LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, Belgium — October 21, 2026

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., Euronext: IBA), a global provider of particle accelerator technology and proton therapy solutions, announced that the first patient has been treated in the C-FLASH-01 clinical trial (NCT07644585) at Penn Medicine. The study is the first human feasibility investigation of ConformalFLASH® proton therapy and is being conducted under an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The trial evaluates whether fractionated ConformalFLASH proton therapy can be delivered using Bragg peak proton beams to patients with head and neck cancer who require re-irradiation. The first treatment marks a milestone in the clinical evaluation of FLASH radiotherapy and reflects IBA’s role as the trial sponsor. Through C-FLASH-01, the company aims to generate clinical evidence for an approach designed to combine the precision of proton therapy with ultra-high dose rate radiation delivery. The potential clinical benefits of this technology remain under investigation.

C-FLASH-01 Evaluates Fractionated FLASH Proton Therapy

C-FLASH-01 is designed to assess the feasibility of delivering fractionated ConformalFLASH proton therapy to patients requiring re-irradiation for head and neck cancer who are not suitable for surgical resection. The approach uses Bragg peak proton beams, which are intended to support precise radiation delivery, together with proprietary ConformalFLASH technology designed for ultra-high dose rate treatment. By combining these capabilities, the system aims to deliver highly conformal radiation while investigating the potential of FLASH delivery in a clinical setting. The trial’s initial patient treatment represents a step toward evaluating this technology in humans following earlier research and development. However, the study is a feasibility investigation, and the announcement does not report clinical outcomes or establish whether ConformalFLASH offers improved tumor control, reduced toxicity or other benefits compared with existing treatment approaches. Further clinical evidence will be needed to determine its safety, performance and potential role in cancer care.

Technology Partners Support First Clinical Treatment

IBA highlighted the contributions of several specialized collaborators supporting the C-FLASH-01 treatment. RaySearch Laboratories provides a research version of its FLASH treatment-planning system, while 3D Systems supports the production of patient-specific devices, including the ConformalFLASH® Energy Modulator (CEM). .decimal supplies precision-milled, patient-specific apertures, and IBA Dosimetry develops FLASH-enabled dosimetry solutions, including FLASH Lynx and MatriXX Air. These technologies and capabilities contribute to the treatment-planning, patient-specific equipment and dose-measurement processes required for the clinical investigation. The collaboration brings together expertise in radiation treatment planning, device manufacturing, precision components and dosimetry. According to IBA, this ecosystem supports the translation of ConformalFLASH from research into clinical evaluation. The company expects the evidence generated through the study to inform further development of the technology and its potential integration into clinical proton therapy workflows.

Advertisement

cGxPJobs Banner

IBA Advances Clinical Evaluation of Proton Therapy Innovation

IBA Chief Executive Officer Olivier Legrain said the first treatment represents an important milestone in the company’s work on particle accelerator technology and the development of proton therapy. He emphasized IBA’s role not only in providing technology for innovation but also in actively supporting its clinical evaluation through a sponsored trial conducted with clinical partners. Founded on particle accelerator technology, IBA supplies equipment and services across proton therapy, industrial sterilization, radiopharmaceuticals and dosimetry. The company is headquartered in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, and employs approximately 2,300 people worldwide. It is also a certified B Corporation, meeting verified standards for social and environmental performance. C-FLASH-01 adds to IBA’s clinical research efforts by evaluating an emerging approach to radiation delivery in a patient population requiring re-irradiation. As the study progresses, its findings may help establish the feasibility of fractionated ConformalFLASH proton therapy and guide decisions about future research. The technology remains under clinical investigation, and its potential benefits have not yet been established.

Source::: IBA,,press release