Developer of the compact linear proton therapy system LIGHT for radiation oncology.
Advanced Oncotherapy plc (in Administration)
London (Headquarters) · Meyrin/Geneva (R&D, ADAM SA) · Warrington (Testing & Assembly, STFC Daresbury Laboratory) · Rotterdam (EU Office) · Syracuse, NY (US Office)New on Amplifa
About Advanced Oncotherapy
Advanced Oncotherapy plc (AVO) is a British medical technology manufacturer developing the LIGHT system, a compact linear proton accelerator system for tumor therapy. The technology is based on around 25 years of research at CERN and at ADAM; the company was spun out of CareCapital Group plc in 2013 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM). The LIGHT system dispenses with a cyclotron or synchrotron and integrates the proton source, RFQ (CERN), SCDTL (ENEA), CCL (TERA), dose delivery (nozzle), patient positioning and imaging into a turnkey treatment solution. The manufacturing and testing of the accelerator structures is carried out jointly with partners, while the assembly and testing of complete systems takes place at the STFC Daresbury Laboratory site near Warrington. Reference partners include The London Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, the Mediterranean Hospital of Limassol and the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Since 30 May 2024, the company has been in Administration (a restructuring procedure) under the Joint Administrators David Hudson and Ian Corfield.
- Site
- W1G 6BH London
- Processes
- Proton therapy system development (LIGHT system), Assembly and testing of LIGHT systems (Assembly, Verification & Validation), Manufacturing of accelerating structures, Development and delivery of proton therapy systems (LIGHT), Assembly and testing of the systems, Financing partnerships for customers (leasing with Kineo Finance)
- Materials
- Hydrogen, Radiofrequency Quadrupole (RFQ), Side Coupled Drift Tube Linac (SCDTL), Coupled Cavity Linac (CCL), Patient Positioning System
- Certificates
- ISO 13485:2016
- Industries
- Medical technology, Radiation therapy/oncology
- 01
Development of the accelerator structures (proton source, RFQ, SCDTL, CCL)
- 02
Manufacturing of critical hardware components with partners (including CERN,
- 03
Assembly and integration of the subsystems at the Daresbury site
- 04
Verification & validation (vacuum tests, high-voltage conditioning, beam tests)
- 05
Installation and commissioning at clinical partners
- 06
Service and financing partnerships (e.g. Kineo Finance)
Technology & Components
Hydrogen
Feedstock of the proton source, which generates up to 200 proton pulses per second.
Radiofrequency Quadrupole (RFQ)
Compact accelerator module developed by CERN that accelerates protons to 5 MeV over 2 m.
Side Coupled Drift Tube Linac (SCDTL)
Accelerating section designed by ENEA for the low-velocity range of the LIGHT system.
Coupled Cavity Linac (CCL)
High-velocity accelerating structures designed by TERA, tested up to 74 MeV in the LIBO experiment.
Patient Positioning System
Robotic arm, CT scanner and optical cameras for precise patient positioning in the treatment room.
Sites
London (Harley Street)
GBHeadquarters; site of the first proton center (15,000 sq ft, 50-year lease, operator: The London Clinic)
Meyrin
CHR&D Facility (ADAM SA)
- Proton source
- RFQ
- SCDTL
- CCL (test section)
Warrington
GBTesting & Assembly (STFC Daresbury Laboratory)
- Power transformer (8 t)
- Patient Positioning System
- Vacuum and high-voltage test infrastructure
Rotterdam
NLEU Office (Advanced Oncotherapy B.V.)
Syracuse, NY
USUS Office (Advanced Oncotherapy Americas Inc)
System Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton therapy system development (LIGHT system)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Hydrogen (proton source) |
| Assembly and testing of LIGHT systems (Assembly, Verification & Validation)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing of accelerating structuresEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
6 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linear accelerator module (RFQ, radio-frequency quadrupole) | CERN RFQ | – | 5 MeV over 2 m | – | Geneva / Daresbury |
| Side Coupled Drift Tube Linac (SCDTL) | ENEA SCDTL | – | – | – | – |
| Coupled Cavity Linac (CCL) | TERA CCL / LIBO | – | tested up to 74 MeV | – | – |
| Proton source | – | – | up to 200 proton pulses/second | – | – |
| Patient Positioning System (robotic arm, CT scanner, optical cameras) | – | – | – | – | Daresbury |
| Power transformer | – | 1 | – | – | Daresbury |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certification
Advanced Oncotherapy and ADAM S.A. have been certified to ISO 13485:2016 for medical devices since January 2019; recertification took place in 2021. The systems are assembled, verified and validated at the Daresbury site, including ultra-high vacuum tests and high-voltage conditioning of the accelerator structures.
| Evidence | London (Harley Street) | Meyrin | Warrington | Rotterdam | Syracuse, NY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 13485:2016 |
Company History
- 2013
Renaming of CareCapital Group plc to Advanced Oncotherapy plc
- 2015
50-year lease agreement for a 15,000 sq ft facility in Harley Street, London
- 2016
Planning permission for Harley Street; integration of proton source and RFQ; capital raise of £13.4 million
- 2017
Agreement with STFC for a UK testing and assembly site; exclusive distribution agreement with Yantai CIPU/Liquid Harmony for China (£16.5 million); first integration of proton source, RFQ and SCDTL
- 2018
Proton beam of 52 MeV achieved; £37 million in equity investments
- 2019
ISO 13485:2016 certification; £16 million in equity and £14 million in debt financing
- 2020
The London Clinic as operator of the Harley Street proton center; sale of a LIGHT system to the Mediterranean Hospital of Limassol (€50 million); completion of the critical hardware for the first system at full energy
- 2021
£46 million in equity; completion of the treatment room and installation of the Patient Positioning System in Daresbury; financing partnership with Kineo Finance; ISO 13485 recertification
- 2022
£19 million in equity; proton beam of 230 MeV generated; beam optimization to submillimeter size; start of the FDA 510(k) process
- 2024
Entry into Administration on 30 May 2024; David Hudson and Ian Corfield appointed as Joint Administrators