IBA Partners with MD Anderson to Assess Clinical and Economic Value of Proton Therapy
On Wednesday, IBA signed a sponsored research agreement with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, aiming to generate robust clinical and economic evidence on the value of proton therapy compared to other cancer treatment modalities.
A Partnership to Evaluate the Economic Viability of Proton Therapy
The agreement connects IBA with two researchers from UT MD Anderson: Dr. Matthew Ning, Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology, and Dr. Iakovos Toumazis, Assistant Professor in Health Services Research. The collaboration will focus on a series of projects aimed at evaluating the cost-effectiveness of proton therapy across various types of cancers, considering clinical outcomes, toxicity reduction, and broader economic impacts.
Researchers will examine the cost-effectiveness of proton therapy compared to alternative treatments, analyze direct and indirect costs from the perspectives of payers, patients, and society, and assess value variations across patient populations and oncological indications.
Precision Radiotherapy and Reduction of Long-Term Side Effects
Proton therapy is one of the most advanced forms of radiotherapy, capable of delivering a highly precise radiation dose to the tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. This precision helps to reduce side effects and long-term toxicity, which are likely to be significant drivers of clinical value and overall health costs.
As health systems and payers increasingly prioritize value-based care, having robust evidence on clinical outcomes, toxicity reduction, and the total cost of care is essential for informing therapeutic decisions, reimbursement discussions, and patient access to treatments.
Improved Access and Responsible Resource Allocation
Olivier Legrain, CEO of IBA, stated: 'Generating high-quality evidence on the clinical and economic value of proton therapy is crucial for supporting informed decision-making, improving patient access, and helping health systems allocate resources responsibly. We are proud to collaborate with these talented scientists from UT MD Anderson on such relevant research.'
The agreement is part of IBA's broader strategy to strengthen its positioning in proton therapy solutions.
