First simulated patient treatment carried out in the first hospital-based BNCT facility in Europe
BOSTON, MA AND LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA / AGILITYPR.NEWS / May 12, 2022 / Neutron Therapeutics and Cosylab Collaborate to Enable New Advanced Cancer Treatment Option for Patients at Helsinki University Hospital
Neutron Therapeutics, a targeted radiation therapy company developing a comprehensive solution for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), and Cosylab, the world’s leading provider of control systems for the planet’s most complex machines, today announced that Neutron Therapeutics' nuBeam BNCT System, using Cosylab's OncologyOne software, has reached a significant milestone in its clinical commissioning at Helsinki University Hospital – first simulated patient treatment.
BNCT is a targeted radiation cancer therapy in which neutron beams destroy only boron compound-bearing tumors without destroying neighboring normal tissue. BNCT has the potential to deliver highly effective and cell-localized radiation therapy to treat tumors with minimal impact on the patient’s quality of life compared to other radiation, chemotherapy or biological treatment modalities currently in use.
Neutron Therapeutics Inc. and the Helsinki University Hospital are collaborating to launch the first European hospital-based BNCT facility. Cosylab is a proven partner with over two decades of experience solving complex software challenges in radiation therapy.
Johanna Mattson, Senior Medical Director at the Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, commented: "Providing BNCT with the most sophisticated accelerator-based device will enable Finnish clinicians to treat patients with some of the most obstinate cancers and remain globally at the forefront of oncology. We are working hand in hand with our industry partners, Neutron Therapeutics and Cosylab, to bring the full clinical potential of BNCT to patients in Helsinki as soon as 2023."
Neutron Therapeutics nuBeam is a high-throughput, compact accelerator-based neutron source suitable for clinical settings. nuBeam replaces legacy nuclear reactors. It has the highest neutron flux of all currently available BNCT systems and is the only device producing an IAEA-compliant BNCT beam for the safe and effective clinical use of neutrons. During the commissioning process, the Helsinki nuBeam device has demonstrated both robustness and reliable operation, validating the Neutron Therapeutics technology as the best choice for a high-throughput BNCT clinic with stringent safety requirements.
"We are extremely excited that our collaboration with Helsinki University Hospital has demonstrated nuBeam's excellent reliability in the clinical environment. We are committed to achieving the initiation of clinical trials in the first half of 2023 at our first European nuBeam installation. Our close partnership with Cosylab has enabled rapid progress towards this goal and positions Neutron Therapeutics to maximize the potential of BNCT and its beneficial impact on patients," said Dr. Elizabeth Reczek, CEO of Neutron Therapeutics.
The first simulated patient treatment at the Helsinki nuBeam installation was achieved using Cosylab's OncologyOne software, the only solution on the market that covers all the needs of a radiation therapy device. It has already proven itself in other forefront radiation therapy modalities such as proton therapy and brings to the nuBeam system a software solution for radiation therapy that is much more readily upgradable and integrable than custom-built software while guaranteeing the shortest time-to-clinical-use.
"We are thrilled by the first-beam success and proud we could help Neutron Therapeutics stay on schedule with the commissioning of their nuBeam in Helsinki. Our OncologyOne suite of software products is designed from the ground up to empower our customers to bring their radiation therapy innovations into clinical practice in the shortest possible time and full working order, stated Dr. Mark Pleško, CEO at Cosylab.
Finland has been a European hotspot of BNCT trials since 1992. With the ongoing clinical verification and validation testing of the nuBeam system at the Helsinki University Hospital, patients who have inoperable, locally recurrent head, neck, and other cancers incurable with conventional radiation therapy are now much closer to reaping benefits from boron neutron capture therapy.
Additional information:
Noah Smick, President and COO, Neutron Therapeutics, noah.smick@nt-bnct.com, +1-978-777-0846
Metka Silar Sturm, Head of Communications, Cosylab, metka.sturm@cosylab.com, +386 1 477 677
The nuBeam® treatment room showing shutter, beam-shaping assembly and positioning robot
The nuBeam® accelerator
A simulation of a patient positioned for treatment with nuBeam®
About Us
Helsinki University Hospital is a pioneer in the clinical use of BNCT. Using a research nuclear reactor as the neutron source, the hospital has applied BNCT to over 200 cancer patients. Using the Neutron Therapeutics nuBeam platform, Helsinki University Hospital will continue its leadership in developing clinical applications for many cancer indications and become Europe's first clinical accelerator-based BNCT system.
Neutron Therapeutics is a leading provider of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems for use in the radiation treatment of cancer patients. Neutron Therapeutics' flagship product, the nuBeam therapy platform, is an accelerator-based, in-hospital neutron source to replace the previously required nuclear reactor. nuBeam has the highest flux of all BNCT systems and is the only device compliant with IAEA standards for the clinical use of neutrons.
Cosylab is the leading provider of software solutions for the world’s most complex, precise, and advanced systems. Its technology enables organizations to discover scientific breakthroughs, offer state-of-the-art cancer treatment and healthcare innovations, and bring clean fusion power to the future energy market. Cosylab provides software products and services to the largest medical device manufacturers and cancer centres worldwide. The company’s solutions are integrated into the most significant Big Science international projects, including CERN and ITER. Through its headquarters in the EU and subsidiaries across Europe, North America and Asia, Cosylab has worked on hundreds of multi-year and multi-team projects worldwide.
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