IBA SA Signs Contract With Apollo Hospitals to Install the First Proton Therapy Center In India

IBA Signs Contract With Apollo Hospitals to Install the First Proton Therapy Center In India

Contract worth approximately EUR 50 million to IBA, including a long-term operation and maintenance contract

Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, January 21, 2013 - IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.), the global high-tech leader in next generation radiation therapy and diagnostics for the treatment of cancer, is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Apollo Hospitals, Asia's largest integrated healthcare group and India's no.1 private hospital, to establish the first proton therapy center in India. The equipment and services supplied by IBA to the upcoming Apollo proton therapy center is worth approximately EUR 50 million to IBA, is fully financed and includes a long-term operation and maintenance contract.

IBA will equip the new center with its Proteus^®PLUS multi-room configuration which will include three treatment rooms, with Pencil Beam Scanning capability.  IBA will also provide all dosimetry equipment to ensure the safest and fastest commissioning of the center so that patients can benefit from proton therapy from 2016.

Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: "We are very excited to be making proton therapy available for the first time in India.  The Indian healthcare market is growing rapidly and there is a significant need for innovative approaches to cancer therapy. Apollo Hospitals is one of Asia's leading healthcare providers and through our collaboration, IBA further strengthens its world leading position in proton therapy and will be at the forefront of delivering the latest in innovative cancer therapy to the Asia region."

"This new proton therapy facility will give patients access to the most advanced radiation therapy technology," said Dr. Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group. "Moreover, the center will become an International Proton Therapy Center of Reference in Asia, allowing to further enhance our ability to provide superior cancer care and promote the benefits of proton therapy technology across the sub-continent."

With approximately three million people suffering from cancer in India and one million new cases detected every year, there is a need for specialty cancer treatment hospitals. As most patients are diagnosed with advanced stage cancer, the demand for state-of-the-art cancer treatment is high. The Indian market therefore presents a very exciting opportunity for IBA, in collaboration with private players like Apollo Hospitals, to address this growing need for high quality treatment.

About Proton Therapy
Proton therapy is increasingly considered the most advanced and targeted cancer treatment due to its superior dose distribution and fewer side effects. Protons deposit the majority of their effective energy within a precisely controlled range, directly within the tumor and sparing healthy surrounding tissue. Proton therapy is used today to treat many cancers and is particularly appropriate in situations where treatment options are limited and conventional radiation therapy presents risks to patients. These situations include eye and brain cancers, tumors close to the brain stem and spinal cord, prostate, liver, lung and breast cancers and pediatric cancers.

As access to proton therapy increases in Europe and across the world, IBA continues to demonstrate compassionate innovations with more patient-friendly treatment rooms and more precise therapies. To date, IBA proton systems are part of more than half of the world's clinically based proton therapy facilities. They include 13 operational proton therapy centers worldwide and 12 more centers in development.

About IBA 
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.), is a cancer diagnostics and treatment company and the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy. The company's expertise lies in the development of next generation proton therapy technologies and radiopharmaceuticals that provide oncology care providers with premium quality services and equipment, including IBA's leading fully integrated IntegraLab^® radiopharmacy system, and dosimetry advanced solutions for Quality Assurance of medical equipment and increased patient safety.

Headquartered in Belgium and employing more than 1,200 people worldwide, IBA currently has installed systems across Europe and the US and is expanding into emerging markets. The company is focused on building sustainable global growth for investors, providing solutions in the fight against cancer.

IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT. (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB) and more information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com

About Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. (AHEL)
It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap C Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India's first corporate hospital - Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Now, as Asia largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes over 8,500 beds across 50 Hospitals, 1,350 Pharmacies, 100 primary care and diagnostic Clinics, 100 Telemedicine units across 9 countries, medical business process outsourcing services, Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy, 15 colleges of Nursing and Hospital Management and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell and genetic research.

In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo Hospitals' contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 29 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.

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