Comprehensive restoration of legacy machine offers the opportunity for sustainable solution
Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, October 18, 2023 – IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world leader in particle accelerator technology and the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, today announces it has signed a total system restoration contract with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), which was IBA’s first-ever proton therapy installation. The total value of the contract is between USD 80 and 100 million, and IBA has received the first payment.
Mass General Cancer Center’s proton system was installed by IBA 25 years ago and treated its first patient in November 2001. This collaboration pioneered the use of IBA Proteus®PLUS[1] systems and Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) in hospitals globally.
This project is the first time a comprehensive restoration will be made on a legacy machine. It demonstrates IBA’s unique ability to bring equipment into compliance with modern standards. A significant benefit is that this process avoids the need to build a new center or decommission the entire proton therapy system, which is not only costly, but also has a high carbon footprint due to the specialty tools required to complete the decommissioning process safely.
The restoration of the Mass General Cancer Center facility will include the installation of components such as robotic patient positioners, the latest pencil beam scanning nozzles, power supplies and cables, as well as the latest software releases. Some of the principal components of the existing facility, such as the cyclotron, gantry structures, and magnets, will be repaired and refurbished as needed. This project will best position Mass General Cancer Center to continue its unparalleled history of delivering advanced cancer treatments and allow access to future technological developments.
Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: “We are very pleased to continue our work with Massachusetts General Hospital after a rewarding 25 years of collaboration. This is also a key milestone for IBA and our proton therapy community as we demonstrate our commitment and ability to enable our historical customers’ systems to perform to the highest clinical standards while minimizing the ecological footprint and cost of commissioning a brand-new building and system.”
Anthony Zietman, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology at MGH, said: “We are looking forward to starting a new collaboration with IBA to ensure the highest quality, performance, safety, and technology for our proton therapy practice for many decades to come. This restoration will enable us to continue to treat patients in the same historic Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center while ensuring we are ready for future innovation.”
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About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is the world leader in particle accelerator technology. The company is the leading supplier of equipment and services in the field of proton therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBA is also a leading player in the fields of industrial sterilization, radiopharmaceuticals and dosimetry. The company, based in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, employs approximately 2,000 people worldwide. IBA is a certified B Corporation (B Corp) meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance.
IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB).
More information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com
[1] Proteus®PLUS is the brand name of Proteus®235