Louvain-la-Neuve and Tokyo - IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) and Toshiba Corporation on Friday announced the signing of a global collaboration to expand access to the advanced particle therapy worldwide.
Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation will become the distributor in Japan for Proteus(r)ONE, IBA's compact single-room proton therapy solution, and IBA will become the agent for Toshiba's Carbon Therapy Solutions outside Japan.
IBA and Toshiba will collaborate on activities such as customer education for Proteus(r)ONE and Toshiba's carbon therapy solutions.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IBA, Olivier Legrain, said, "This is an important step for IBA. A closer collaboration with a company of Toshiba's calibre and leadership will accelerate the expansion of proton therapy in Japan and the introduction of Toshiba's carbon therapy across the world. Carbon ion therapy is particularly suitable for treating radio-resistant tumors and allows for dose escalation, which is recommended in a number of clinical applications. Through this new collaboration, IBA will further strengthen its world leading position in proton therapy and will reaffirm its leading position in the delivery of the latest innovative cancer therapies worldwide."
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Healthcare Company under Toshiba Corporation, Satoshi Tsunakawa, said, "Proton and carbon therapies are among the most exciting technological advancements in the treatment of cancer. Toshiba looks forward to collaborating with IBA to enhance access to best-in-class technologies for both proton and carbon therapy centers. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, "Committed to People, Committed to the Future,"
"This collaboration will give both our companies an enhanced set of tools to provide the best cancer treatment technologies," Tsunakawa added.
The collaboration will also enable both organizations to mutually leverage their Operation and Maintenance (O and M) services.