IBA (Ion Beam Applications)and Toshiba Corporation has announced the signing of a global collaboration to expand access to advanced particle therapy worldwide.

Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation will become the distributor in Japan for ProteusONE, 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 ProteusONE and Toshiba's carbon therapy solutions. The collaboration will also enable both organizations to mutually leverage their Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services.

Mr Olivier Legrain, chief executive officer of IBA said, "This is an important step for IBA. A closer collaboration with a company of Toshiba's caliber 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."

Mr Satoshi Tsunakawa, chief executive officer of Healthcare Company, Toshiba Corporation, 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. This collaboration will give both our companies an enhanced set of tools to provide the best cancer treatment technologies."

Proton Therapy is considered an advanced and targeted cancer radiotherapy treatment due to its superior dose distribution and fewer side effects. 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.