Powerful partnership
Driving proton and carbon therapy worldwide
A global collaboration to expand access to advanced particle therapy worldwide was agreed this April between Belgian firm IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) and the Toshiba Corporation.
In Japan, Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation will distribute Proteus ONE, IBA’s compact single-room proton therapy solution, and IBA will be the agent for Toshiba’s Carbon Therapy Solutions outside Japan. The two companies will collaborate on activities such as customer education for both systems. Additionally, the collaboration will enable both organisations to gear up their Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services.
Proton and carbon therapy
Proton Therapy is considered an advanced and targeted cancer radiotherapy treatment due to its superior dose distribution and fewer side effects, IBA reports. ‘Protons deposit the majority of their effective energy within a precisely controlled range, directly within the tumour, sparing healthy surrounding tissue. Higher doses can be delivered to the tumour without increasing the risk of side effects and long-term complications, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
‘Carbon ions not only have similar physical characteristics as protons, they have also a higher radiobiological effect compared to photon and proton, which could lead to shorter treatment courses and improved patient outcomes.’
Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, which produces universal full-scale proton therapy centres as well as compact, single room systems, sees the partnership as important to take both therapies worldwide. ‘Carbon ion therapy is particularly suitable for treating radio-resistant tumours and allows for dose escalation, which is recommended in a number of clinical applications.’
According to Satoshi Tsunakawa, Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Company, Toshiba Corporation, proton and carbon therapies are ‘… among the most exciting technological advancements in the treatment of cancer.’ Quoting the firm’s motto “Committed to People, Committed to the Future” he added that the collaboration ‘will give both our companies an enhanced set of tools to provide the best cancer treatment technologies’.
08.05.2015
