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For many years, Proton Beam Radiation Therapy (PBRT) has been regarded as potentially the most effective cancer treatment available. |
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PBRT treats tumors with protons instead of the photons used in conventional radiation therapy. Protons release almost all of their energy in a burst of radiation delivered directly to the tumor. Since less dose is delivered to surrounding healthy tissue, this technology is particularly useful for targeting tumors close to key areas and treating children.
With existing technology, the handful of PBRT systems in use today had to be built in multiple-story facilities with three or more treatment rooms at a cost exceeding $100 million per center. This high cost has limited the availability of PBRT, yet its outstanding results make this a tool that clinicians would like to have more widely available.
Fortunately, PBRT is projected to become significantly more affordable thanks to the Monarch250™, now under development by Still River Systems, Inc. in collaboration with MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center, and other systems from various manufacturers. The Monarch250 is expected to require only one treatment room - significantly reducing both cost and patient volume requirements. The Monarch250 is not currently FDA approved.
American Shared believes that PBRT will be the next major advance in radiation oncology. Our successful business models are being used to finance proton beam systems. American Shared can finance single and multi-treatment room systems from a variety of PBRT manufacturers (i.e. Accel Instruments GmbH/Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Hitachi Ltd., IBA Particle Therapy, Inc., Mitsubishi Electric, Optivus Proton Therapy, Inc., Siemens Medical Solutions and Still River Systems, Inc.) to suit the needs of cancer centers. |
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