IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA), the world’s leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, announces that the first patient has been treated with IBA’s compact proton therapy solution, Proteus^®ONE*, at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center (WKCC) in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.

The patient received Image Guided Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) treatment on 9 September 2014, three months ahead of schedule. IBA believes that the treatment of the first ever patient on the compact, more affordable system, Proteus^®ONE, will accelerate the take-up of proton therapy in the US and beyond.

IBA’s compact system is a highly differentiated offering, not only is it smaller, less expensive, and faster to install than other proton therapy systems, it encompasses the latest in targeted proton therapy technologies, including IBA’s IMPT, and adaPTinsight, the most advanced image guidance platform for proton therapy. IBA received Marketing Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2014 and CE mark for its Compact Gantry Beam Line in September 2014.

The first patient treatment occurred less than 14 months after arrival of the equipment on site, faster than any competitive solution in the market. This underscores IBA’s ability to deliver proton therapy swiftly and reliably to its customers all over the world. In addition to the WKCC, four other Proteus^®ONE systems have been sold in Nice (France), Taiwan (ROC) and two in Japan and IBA anticipates that the international interest in Proteus^®ONE will continue to build momentum.

Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA commented: "“We are delighted that the first ever patient has been treated with our cutting edge compact Proteus^®ONE system ahead of schedule. This is a significant milestone for IBA and demonstrates to our customers the benefits of choosing IBA. This speed of delivery further bolsters our conviction that Proteus^®ONE will be a significant driver of proton therapy adoption worldwide. We are delighted to be working with the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center to bring proton therapy to more patients in the US."

“This is a major step in the treatment of cancer,” said Lane R. Rosen, MD, Director of Radiation Oncology at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center. "“We are very excited to have Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy become an available option for our patients. Willis-Knighton and the IBA team have worked together at every step of the process to ensure a smooth transition from installation to system commissioning and treatment. We are proud to have set a new record in the installation and start-up of compact proton therapy systems and we are delighted to be able to offer this cutting-edge cancer therapy to our community."

Proteus^®ONE unique Ambient Experience designed with Philips is setting a new industry standard in Design and Clinical workflow, as was recognized by two major Design Awards in 2014. The Proteus^®ONE at Willis Knighton received an iF Design award, as well as a Red Dot, Best of the Best 2014 award, making it the only product in radiation therapy to be recognized by this prestigious prizes.

According to Greg Sonnenfeld, Willis-Knighton’s Cancer Center Administrator, "It is amazing how this complex technology comes together and integrates seamlessly in a smooth and clean workflow for our patients. It is really important as it makes the patient more comfortable and reduces their anxiety."

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