Alliance Formed to Introduce Proton Therapy in India

Ion Beam Applications (IBA; Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium) and Philips India (Gurgaon, India) have signed an exclusive alliance to enhance access to proton therapy in India.

The exclusive agreement between IBA, the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for cancer treatment, and Philips, a leading provider of image-guided therapy, and clinical informatics/imaging technology, follows the framework agreement the two companies signed in September, 2014.

The two companies will focus on improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in India, and reducing side-effects of treatment.

The incidence of cancer in India is 70–90 per 100,000 people, including nearly 5% children. Proton therapy is especially effective for the treatment of pediatric cancers, and tumors of the eye, brain, prostate, liver, lungs, and tumors close to the spinal cord, or brain stem.

Mr. Sameer Garde, president, Philips Healthcare, said, "We are very pleased to announce that Philips India and IBA are introducing the best-in-class proton beam therapy for cancer patients in India. We are confident that the future launch of the first proton therapy center in Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, will mark the beginning of a new phase in cancer treatment in the country and also the subcontinent".

Related Links:
IBA
Philips India