IBA will equip the new center with its Proteus(R)PLUS two-gantry room configuration, including its next generation Pencil Beam Scanning and Cone Beam CT (CBCT) capabilities.

The contract, as noted in IBA's press release dated June 20th, 2014, will also include a long-term operation and maintenance agreement. The equipment and services that will be supplied by IBA are worth approximately EUR 50 million to IBA.

Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: "Following a rigorous public tender process, we are delighted that IBA has been selected as the best proton therapy provider to build the first ever proton therapy center in The Netherlands. More than half of the worldwide proton therapy market is equipped by IBA. Over 40,000 patients have been treated by IBA systems - more than all major competitive installations combined.

Thanks to our unique experience, we are committed to supporting UMCG to provide high-quality cancer treatment to more patients across the region."

"The professional support and responsiveness that IBA has demonstrated throughout our demanding tender procedure give us confidence in a successful and long lasting collaboration with them. We are now eager to see the Proton Therapy center opening its doors in 2017 and to provide this technology for the benefit of thousands of cancer patients in Holland", said Bert-Jan Souman, Managing Director of the ProtonTherapyCenterGroningen at the UMCG.

     About Proton Therapy

Proton Therapy is considered the most advanced and targeted cancer radiotherapy 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, sparing healthy surrounding tissue. Higher doses can be delivered to the tumor without increasing the risk of side effects and long-term complications, thereby improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Today, more than half of all proton therapy clinical facilities worldwide are equipped with IBA systems. This includes 18 proton therapy centers currently in operation and 16 additional centers under development.

While proton therapy today represents less than 1% of radiotherapy treatments, studies estimate that more than 17% of patients treated by radiotherapy would benefit from being treated by this technique.