PALO ALTO, Calif., March 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian (NYSE:
VAR) announced today, Proton International at UAB has now
treated its first cancer patient with the Varian
ProBeam® Compact proton therapy system. The center, a
collaboration between The University of
Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Proton International, opened
in January 2020 and is the first
proton therapy center in Alabama
and one of only 35 proton therapy centers in the United
States.
"We celebrate this first of many patients who will be treated at
UAB with this advanced technology," said Will Ferniany, Ph.D., CEO of the UAB Health
System. "The Varian ProBeam system is one of the most advanced
tools available and our physicians are now able to improve care and
precision of treatment for their cancer patients. With this
technology, we will improve the quality of life for many cancer
patients and their families in Alabama and the Southeast."
Dr. James Bonner, chairman of the
UAB Radiation Oncology Department added, "This is a landmark moment
for the patients of Alabama. After
so many years of planning, we have been able to bring this
technologically advanced treatment to the UAB Cancer Center."
Proton therapy is the most sophisticated radiotherapy technology
available today. It uses protons, accelerated to about two-thirds
the speed of light, or more than 100,000 miles per second, to
destroy cancer cells, while minimizing exposure to nearby healthy
tissues.
"We are pleased to have reached this important milestone for the
patients of Alabama and the
region," said Chris Chandler,
CEO of Proton International. "Together with Varian and UAB, this
public - private approach has resulted in the development of a
unique service that otherwise may not have been available to
patients. Varian's commitment has resulted in enhanced care
for patients."
"One of our primary goals at Varian is to improve cancer care
for patients around the globe," said Kolleen Kennedy, president, Proton Solutions and
chief growth officer at Varian. "Through our partnership with
Proton International and UAB, cancer patients in Alabama now have access to the most advanced,
efficient and effective treatment, closer to home."
The Varian ProBeam Compact system is the only clinical single
room system capable of fully rotational intensity modulated proton
therapy (IMPT). Treatments can be delivered with an unmatched
combination of speed, flexibility and cost efficiency. The
full-featured ProBeam Compact includes a cyclotron, high-definition
pencil beam scanning technology for IMPT, a fully rotational
gantry, robotic patient positioning tools, and a comprehensive
suite of motion management tools. It incorporates cone beam
CT imaging for positioning the patient based on high quality
anatomical images with excellent soft tissue resolution, and
Varian's
world-class Eclipse™ and ARIA™ software
systems for the planning and managing of treatments.
About Varian
At Varian, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more
than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative
cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners
around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year.
With an Intelligent Cancer Care approach, we are harnessing
advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine
learning and data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand
access to care. Our 10,000 employees across 70 locations keep the
patient and our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as
we power new victories in cancer care. Because, for cancer patients
everywhere, their fight is our fight. For more information,
visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on
Twitter.
Press Contact
Mark Plungy
Director, Public Relations
+1 (650) 424-5630
mark.plungy@varian.com
Investor Relations Contact
Anshul Maheshari
Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations
+1 (650) 424-6081
investors@varian.com
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SOURCE Varian