United States and Japan - Proton Therapy Market, Patients & Forecast

Proton therapy is a form of particle therapy that has gained wide prominence globally. The first hospital-based proton therapy facility started operations in 1990 at Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC). It remains one of the most comprehensive centers, having treated about 16,884 patients since its inception. Proton therapy carries a price tag as intimidating as its size. Although, still in its infancy, the unprecedented demand of proton therapy for the treatment of cancer has set the platform for the market to move ahead at a rapid pace. The number of centers providing proton therapy in the US is likely to cross 22 by 2017.

The adoption of proton therapy into regular clinical practice may have a significant economic impact. While proton therapy has been used clinically for more than 20 years, the high cost of the technology has made limited access to the treatment. However the scenario is changing, as manufacturers build more compact systems and cost-effective models, which cuts down the initial investment, and enables hospitals to offer a new life saving treatment, often resulting in a better quality of life. The biggest advantage of proton therapy is that it minimizes side effects as well as morbidity rate, resulting in an improved quality of life for patients as compared to photon therapy. The initial cost of treatment with proton therapy is higher than the photon therapy, reduced side-effects results in an overall cost savings over a lifetime.

The adoption of proton therapy is just beginning to blossom, the technology is already advanced on to the next-generation proton therapy technique— Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy IMPT. For example, Mayo Clinic has decided to use IMPT as opposed to scatter-beam therapy. In 2012, over 1.5 Million people were diagnosed with cancer in the US, and of those cases, around 0.3 Million were eligible for proton therapy. However, with limited proton therapy centers in the US, only a limited number of patients were actually able to receive proton therapy treatment. The need is even higher globally. With the rising cancer incidence worldwide the Proton Therapy market is set to fuel in the future.

Proton therapy is the best treatment option available for children, adolescents and adults with cancerous and non-cancerous tumors. Each year, thousands of cancer patients choose proton treatment because of its efficacy, minimal side effects risk, and for the patient’s preserved quality of life during treatment and for years to come. But with limited proton therapy centers in the US, only few patients were able to actually receive proton therapy treatment. The requirement for proton therapy is even greater around the world.  According to Renub Research Proton therapy has become a subject of significant interest in the radiation oncology community. It is anticipated that there will be a substantial growth in proton therapy treatment facilities during the next decade.