Icon Group and Varian collaborate to tackle the growing cancer burden

MedTech News: Icon Group has signed an agreement with Varian Medical Systems investing in 30 Varian linear accelerators and associated treatment software to help tackle the growing global cancer burden.

This agreement further strengthens the global partnership between Varian and Icon Group, together increasing access to care across regional and underserved areas in Australia and Asia.

The order is comprised of a variety of Varian linear accelerators and software including Halcyon system, TrueBeam and HyperArc. These systems will be installed in new and existing Icon cancer centres in Australia to increase capacity and broaden patient access, as well as in cancer centres in Singapore and Mainland China.

Icon Group CEO, Mark Middleton said this investment represents the group’s commitment to addressing the increasing global cancer burden.

“Icon has come out of the worst of COVID strong and this significant investment in radiation technology signifies Icon’s inexhaustible drive to increase access to cancer care and bring more care to people who need it most.”

The 30 new linacs will be installed across a range of Icon centres, including existing cancer centres to increase capacity, new Australian regional centres and centres in Singapore and Mainland China. There are current concerns the reduction in cancer diagnosis due to COVID-19 lockdowns will cause a ‘tsunami of cancer’ which will result in further demand for treatment facilities. Installing Varian technology into Mainland China is particularly important with large populations currently without access to advanced radiation therapy treatments, often resulting in radical surgeries with poorer outcomes, or patients deciding to forego treatment all together.

“We are proud of our global partnership with Varian which continues to help meet our long-term goal of increasing access to cancer care to regional and rural Australia and deliver a world-class level of care to more communities across Asia. Together we are bringing new standards of care to the field of radiation oncology and paving the path to a world where cancer is no longer a burden; where people have every opportunity to fight cancer no matter where they live.”

Icon continues to play a paramount role in the development of radiation oncology treatments and has been an early adopter of Varian technologies over the years, including the first in Australasia to install the Varian Halcyon radiotherapy system and first in Australia to install and treat with HyperArc technology – benefitting patients with multiple tumours in the brain.

Icon Group is also a member of the Varian Adaptive Intelligence Consortium, alongside other peak international bodies, to collaboratively develop clinical and technical aspects of Ethos therapy and wider radiation therapy treatments and techniques that will continue to evolve cancer care.