May 16, 2017 — Proton International announced the successful financing of a new state-of-the-art radiation therapy center and a pioneering approach to proton center financing provided and coordinated by Loop Capital.
Together the partners have taken a significant step forward to assure the residents of South Florida will have access to improved radiation therapy capabilities. The Delray Radiation facility on the campus of Delray Medical Center, will offer the most advanced forms of external beam therapy including spot-scanning and intensity modulated proton therapy along with traditional radiation technologies. With the financing complete, construction will soon begin. The 40,000-square-foot facility will also include physician offices, a minor procedure room, advanced treatment planning, anesthesia for pediatric patients and clinical examination rooms. The facility will be open for photon patients in 2018 and proton patients in 2019.
“After working diligently for over ten years to bring proton therapy to the Palm Beach County area, Proton International, Varian Medical Systems, Loop Capital and Delray Medical Center proved to be the ideal team who finally brought the dedication, commitment, and vision necessary to complete the project,” said Tim Williams, M.D., past-president of the American Society for Radiation Oncology, who will serve as the medical director of the center. He added, “The Varian intensity modulated proton therapy with its spot scanning capabilities, advanced targeting system and sophisticated treatment planning computers will bring absolutely the latest, best, and most advanced technology to the patients in the South Florida area.”
“This is a forward-thinking, patient-centric approach to creating a radiation treatment center,” said Chris Chandler, CEO, who founded Proton International after developing, opening and overseeing the operation of some of the first proton centers in the U.S. and Europe. “Patients throughout South Florida will benefit from not only the comprehensive approach the Delray Facility is taking but the commitment being made by the physicians to advancing this field of medicine.” As the proton industry continues to expand, this facility will be one of the few to establish a unique one-room proton therapy approach integrated on-site with traditional radiation. “We are focused on offering clinically relevant and appropriate services in a financially responsible manner,” said Chandler.
The center will also have participating neurosurgeons. "The Varian proton beam is the latest and most advanced technology," said David Sachs, M.D., a neurosurgeon who has practiced in South Palm Beach County for more than 25 years. "The high precision of pencil beam spot scanning proton therapy offers the opportunity for better outcomes in patients with spine and brain tumors. I look forward to working with Varian Medical Systems, Proton International and Loop Capital to bring this important technology to our patients."
Proton therapy uses highly precise proton beams instead of traditional X-rays to attack tumors. Protons are mainly being used to treat tumors of the brain and central nervous system, spine, head and neck, lung, prostate, liver, gastrointestinal tract and colon, and some breast tumors.
Protons are widely used to treat children, who are particularly sensitive to the effects of radiation therapy. Because of its precision in targeting tumors, proton therapy greatly reduces damage to nearby healthy tissue, which is the cause of most short- and long-term side effects, including cancer recurrence later in life.
The facility will be located on the campus of Delray Medical Center assuring all patients have access to one of the best comprehensive hospitals in the region. This program will be carefully integrated with the programs and services of the hospital.
The Delray Radiation Facility will participate in national clinical radiation trials to add to the body of knowledge in this discipline. All proton therapy patients will have access to a National Registry Trial that will track outcomes and allow retrospective research and analysis.
The center will employ Varian Medical Systems technology. The Varian ProBeam Compact system is a single-room system capable of fully rotational intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Treatments can be delivered with speed, flexibility and cost efficiency. The full-featured ProBeam Compact includes a cyclotron, Varian's Dynamic Peak scanning technology for IMPT, a fully rotational gantry, robotic patient positioning tools and a comprehensive suite of motion management tools.
The project was able to benefit from a unique and efficient financing solution engineered by Loop Capital. Previous projects in the industry have suffered due to inefficient and short-term financing programs. Proton International has relied upon Loop Capital to work with them to refine and improve proton center financing options. There will be more announcements in the coming year with Loop and Proton International project funding.
For more information: www.varian.com
March 28, 2024 
