CHUV, CERN and THERYQ join forces for a world first in cancer radiotherapy
PR98984
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, and PEYNIER, France, Nov. 25, 2022, /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) in Lausanne, Switzerland,
the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) and THERYQ (ALCEN Group)
have signed an agreement for the world-first development of a revolutionary
FLASH radiotherapy device that will use very high energy electron (VHEE)
radiation to treat cancers resistant to conventional treatments. The device,
based on CERN technology, will be installed at CHUV.
This development represents a very important hope to increase the effectiveness
of radiotherapy, for the greatest benefit of patients. By reducing irradiation
to a few milliseconds, FLASH radiotherapy considerably reduces side effects
while increasing the effectiveness on tumors.
The program benefits from the prior financial support of the ISREC Foundation,
in partnership with the Biltema Foundation which, through an exclusive donation
of CHF 25.8 million, makes this project possible.
The tripartite agreement covers collaboration on the development, planning,
regulatory compliance and construction of the world's first radiotherapy device
using the FLASH technique with very high energy electrons. THERYQ, part of
ALCEN's Healthcare Division, will produce this unique device that uses a
compact linear accelerator based on CERN technology. A special bunker will be
built at the CHUV to accommodate this technology.
The device is expected to be operational within two years. The first clinical
trials are planned for 2025.
An advance donation of 25.8 million Swiss francs
This major development is part of the continuation of an innovative FLASH
radiotherapy clinical transfer program initiated in 2020 between CERN and CHUV.
The current phase is made possible by a prior funding from the ISREC
Foundation, which announced in June 2021 that it would support the project with
CHF 25.8 million through a donation from the Biltema Foundation. The ISREC and
Biltema foundations have also supported the initial phases of the FLASH program
with an initial contribution of CHF 1 million.
CHUV pioneers FLASH radiotherapy
Radiation therapy is one of the main forms of cancer treatment, along with
chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. Currently, one third of cancers are
resistant to conventional radiotherapy. Research is focused on the development
of a more effective radiotherapy that is better tolerated by patients.
It is in this context that the head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at
CHUV, Professor Jean Bourhis and his team have pioneered the method called
FLASH, which has produced impressive results in pre-clinical animal studies.
With a view to clinical transfer, a pilot project launched in 2020 at CHUV saw
the installation of a first prototype named FLASHKNiFE, manufactured by THERYQ,
which allows the FLASH treatment of tumors up to 3 cm deep.
Today's milestone represents an important step forward. By integrating the
innovative compact linear accelerator technology developed by CERN, the
FLASHDEEP tool produced by THERYQ will use very high energy electron beams
(VHEE) of 100 to 200 MeV, 10 to 20 times more powerful than those of
FLASHKNiFE. This extra power will allow FLASH treatment of all types of cancers
up to a depth of 20 cm.
CERN, from fundamental research to breakthrough technologies
CERN has responded to the challenge of producing a high dose of very high
energy electrons in less than 100 milliseconds, required for FLASH
radiotherapy, by designing a unique accelerator based on CLIC (Compact Linear
Collider) technology. It will accelerate electrons to treat tumors up to 20 cm
deep and will be compact enough to fit in a typical hospital campus.
VHEE FLASH technology has several advantages. High-energy electrons can be
focused and oriented in a way that is almost impossible with X-rays, and
radiotherapy devices based on CERN's electron accelerator technology will be
significantly more compact and less expensive than current proton-based therapy
facilities.
THERYQ, a leading medical device company dedicated to FLASH radiotherapy
THERYQ, a spinoff of PMB-ALCEN, is an innovative medical technology company
specializing in the design and production of radiotherapy machines
incorporating linear accelerators.
From the first studies in 2013 on the FLASH effect to the first patient with
skin cancer successfully treated in 2019, THERYQ has supported the development
of FLASH therapy, particularly through a long-standing partnership with CHUV.
The company has developed FLASHKNiFE, for external or intraoperative FLASH
radiotherapy (10 MeV), treating superficial or shallow tumors (up to 3 cm).
FLASHDEEP, designed in collaboration with CHUV and CERN and produced by THERYQ,
will be the first device capable of treating any type of solid tumor up to a
depth of 20 cm using VHEE FLASH technology. This device has the potential to
expand the use of radiotherapy in oncology and unlock new treatments for
patients with cancer, as well as decrease treatment cost.
