IBA SA : First Patient Treated with IBA's Proton Therapy Compact Solution Proteus®ONE at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center

First Patient Treated with IBA's Proton Therapy Compact Solution Proteus^®ONE at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA, September 12^th, 2014: IBA (Ion Beam Applications SA), the world's leading provider of proton therapy solutions for the treatment of cancer, announces that the first patient has been treated with IBA's compact proton therapy solution, Proteus^®ONE*, at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center (WKCC) in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. 

The patient received Image Guided Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) treatment on 9 September 2014, three months ahead of schedule. IBA believes that the treatment of the first ever patient on the compact, more affordable system, Proteus^®ONE, will accelerate the take-up of proton therapy in the US and beyond.

IBA's compact system is a highly differentiated offering, not only is it smaller, less expensive, and faster to install than other proton therapy systems, it encompasses the latest in targeted proton therapy technologies, including IBA's IMPT, and adaPTinsight, the most advanced image guidance platform for proton therapy. IBA received Marketing Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2014 and CE mark for its Compact Gantry Beam Line in September 2014.

The first patient treatment occurred less than 14 months after arrival of the equipment on site, faster than any competitive solution in the market. This underscores IBA's ability to deliver proton therapy swiftly and reliably to its customers all over the world. In addition to the WKCC, four other Proteus^®ONE systems have been sold in Nice (France), Taiwan (ROC) and two in Japan and IBA anticipates that the international interest in Proteus^®ONE will continue to build momentum.

Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA commented: "We are delighted that the first ever patient has been treated with our cutting edge compact Proteus^®ONE system ahead of schedule.  This is a significant milestone for IBA and demonstrates to our customers the benefits of choosing IBA. This speed of delivery further bolsters our conviction that Proteus^®ONE will be a significant driver of proton therapy adoption worldwide. We are delighted to be working with the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center to bring proton therapy to more patients in the US."

"This is a major step in the treatment of cancer," said Lane R. Rosen, MD, Director of Radiation Oncology at the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center. "We are very excited to have Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy become an available option for our patients. Willis-Knighton and the IBA team have worked together at every step of the process to ensure a smooth transition from installation to system commissioning and treatment. We are proud to have set a new record in the installation and start-up of compact proton therapy systems and we are delighted to be able to offer this cutting-edge cancer therapy to our community."

Proteus^®ONE unique Ambient Experience designed with Philips is setting a new industry standard in Design and Clinical workflow, as was recognized by two major Design Awards in 2014. The Proteus^®ONE at Willis Knighton received an iF Design award, as well as a Red Dot, Best of the Best 2014 award, making it the only product in radiation therapy to be recognized by this prestigious prizes.

According to Greg Sonnenfeld, Willis-Knighton's Cancer Center Administrator, "It is amazing how this complex technology comes together and integrates seamlessly in a smooth and clean workflow for our patients. It is really important as it makes the patient more comfortable and reduces their anxiety."

* Proteus^®ONE is the brand name of a new configuration of the Proteus^® 235.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a cancer diagnostics and treatment equipment company, and the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, the most advanced form of radiotherapy available today.

The Company's primary expertise lies in the development of next generation proton therapy technologies that provide oncology care providers with premium quality services and equipment.  IBA's proton therapy solutions are scalable and adaptable, offering universal full scale proton therapy centers as well as next generation compact, single room solutions.  IBA also focuses on the development and supply of dosimetry solutions for Quality Assurance of medical equipment and increased patient safety as well as particle accelerators for medical and industrial applications.

Headquartered in Belgium and employing more than 1,000 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 the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center
Located in Shreveport Louisiana, the Willis-Knighton Cancer Center (WKCC) is the region's premier cancer treatment facility. WKCC provides a wide range of treatment options for cancer patients including radiation oncology, medical oncology and hematology, surgical oncology and gynecologic oncology. The Cancer Center provides diagnostic services such as PET, X-ray, CT and laboratory. It also offers support groups, counseling, nutritional and educational resources, and community education programs. More information can be found at www.wkhs.com/cancer.