Quebec-based CDL Laboratories to build $70 M state-of-the-art Proton Therapy cancer centre in Montreal, the first of its kind in Canada Français
MONTREAL, Aug. 22, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - CDL Laboratories, a subsidiary of CDL Group (CDL), is proud to announce a $70 million investment to build a new cancer treatment centre in Montreal. CDL Proton Therapy will be the first proton therapy centre of excellence in Canada, making this world-leading and life changing treatment available for all Canadians. Thanks to a new agreement with the Quebec Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), patients who previously could only seek out the treatment abroad will be treated at the Montreal facility.
State-of-the art cancer treatment, available close to home
Proton therapy is the world's safest and most advanced radiotherapy modality for many types of cancer, using a highly focused proton beam to target tumors directly while sparing nearby healthy tissue. A revolutionary treatment, proton therapy is especially effective for pediatric tumors as well as brain, head and neck cancers. It also dramatically reduces many of the potential late effects of radiation, including the risk of secondary cancers, which makes the therapy much more appealing for the treatment of pediatric cancers.
"We couldn't be prouder than to leverage CDL's 26 years of quality and excellence in bringing this project to life, as we continue to demonstrate our commitment to healthcare in Quebec and beyond," says Laurent Amram, President of CDL Group. "We are affected today by cancer more than ever before and having access to cutting-edge treatment not only benefits those suffering from this terrible disease but society at large."
"Currently, Canadians must seek proton therapy treatment outside of the country, typically in the United States. This new agreement with the MSSS will allow them to be treated with the latest available technology closer to home, rather than enduring costly and time-consuming transfers out of country. Not only will this life-changing treatment be more accessible to those who desperately need it, it will also have a significant positive impact on the family's quality of life as a whole," says Dr. David Roberge, CDL Proton Therapy's Medical Director and Head of Radio-Oncology at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), one of the leading radio-oncology centres in Canada.
Because of its high costs, current proton therapy treatment for Quebec patients in the United States is only reimbursed by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) for specific clinical indications after evaluation by an expert committee. The option for patients to instead pursue treatment at the new CDL Proton Therapy centre in Quebec will reduce proton therapy costs by over 50% per patient for the taxpayer, while making this treatment more accessible to those who would otherwise be restricted by travel or family constraints.
A project based on collaboration
A $70 million investment on behalf of CDL and its partners, CDL Proton Therapy's integrated centre of excellence will also serve as a one of a kind research centre that will collaborate with major University hospitals, adding an important pillar of innovation in cancer care. The project will be undertaken in partnership with the United Kingdom's Proton Partners International (PPI), who will contribute its expertise as the global leader in facility development with the largest network of proton therapy centres, known as The Rutherford Cancer Centres, and will benefit from the most advanced technology from Belgium-based IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.), the worldwide leader in proton therapy technology. While the Quebec Government will not be a direct contributor towards development costs, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux has agreed to terms with CDL Proton Therapy whereby Quebec patients in need of proton therapy treatment will be able to obtain it in Quebec, upon completion of the new facility in Montreal.
A final site for the facility has been identified in a central location on the island of Montreal, with preparatory work slated to begin before year end. CDL Proton Therapy will welcome patients within 2 years from the commencement of construction.
About CDL Group
CDL Group (CDL) is a diversified health care company based out of Montreal, Quebec. The CDL story began 26 years ago with a vision that has enabled CDL Laboratories Inc., a privileged partner of Roche Diagnostics, to become one of Quebec's most distinguished private diagnostic laboratories. Today, CDL is not only home to industry leading excellence in diagnostics, it is also the parent company of ELNA Medical Inc., Quebec's largest network of clinics, with more than 2,000 doctors and 400 clinics welcoming over 3,000 patients per day. CDL is also the founder of Canada's first proton therapy centre of excellence, CDL Proton Therapy Inc.
For more information: www.cdllaboratories.com
About Proton Partners International
Proton Partners International is a private limited company, registered in Wales, at the vanguard of advancing cancer care in the United Kingdom. Proton Partners International is building a series of oncology centres across the UK known as The Rutherford Cancer Centres. The company plans to open eight centres in the next four years and its first centre in Newport, South Wales, is the first in the UK to offer high energy proton beam therapy. Proton Partners International has partnered with world‐leading providers to equip each centre with the very latest cancer technology. For more information: www.therutherford.com
About IBA
IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is a global medical technology company focused on bringing integrated and innovative solutions for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The company is the worldwide technology leader in the field of proton therapy, considered the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. Headquartered in Belgium and employing about 1,500 people worldwide, IBA has installed systems across the world. For more information: www.iba-worldwide.com
SOURCE CDL Laboratories Inc.
Andrew Ross, NATIONAL Public Relations, [email protected], Tel: 514 843-2373, Cel: 514 773-8755
Share this article