Taiwan-Developed AB-BNCT Technology Showcased at 2025 Healthcare Expo; President Lai Visits Heron Neutron Booth

 Source: Economic Daily News (Taiwan) 

At the opening of the 2025 Healthcare Expo, President William Lai visited the exhibition booth of Heron Neutron Medical Corp. to learn about Taiwan’s latest progress and strategic vision in the development of a large-scale, domestically developed radiation therapy system — Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (AB-BNCT).

 

 

 Heron Neutron presented that Taiwan’s strong clinical environment and solid research and development capabilities position the country to become a key hub for global BNCT clinical advancement. 

The company’s self-developed neutron irradiation system obtained TFDA medical device approval in June 2024. In parallel, boron-containing drugs are currently undergoing clinical evaluation in collaboration with Taipei Veterans General Hospital and China Medical University Hospital, providing compassionate treatment opportunities for patients with advanced cancers who have exhausted standard treatment options. 

Based on accumulated clinical experience in Taiwan and international research findings, BNCT has demonstrated significant therapeutic potential for hard-to-treat cancers. Its clinical indications are expected to expand beyond head and neck cancers and brain tumors to include thoracic and spinal tumors in the future. 

AB-BNCT is a next-generation, highly selective radiotherapy technology. It involves the administration of boron-containing agents that preferentially accumulate boron-10 within tumor cells. Upon neutron irradiation, nuclear reactions occur locally within cancer cells, releasing high-linear-energy-transfer (high-LET) particles that precisely destroy tumor cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues. 

Heron Neutron is the first company in Taiwan, and one of the few worldwide, to provide an integrated AB-BNCT solution. Its offerings encompass self-developed AB-BNCT systems, boron drugs, treatment planning systems, patient positioning systems, radiation shielding engineering, and clinical application support, forming a comprehensive AB-BNCT industry ecosystem in Taiwan. 

With the successful development of high-performance neutron irradiation systems, Heron Neutron continues to strengthen its presence in the Asian market while actively expanding into European and North American markets through strategic partnerships.