyclotron, which is able to accelerate carbon ions used in hadron therapy.
Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer at IBA,commented: “We are delighted that the first treatments were delivered successfully in Caen. This reinforces IBA’s position as the fastest proton therapy provider, from contract signature to the treatment of patients. Thanks to the agreements settled with several French institutions, the next phase of development of the center will enable IBA, alongside CYCLHAD, to continue its commitment towards providing the next generation of cancer therapy techniques and personalized patient care.”
Philippe Lagalle, President of CYCLHAD, said: “The delivery of the first proton therapy treatments is a great achievement for the development of cancer care in France. We are pleased to collaborate with IBA, the global leader in proton therapy, which we believe has the required experience to develop the future of this unique technology. The medical need for proton therapy currently exceeds the availability in France, particularly for the treatment of cancers for which it is important to preserve the healthy surrounding tissues and organs. These indications include eye, brain, spinal cord and pediatric cancers. In the next phase of development of this project, we are very pleased to collaborate with IBA and industrial partners to develop a carbon ion accelerator. With this, CYCLHAD plans to create a research center in Caen, which is dedicated to hadron therapy and related technologies.”
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About Proteus®ONE
Proteus®ONE is the compact intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) solution from IBA. It benefits from the latest technologies developed with renowned clinical institutions. Proteus®ONE is smaller, more affordable, and easier to install and operate. It is ultimately easier to finance, making this advanced radiation therapy modality available to more institutions and patients worldwide.
Proteus®ONE allows you to think big but scale smart.
*Proteus®ONE is the brand name of a configuration of the Proteus®235.
About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBA’s proton therapy solutions are flexible and adaptable, allowing customers to choose from universal full-scale proton therapy centers as well as compact, single room solutions. In addition, IBA also has a radiation dosimetry business and develops particle accelerators for the medical world and industry. Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1,500 people worldwide, IBA has installed systems across the world.
IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange NYSE EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB). More information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com
About CYCLHAD
The operating company CYCLHAD has been created in 2010 in order to finance the hadron therapy project (proton therapy center, carbon solution development as a second step and the building and all related equipment) in Caen, France. IBA has recently invested €1.5 million as part of a capital increase of CYCLHAD and thereby becomes a 33.3% shareholder of the company, alongside with local associations and private investors, mobilized by the Basse-Normandie region.
For further information, please contact:
IBA
Daniel Ernult
Proton Therapy Marketing Associate
Tel +32 10 201 287
communication@iba-group.co