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IBA Sells Prototype of Next Generation Carbon Therapy System

LOUVAIN- LA-NEUVE, Belgium, September 2, 2010 (ots/PRNewswire)

IBA (Ion
Beam Applications S.A.), developer of equipment and pharmaceuticals
dedicated to cancer diagnosis and treatment, announced today that it
has sold the prototype of its next generation carbon therapy system
to the French company CYCLHAD (un CYCLotron pour l'HADronthérapie, or
a Cyclotron for Hadron Therapy). CYCLHAD is a joint venture between
IBA, SAPHYN (SAnté et PHYsique Nucléaire, or Nuclear Health and
Physics, a semi-public company in Caen, France) and financial
partners. Simultaneously, IBA has signed a research and development
agreement with SAPHYN to jointly develop the potential of carbon beam
therapy. These agreements will enable IBA to continue its commitment
towards providing next generation cancer therapy techniques and
personalized patient care.
Under the terms of the sales agreement, IBA will provide CYCLHAD
with the prototype of its next generation carbon therapy system based
on an advanced 400 MeV (millions of electron volts) superconducting
isochronous cyclotron able to accelerate carbon ions used in cancer
therapy. IBA will be responsible for the research, development and
validation of all technical and scientific equipment, and for the
installation of the cyclotron in CYCLHAD's research center in Caen,
along with one fixed beam clinical research room and one fixed beam
physics research room. IBA will also provide CYCLHAD with a 15-year
service contract on the system. IBA will receive a payment of between
60 and 70 million Euros for the equipment and services from CYCLHAD.
The contract signed today is still contingent on CYCLHAD obtaining
the necessary bank financing. As the system is a prototype, this
contract will have a very limited impact on IBA profits.
"Carbon shows enormous potential as a powerful solution for
difficult problems in the radiotherapy of cancer. Its ability to
treat tumors that have had the reputation of being
radiation-resistant can be crucial when treating cancers in areas
such as the head and neck," said Yves Jongen, founder and CRO of IBA.
"As a pioneer in proton therapy, IBA is dedicated to making the most
accurate cancer treatments available to radiation oncologists and
patients through new developments that maximize our expertise. This
is also the first IBA system using the technology of superconducting
magnets which is likely to revolutionize cyclotron technology in the
coming years. IBA is pleased to partner with public and semi-public
institutions in the Caen area and share the same mission to develop
novel techniques that could benefit patient health on a global
scale."
IBA is a leader in proton therapy, having sold 18 proton therapy
systems worldwide. A form of radiotherapy, proton therapy delivers a
precise dose of protons to a tumor to kill cancer cells while sparing
healthy surrounding tissue. IBA is now entering into new treatment
techniques such as carbon therapy, a more powerful and precise method
to treat tumors, in particular ones which show resistance to
radiology treatments. Higher doses can be delivered to the tumor
without increasing the risk of side effects and long term
complications, thereby minimizing the number of treatment sessions
needed and improving treatment results and patient quality of life.
About IBA
IBA develops and markets leading-edge technologies,
pharmaceuticals and tailor-made solutions for healthcare with a focus
on cancer diagnosis and therapy. Leveraging on its scientific
expertise, IBA is also active in the field of industrial
sterilization and ionization.
Listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT, IBA is
included in the BelMid Index.
(IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB).
Website: http://www.iba-worldwide.com

Contact:

CONTACT: Media contacts: Christina Aplington, Ballou PR for
IBA,+33-1-42229365, christina@balloupr.com