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LAUSANNE, Switzerland and PEYNIER, France, Nov. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Center Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) Lausanne, Switzerland, the Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) and THERYQ (ALCEN Group) have signed an agreement for the development, for the first time in the world, of a revolutionary FLASH radiotherapy device that will use very high energy electron radiation (VHEE) to treat cancers resistant to conventional treatments. The device, based on CERN technology, will be installed at the CHUV.
This advance represents a very important hope to increase the efficacy of radiotherapy, for the benefit of patients. By reducing irradiation to a few milliseconds, FLASH radiation therapy significantly reduces side effects and increases efficacy on tumors.
The program benefits from prior financial support from the ISREC Foundation, in collaboration with the Biltema Foundation which, through an exclusive donation of CHF 25.8 million, makes this project possible.
The tripartite agreement covers collaboration in the development, planning, compliance and construction of the world’s first radiotherapy device using the FLASH technique with very high energy electrons. THERYQ, which is part of ALCEN’s Health Division, will manufacture this unique device that uses a compact linear accelerator based on CERN technology. A special bunker will be built in the CHUV to house this technology.
The device is expected to be operational in two years. The first clinical trials are planned for 2025.
An anticipated 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 prior funding from the ISREC Foundation, which announced in June 2021 that it would support the project with 25.8 million Swiss francs through a grant 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.
The CHUV, pioneer in FLASH radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is one of the main forms of cancer treatment, along with chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy. Currently, a third of cancers are resistant to conventional radiotherapy. Research is focused on developing a more effective radiotherapy that is better tolerated by patients.
In this context, the head of the CHUV Department of Radiotherapy Oncology, Professor Jean Bourhis and his team have pioneered the so-called FLASH method, which has given impressive results in preclinical animal studies. With a view to clinical transfer, a pilot project launched in 2020 at the CHUV led to the installation of a first prototype called FLASHKNiFE, manufactured by THERYQ, which allows FLASH treatment of tumors up to 3 cm deep.
Today’s milestone represents a major step forward. Integrating the innovative compact linear accelerator technology developed by CERN, the FLASHDEEP tool produced by THERYQ will use very high energy electron (VHEE) beams of 100 to 200 MeV, 10 to 20 times more powerful than those of FLASHKNiFE. This increased power will allow FLASH treatment of all types of cancer down to a depth of 20 cm.
CERN, from fundamental research to cutting-edge technologies
CERN has responded to the challenge of producing a high dose of very high-energy electrons in less than 100 milliseconds, necessary for FLASH radiotherapy, by designing a unique accelerator based on CLIC (Compact Linear Collider) technology. The electrons will be accelerated to treat tumors up to 20 cm deep and will be compact enough to fit on a conventional hospital campus.
VHEE FLASH technology has several advantages. High-energy electrons can be focused and oriented in a way nearly impossible with X-rays, and radiation therapy 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, from PMB-ALCEN, is an innovative medical technology company specialized in the design and manufacture of radiotherapy machines that incorporate linear accelerators.
From the first studies in 2013 on the FLASH effect to the first successfully treated skin cancer patient in 2019, THERYQ has supported the development of FLASH therapy, especially thanks to a long-term collaboration with the 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 manufactured 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 radiation therapy in oncology and unlock new treatments for cancer patients, as well as lower the cost of treatment.
After delivering the first unit to the CHUV, THERYQ will include FLASHDEEP in its own product range.
Pr. Philippe Eckert, Director General of the 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.”
Prof. Jean Bourhis, Head of the CHUV’s Department of Radiation Oncology, said: “FLASH technology represents real hope for increasing the potential to cure cancers by radiotherapy, and the current stage enables crucial first clinical developments in this area”
Mike Lamont, Director of Accelerators and Technology at CERN, said: “At CERN, knowledge transfer is part of our mission, and we actively work to find applications of our advances outside of particle physics for the benefit of science. society at large. This collaboration demonstrates how CERN’s technologies and insights, combined with close collaborations with experts from other fields, can have a real impact.”
Walter Wuensch, Project Manager at CERN, said: “A FLASH clinical facility has been developed, with which large and deep tumors are treated using high-energy electrons. The facility is based on the acceleration technology developed for the CLIC (Compact Linear Collider). to create a compact, high-performance facility that can easily fit on a conventional hospital campus.”
Ludovic Le Meunier, THERYQ CEO, said: “THERYQ is honored to bring its expertise and agility to this project, together with CHUV and CERN. FLASHDEEP marks a therapeutic revolution, and has the potential to significantly increase the number of patients who are going to live longer and without cancer”
Prof. Pierre-Marie Glauser, President of the ISREC Foundation, added: “The ISREC Foundation is pleased to contribute to the development of FLASH technology, and has been doing so since 2016. This innovative and interdisciplinary project that brings together in close collaboration biologists, physicists, and physicians fits perfectly with the Foundation’s goals of supporting research in translational oncology. Today, we are delighted to see the completion of this decisive step that will take the FLASH program to a new level of efficiency and implementation.”
About CHUV:CHUV is one of five Swiss university hospitals, along with those in Geneva, Bern, Basel and Zurich. It pursues three basic missions entrusted by the public powers: assistance, 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 attended 80,261 emergencies, carried out 1,451,300 external consultations and welcomed 3,177 births. Its annual budget is 1,832 billion francs. To guarantee the training of doctors, 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 other hospitals, health centers and institutions, such as the Vaud Hospital Federation and the Vaud Medical Society.
Since 2019, CHUV has been listed as one of the best hospitals in the world by Newsweek magazine. chuv.ch
About CERN: CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s leading particle physics laboratories. The Organization is located on the French-Swiss border and has its headquarters in Geneva. Its Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Romania, Serbia and the United Kingdom. Sweden. Cyprus, Estonia and Slovenia are associated Member States in the pre-accession phase. Croatia, India, Latvia, Lithuania, Pakistan, Turkey 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 the JINR has been suspended in accordance with the CERN Council Resolutions of March 8, 2022 and March 25, 2022, respectively.
home.cern
About THERYQ: Located in the south of France and stemming from PMB-ALCEN, THERYQ is an innovative medical technology company specializing in particle accelerators and radiotherapy systems. The company masters and contributes essential knowledge in project management, R D, industrialization and manufacturing. THERYQ is part of the healthcare branch of ALCEN.
theryq-alcen.com ; pmb-alcen.com; alcen.com
Media Contact:
Fatine Slaoui, Director of Marketing and Communications, THERYQ, fslaoui@theryq.com 33 6 30 49 62 13
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