MADISON, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin–Madison and TAE Life Sciences, a biotechnology company specializing in targeted radiation therapy for cancer care, have signed a memorandum of understanding, or MOU, announcing the intention to launch the first accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy center in the United States.
As part of this collaboration, the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health would install the Alphabeam compact accelerator-based BNCT system developed by TAE Life Sciences. This significant milestone has the potential to pave the way for the adoption of BNCT in the United States.
The proposal involves collaboration on research and development of Alphabeam and novel boron-10 drugs through pre-clinical and clinical studies on several cancer indications with high unmet need, including brain and head and neck cancers.
BNCT selectively targets cancer cells to minimize impact on healthy surrounding cells. It is available in Japan and is currently being evaluated in clinical trials in several other countries. To date, TAE Life Sciences has installed its neutron beam system in China’s Xiamen Humanity Hospital, which is currently running human clinical trials, and its Alphabeam will soon be installed at Italy’s National Center of Oncological Hadrontherapy.
“Our collaboration with the esteemed University of Wisconsin–Madison underscores the growing momentum and recognition of BNCT as a transformative cancer therapy,” said Robert Hill, CEO, TAE Life Sciences. “By working closely with the university and the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, a leading cancer center renowned for its commitment to innovation, we aim to revolutionize the landscape for cancer treatment, and make even the most challenging cancers treatable with minimal side effects.”
“This collaboration signifies our commitment to cancer clinical trials that will give critical access to experimental treatments for difficult-to-treat brain and head and neck cancers. It is an outstanding opportunity to leverage the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health’s strengths in areas such as oncology, theranostics, particle therapy, clinical research, drug development and medical physics, aligned with our vision of healthy people and healthy communities,” said Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, Dean of the school and Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Alphabeam is a patented neutron source developed for clinical BNCT that uses targeted boron-10 drugs and low-energy neutrons to destroy tumors with no damage to healthy tissues. With this system, patients can undergo a short, minimally invasive treatment in just one or two sessions, providing a streamlined alternative to traditional cancer therapies.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the field of oncology in the United States,” said Dr. Zachary Morris, Chair and Paul Harari Professor of Human Oncology at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
Morris noted that the school’s multidisciplinary strength in theranostics, which involves combining cancer diagnostic and treatment steps into a single stage, offers unique opportunities for research, training and clinical care.
“Our collaboration with TAE Life Sciences brings together our expertise in clinical radiation medicine, translational research, and theranostics with the accelerator-based BNCT system, enabling us to harness the full potential of this advanced cancer treatment,” he said. “Together, we aim to accelerate the development and clinical implementation of this therapy, ultimately providing patients with what we hope will be a markedly improved cancer treatment option that is currently not available anywhere else in North America.”
