Neutron Therapeutics and Helsinki University Hospital have completed treating the first cancer patients in Europe using accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT).
The BNCT therapy targets tumours with epithermal neutrons activating a boron compound, selectively destroying cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Unlike traditional radiation or chemotherapy, BNCT requires only one or two sessions and aims to minimise patient disruption.
The treatment is part of a ten-patient study focusing on the safety of BNCT for locally recurrent head and neck cancer.
The study employs Neutron Therapeutics’ nuBeam device, a compact neutron source used with a boron-carrying drug.
Neutron Therapeutics co-founder Bill Buckley said: “Neutron Therapeutics is proud to help bring BNCT to the Western world, where no one has received this promising treatment for many years due to the decommissioning of reactor-based BNCT facilities.
“We look to a future where BNCT may be an alternative for patients whose disease does not respond to conventional forms of treatment. We are grateful to partner with the clinical team at Helsinki University Hospital, who bring decades of clinical experience to this endeavour.”
The Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Helsinki University Hospital, a hub for BNCT research since 1992, is the first European facility to house the nuBeam Suite.
The suite includes a neutron source, patient positioning and imaging capabilities, treatment control software, and treatment planning software.
Neutron Therapeutics plans to seek a CE mark upon completion of clinical validation.
Neutron Therapeutics is also engaging with academic medical centres in the US to introduce this innovative cancer therapy to American patients.
The company is a provider of BNCT systems, with its flagship nuBeam platform offering an in-hospital neutron source, replacing the need for a nuclear reactor.
Helsinki University Hospital has been a pioneer in BNCT, treating over 200 patients using a research nuclear reactor.
With the nuBeam Suite, the hospital continues to lead in developing clinical applications for various cancer indications, becoming Europe’s first accelerator-based BNCT practitioner.
Helsinki University Hospital comprehensive cancer center director Johanna Mattson said: “We are excited to take this first clinical step towards making BNCT available to the people of Finland and ultimately Europe and beyond.
“This clinical trial addresses an area of significant unmet need. Our hospital’s experience with BNCT makes us well-positioned to carry out this study and the subsequent trials that we hope will bring this therapy to many more patients with different types of solid tumours.”