After delivering the first unit to CHUV, THERYQ will include FLASHDEEP in its
own product range.
Pr. Philippe Eckert, Director General of CHUV, said: "As a university hospital,
the CHUV is fully committed to research. FLASH therapy embodies the spirit of
innovation that drives us in this field. Eager to offer the most effective
techniques to patients, we have joined forces with a world-class research
center and a cutting-edge industrial partner to solve a medical, physical and
technical problem and find innovative solutions to fight cancer."
Pr. Jean Bourhis, Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at CHUV, said:
"FLASH technology represents real hope for increasing the potential for curing
cancers with radiation therapy, and the current stage will enable first crucial
clinical developments in this area."
Mike Lamont, CERN Director for Accelerators and Technology, said: "At CERN,
part of our mission is knowledge transfer and we actively work to find
applications of our breakthroughs outside the domain of particle physics for
the benefit of society at large. This collaboration demonstrates how CERN
technologies and expertise combined with strong partnerships with experts in
other fields can really make an impact."
Walter Wuensch, Project leader at CERN, said: "A clinical FLASH facility has
been developed, with which large, deep-seated tumors are treated using
high-energy electrons. The facility is based on accelerator technology
developed for CLIC (Compact Linear Collider) to create a high performance and
compact facility that can easily fit on a typical hospital campus".
Ludovic Le Meunier, CEO of THERYQ, said: "THERYQ is honored to contribute its
expertise and agility to this project, alongside CHUV and CERN. FLASHDEEP marks
a therapeutic revolution, with the potential to significantly increase the
number of patients living longer and cancer-free lives."
Pr. Pierre-Marie Glauser, Chairman, the ISREC Foundation, added : "The ISREC
Foundation is pleased to contribute to the development of FLASH technology, and
has done so since 2016. This innovative and interdisciplinary project bringing
together biologists, physicists and physicians in close collaboration fits
perfectly with the Foundation's objectives of supporting research in
translational oncology. Today, we are delighted to see the realization of this
decisive step that will take the FLASH program to a new level of efficiency and
implementation."
About CHUV:
The CHUV is one of the five Swiss university hospitals, along with the
hospitals in Geneva, Bern, Basel and Zurich. It pursues three basic missions
entrusted by the public authorities: care, education and research. In 2021,
thanks to its 12,228 employees, the CHUV welcomed 51,205 hospitalized patients
for more than 500,374 days of hospitalization. It treated 80,261 emergencies,
provided 1,451,300 outpatient consultations and welcomed 3,177 births. Its
annual budget is 1.832 billion francs. In order to ensure the training of
physicians, the CHUV is closely linked to the Faculty of Biology and Medicine
of the University of Lausanne. It also collaborates with other university
institutions in the Lake Geneva region (EPFL, ISREC, Ludwig Institute,
University of Geneva), the University Hospitals of Geneva, as well as with
other hospitals, health care facilities or institutions, such as the Federation
of Vaud Hospitals and the Vaud Society of Medicine.
Since 2019, the CHUV has been listed as one of the world's best hospitals by
Newsweek magazine.
chuv.ch
About CERN:
CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world's
leading laboratories for particle physics. The Organization is located on the
French-Swiss border, with its headquarters in Geneva. Its Member States are:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cyprus,
Estonia and Slovenia are Associate Member States in the pre-stage to
Membership. Croatia, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Pakistan, Türkiye and Ukraine
are Associate Member States. Japan and the United States of America currently
have Observer status, as do the European Union and UNESCO. The Observer status
of the Russian Federation and of JINR is suspended in accordance with the CERN
Council Resolutions of 8 March 2022 and 25 March 2022, respectively.
home.cern
About THERYQ:
Located in the south of France and spin-off of PMB-ALCEN, THERYQ is an
innovative medical technology company specializing in particle accelerators and
radiotherapy systems. The company masters and provides essential expertise on
project management, R&D, industrialization and manufacturing. THERYQ is part of
ALCEN's Healthcare branch.
theryq-alcen.com ; pmb-alcen.com ; alcen.com
Media contact: Fatine Slaoui, fslaoui@pmb-alcen.com, +33 4 42 53 13 13
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Logo -
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SOURCE: PMB-Alcen, CERN and Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV)
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