MD Anderson and P-Cure start alliance on compact upright proton and helium ion therapy system
UT MD Anderson and P-Cure will test a compact upright platform that could deliver protons or helium ions. Helium work starts with preclinical studies; a clinical system is a long-term goal.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston) and P-Cure Ltd. (Jerusalem) announced a strategic alliance on November 9, 2026, according to newswise.com. Its aim is to develop and clinically validate a particle therapy platform that would deliver both proton and helium ion therapy from a single compact upright system newswise.com
newswise.comnewswise.comOpen source ↗. The partners will evaluate the clinical, biological and operational potential of this dual-modality approach, in which a physician could choose protons or helium ions depending on the characteristics of a patient's disease.
Stages of the programme
Initially the alliance will focus on the clinical value, patient benefits and operational advantages of P-Cure's compact upright proton therapy system, which is FDA-cleared. After that, the partners will run preclinical and clinical programs on helium ion therapy. They intend to establish its therapeutic potential and gather the evidence needed for future clinical adoption, regulatory approvals and reimbursement. If successful, this would be the first helium particle system in North America.
The work includes clinical evaluation of the proton platform, preclinical studies of the biological advantages of helium ions, and later clinical studies to define optimal treatment applications. Under the agreement, MD Anderson is eligible to receive payments tied to clinical milestones and commercial sales.
Why helium ions and a compact design
Particle therapy delivers highly conformal radiation and limits exposure of surrounding healthy tissue. According to the announcement, helium ions may offer improved dose conformity, reduced lateral scattering and enhanced biological effectiveness. The collaboration is meant to determine whether these characteristics translate into better outcomes for patients newswise.com
newswise.comnewswise.comOpen source ↗.
P-Cure develops compact synchrotron-based adaptive proton therapy systems. Its upright architecture is designed to reduce the size, cost, complexity and infrastructure requirements of traditional particle therapy facilities. The company says it is advancing a dual-modality proton and helium synchrotron platform. The long-term goal is a single system that can deliver either particle type.
Steven J. Frank, executive director of technology and innovation for Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson, said the collaboration offers an opportunity to evaluate the platform and to better understand the potential role of helium ion therapy. P-Cure CEO Michael Marash said the aim is to establish clinical evidence for helium ions.
