Nucletron strengthens position in cancer radiation therapy market
29 June 2009
Dutch radiation therapy systems company Nucletron BV has announced the creation of an exclusive partnership and plan to merge with sector peer Isodose Control BV for an undisclosed sum.
The two companies, headquartered in Veenendaal and Ede, the Netherlands, are complementary and consider that the combination will strengthen Nucletron's position as global leader in the market for high-precision radiation therapy equipment and software, or brachytherapy.
"By combining strengths we will become the undisputed global market leader in brachytherapy, which offers quality, safe and effective treatment options for the most frequently occurring kinds of cancer," said Jos Lamers, CEO of Nucletron.
Nucletron is the world's number one medical equipment provider in the brachytherapy market, with a strong focus on customer support; Isodose Control has grown in six years to become number three and has an impressive product innovation track record.
"Isodose Control has developed a range of innovative brachytherapy products and has a promising range in development. Together with Nucletron, we look forward to speeding up the market introductions of these innovations to healthcare institutions and their patients worldwide," said Eric van't Hooft, CEO of Isodose Control BV.
Van't Hooft in fact founded Nucletron in 1975 and built it into a successful technology company, before merging it to Dutch stock exchange-listed Delft Instruments NV in 1994. Van't Hooft left nine years later to found Isodose Control in 2003.
Van't Hooft, who was awarded a knighthood and the title Commander in the order of the Dutch Lion for his services to science, will become a member of the Executive Management team of Nucletron and will hold the title of Founder.
Nucletron reported a record EBITDA of €17 million on net sales of €112.4 million in 2008.
Growing demand for cancer radiation therapy
According to the World Health Organisation, new cases of cancer will jump from 11.3 million in 2007 to 15.5 million in 2030, influenced in part by an increasing and aging global population.
The global market for radiation therapy equipment is projected to reach $3.9 billion by 2015, according to estimates by Global Industry Analysts.
Brachytherapy is regarded as one of the best treatment options for a growing range of cancer types, including cancer of the prostate, breast and cervix. The radiation source used for killing the cancer cells and shrinking the tumours is placed in or close to the tumour itself.
This precision approach allows doctors to concentrate the dose of radiation in a smaller area, significantly reducing damage to nearby healthy cells and organs. In addition, there are significantly fewer side effects and treatment times are significantly shorter - usually spanning a few days instead of weeks as required in the case of external beam radiotherapy.
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