Geneva-based Advanced Oncotherapy is one step closer to bringing its Linac Image Guided Hadron Technology (LIGHT) proton therapy system to market. It is partnering with an Italian company called TSC to construct and test its innovative linear accelerator.

When combined, the four Side Coupled Drift Tube Linacs (SCDTL) will accelerate protons from 5 Mega-electron volts (MeV) to 37.5 MeV, representing a midway point in the acceleration of the protons.

In the LIGHT system, the Radio Frequency Quadruple (RFQ) will initially accelerate the protons up to 5 MeV before moving them to the SCDTL. After they reach 37.5 MeV the protons transition to the Coupled Cavity Linac (CCL) where acceleration is further increased to the required speed for effective proton therapy.
"The first SCDTL testing is another key step toward the successful delivery of our first LIGHT system and I am very pleased that we continue to develop the LIGHT system in line with the timetable that we outlined to investors last year and have reiterated recently," said Sanjeev Pandya, CEO of Advanced Oncotherapy, in a statement.

"We remain on schedule for first patient treatment in 2017 and well-funded to deliver this to plan," he added.

The company — which expects to compete in the compact proton therapy segment — has already signed a purchase agreement with Sinophi Healthcare in China, and has other purchase agreements in various stages of development.

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