Swiss precision imaging device for cancer treatment ready for S. Korea trials

In March, Severance Hospital introduced a carbon ion therapy machine, a new technology aimed at enhancing cancer treatment by offering more precise tumor targeting. Unlike proton therapy, which uses hydrogen ions, carbon ion therapy is considered more potent, as carbon ions are heavier and deliver a stronger impact on cancer cells. The journal Nature has described this technology as offering “sniper-like” accuracy in targeting cancer cells.

To enhance the precision of carbon ion therapy, Severance Hospital has partnered with Swiss medical imaging company Terapet. Terapet’s gamma-ray detection device, Qualyscan, provides accurate imaging support during treatment, which enables targeted application. “With support from both the Korean and Swiss governments, we collaborated with Severance Hospital to install Qualyscan,” said Christina Vallgren, CEO and co-founder of Terapet, in an interview with ChosunBiz on Oct. 30. She described Qualyscan as a “dream imaging device” for carbon ion therapy.

Founders of Terapet, from left to right: Marcus Palm, chief technology officer; Dr. Raymond Miralbell, chief strategy officer; and Christina Vallgren, CEO./Lee Byung-chul

Based in Geneva, Terapet was founded in 2019 by Vallgren, Chief Technology Officer Marcus Palm and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Raymond Miralbell, an oncology specialist. “The carbon ion therapy machine is effective for cancer treatment, but uncertainty remains about exactly where in the body it is targeting. That’s why we created Terapet—to enhance equipment for cancer patients,” Palm said.

Qualyscan uses gamma-ray detection technology from CERN to provide real-time, accurate internal imaging during radiation therapy. Unlike PET scanners, which are used only for diagnostics, Qualyscan detects gamma rays emitted during therapy, allowing doctors to adjust treatment in real time.

Since September, Terapet and Severance Hospital have been testing Qualyscan’s capabilities using phantoms, models resembling the human body that are used to evaluate imaging performance. The technology is expected to be applied to real patients next year, with clinical trials planned for 2025.

Qualyscan model and certificate of patent received in South Korea./Lee Byung-chul

Terapet’s founders expect that pediatric cancer patients, who face potential long-term side effects, may especially benefit from the precision offered by Qualyscan. “With precise targeting, proton and carbon ion therapy can potentially reduce side effects in young patients who have longer life expectancies,” Miralbell said.

Terapet also plans to expand partnerships with other hospitals in South Korea, which has a concentration of proton and carbon ion therapy facilities. Vallgren noted that “Seoul’s concentration of advanced therapy facilities positions South Korea as a strategic location for entering the Asian market, where we hope to make these technologies accessible to more patients.”