Varian announced its partnership with Proton Therapy Pte., Ltd, the completion of the cyclotron installation for the Varian ProBeam^® Compact single-room proton therapy system at Biopolis, an international biomedical research hub. The cyclotron is a core piece of equipment in the ProBeam proton therapy system. This installation marks a key milestone for the first proton therapy center in Singapore, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand.

Proton therapy is an advanced form of cancer care. 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. The Varian ProBeam Compact system is a single-room system equipped with a 360-degree gantry for intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

Unlike other compact systems available today, the cyclotron in the Varian ProBeam Compact system is the same high-power unit used in centers conducting pioneering research into Flash therapy. This therapy is a non-invasive treatment using an external beam delivered in high doses, at ultra-high speeds (less than 1 second), and in one to three sessions. It represents an exciting and potentially promising new direction in the treatment of cancer.

"This installation of the ProBeam Compact proton therapy system means we are much closer to making our dream of an advanced cancer treatment center in Singapore a reality," said Dr. Djeng Shih Kien, chairman, Proton Therapy Pte., Ltd. "As we move closer to the completion of this center, we are excited by the opportunity to offer highly precise proton therapy treatments to patients across the region."