About Us - Leo Cancer Care : Leo Cancer Care

Challenging the conventions of radiotherapy

Leo Cancer Care is committed to challenging the conventions of radiotherapy by reintroducing the practice of treating patients in an upright position.

Inspired by pioneering methods dating back to the 1940s, we aim to transform modern cancer treatment.
Following in the footsteps of historic trailblazers who never stopped asking “why,” we recognize that upright radiotherapy is not a new concept. We will ensure that history’s lessons inform our future breakthroughs.

Today, we believe we are at the forefront of an upright resurgence. We will continue to challenge the norm, never stop asking “why,” and always strive to find a better way for those who need it most.

Make cancer care more human

Cancer is a leveller; It affects lives indiscriminately, reminding us that we are all human. At our core, we believe in the innate human instinct to care for one another, especially when life becomes fragile.

Our focus is and will always be the people living with cancer, cancer treatment is a difficult time for any patient. That’s why Leo Cancer Care is working to make radiotherapy a less daunting, more comfortable and more human experience, for as many patients as possible.

We are dedicated to strive for more efficient treatments, in our natural position aiming to spare healthy tissue, and expanding the reach of care to places it has never been before.

“More human” is our north star, guiding us on our journey to unlock the full potential of upright radiotherapy.

Timeline

From office chair to upright radiotherapy reality

2016

In Australia, where our journey began, the aim was to minimize the size and cost of a LINAC by fixing the radiation source and reducing shielding. Though horizontal patient rotation wasn’t adopted, due to patient feedback and anatomical motion concerns, it sparked the key idea of rotating the patient instead.

2017

After deciding to fix the radiation beam and rotate the patient, we shifted to an upright approach. This led to a concept resembling a chair, and the development of our upright patient positioning system began with a modified office chair.

Office chair tested for upright radiotherapy

2018

Conversations with clinicians, physicists, engineers, and patients about improving radiation therapy workflow guided our design from a desk chair on a pallet, to more patient-centred product renders and early concepts.

2019

By 2019, we recognized the need for an upright imaging system to complement our patient positioning system. As our system evolved, we developed a prototype, testing it with immobilization devices to gather data and refine the design with a patient-centered approach.

2020

After securing initial funding, top engineers and physicists across the UK and US came together to develop a cutting-edge system. The UK team focused on developing the upright patient positioning system, while the US team worked on the imaging system.

2021

We installed our first upright patient positioning system at Centre Léon Bérard Hospital, France. This year, we raised $25.3 million in Series B funding to expand development and debuted as Leo Cancer Care at ESTRO and ASTRO industry events.

2022

In 2022, we unveiled the Marie prototype at ESTRO, partnered with McLaren Proton Therapy Center and UW Health, and launched the S-250FIT with Mevion. Research highlighted the potential benefits of treating pelvic and prostate cancers in the upright position.

2023

In 2023, installations of our Marie soulition began at McLaren Proton Therapy Center and UW Health. We also expanded our partnerships, collaborating with TheryQ, Aviko Radiopharmaceuticals, and Neutron Therapeutics, opening the door to new treatment modalities in the upright position.