Elekta has issued an announcement about its plans for Atlantic, the company’s first-generation, high field MRI-guided radiation therapy system. The company provided an update of its research and development activities, and unveiled its goal to introduce its MRI-guided technology in 2017, with anticipated deliveries of the first systems in 2018.
“We are pleased with the progress we are making, closely cooperating with our clinical partners in the Atlantic consortium and our MRI technology partner Philips,” said Niklas Savander, president and CEO of Elekta. “We are creating a new paradigm within the field of radiation therapy and a superior approach to treating cancer. Consequently, I expect Atlantic will positively impact the treatment patients receive, the cancer centers that deliver it, and the market potential for radiation therapy.”
The company believes its high field MRI-guided linear accelerator will bring a number of benefits, including gentler treatment, fewer side effects with potential for better outcomes, and lower costs. According to Elekta’s announcement, Savander anticipates that high field MRI-guided radiation therapy will be the standard of care within the next 10 years. He also indicated that the price of an MRI-guided radiation therapy system will be about four times the price of Elekta’s current high-end treatment machine, Versa HD.
The first commercial orders are expected in 2017, with deliveries in 2018, subject to the applicable regulatory clearances. Elekta estimates there will be 75 orders and deliveries during the ramp-up phase, which is expected to continue until 2019. For more information about Elekta’s research and development updates, and the Atlantic MRI-guided radiation therapy system, visit the Elekta website.
