First simulated patient treatment carried out in first hospital-based BNCT facility in Europe
Neutron Therapeutics, a targeted radiation therapy company developing a comprehensive solution for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), and Cosylab, a leading provider of control systems for the world’s most complex machines, 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 – the first simulated patient treatment.
BNCT is a targeted radiation cancer therapy in which neutron beams destroy only boron compound-bearing tumours without destroying neighbouring normal tissue. BNCT has the potential to deliver highly effective and cell-localized radiation therapy to treat tumours with minimal impact on the patient’s quality of life compared to other radiation, chemotherapy or biological treatment modalities currently in use.
Neutron Therapeutics and the Helsinki University Hospital are collaborating to launch the first European hospital-based BNCT facility. Cosylab is a 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 acceleratorbased 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 highthroughput, 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.
