Alabama's Only Proton Therapy Center Treats First Patient with Varian ProBeam

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.

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SOURCE Varian