Varian Medical Systems and Siemens Healthcare have signed a strategic global partnership to provide advanced diagnostic and therapeutic solutions and services for treating cancer with image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery. The collaboration covers the mutual marketing and representation of products for imaging and treatment in the global radiation oncology business. This collaboration further comprises the development of software interfaces between Siemens and Varian treatment systems. The two companies will also investigate opportunities for joint development of new products for image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery.

Under the agreement, Varian will represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products such as CT, PET/CT, or MRI to radiation oncology clinics around the world beginning immediately in most international markets and expanding to North America later this year. Siemens Healthcare will similarly represent Varian equipment and software for radiotherapy and radiosurgery within its offerings to its health care customers. This will enable the companies to offer solutions to support the entire clinical workflow from imaging to treatment.

Furthermore, Varian and Siemens will develop interfaces that will enable connecting Varian’s ARIA oncology information system software with Siemens accelerators and imaging systems to give clinics more options for improving workflow and streamlining their operations. The collaboration enables Varian and Siemens to co-develop and offer cancer treatment centers new imaging and treatment solutions utilizing the strengths and technology of both companies.