TAE Life Sciences and University of Wisconsin–Madison Collaborate to Bring Revolutionary Accelerator-Based BNCT Cancer Therapy to the U.S.
TAE Life Sciences (TLS), a global innovator in the field of advanced cancer therapies, has joined forces with the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW) to establish the first accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) center in the United States. This collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU), represents a landmark step toward making BNCT—a highly selective, next-generation cancer treatment—available to patients in North America. By combining TAE Life Sciences’ cutting-edge Alphabeam accelerator technology with UW’s renowned research capabilities, the initiative aims to transform the therapeutic landscape for some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers.
The partnership will focus on installing TAE Life Sciences’ Alphabeam compact accelerator-based BNCT system at UW, marking the first deployment of such a system in the United States. BNCT is a targeted radiotherapy that leverages the unique properties of boron-10—a non-radioactive isotope of boron—together with low-energy neutrons to selectively destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. This approach is particularly promising for cancers that have proven resistant to conventional therapies, including brain tumors and head and neck cancers, which continue to have high unmet clinical needs.
Unlike traditional BNCT, which relies on nuclear reactors to produce neutron beams, TAE Life Sciences has developed a compact, accelerator-based system that can be safely installed in a hospital or research facility. This innovation addresses key logistical and regulatory challenges historically associated with reactor-based BNCT, including high costs, complex safety requirements, and limited accessibility. By replacing the reactor-based model, the Alphabeam system paves the way for broader adoption of BNCT in clinical practice and positions TAE Life Sciences as the only company offering a comprehensive, integrated BNCT solution—from the accelerator neutron source to novel boron-10 drug development.
Expanding BNCT Beyond Japan and Asia
BNCT has been clinically available in Japan for several years and is currently being evaluated in trials in multiple countries, highlighting its growing global interest. TAE Life Sciences has already deployed its technology internationally, with its neutron beam system installed at Xiamen Humanity Hospital in China, where human clinical trials are actively ongoing. Additionally, the Alphabeam system is set to be installed at Italy’s National Center of Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO), further demonstrating the company’s commitment to expanding BNCT access worldwide.
Through this collaboration with UW, TAE Life Sciences seeks to establish BNCT as a clinically viable and widely accessible cancer treatment option in the United States, leveraging the institution’s extensive expertise in translational research, clinical radiation therapy, and theranostics. The University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, part of UW–Madison, is renowned for its pioneering research and clinical programs in oncology, making it a natural partner for this initiative.
The Role of Alphabeam in Transforming Cancer Treatment
At the heart of this collaboration is Alphabeam, a patented neutron source specifically designed for clinical BNCT applications. Unlike conventional radiotherapy, which can damage both tumor and surrounding healthy tissue, BNCT employs a dual-component mechanism: boron-10 compounds preferentially accumulate in cancer cells, and subsequent neutron irradiation triggers a nuclear reaction that selectively destroys the tumor from within. This targeted approach significantly minimizes side effects and collateral tissue damage, representing a major advance over conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
The Alphabeam system also offers operational efficiencies that are expected to improve patient experience. BNCT treatments with Alphabeam are typically completed in just one or two sessions, compared to weeks of daily radiation therapy, making it a minimally invasive and patient-friendly option. This reduced treatment burden, coupled with the potential for enhanced efficacy against tumors resistant to existing therapies, positions BNCT as a transformative addition to the oncology toolkit.
Strategic Research and Development Collaboration
The MOU between TAE Life Sciences and UW goes beyond system installation; it encompasses a comprehensive research and development partnership aimed at advancing both the technology and the drugs required for BNCT. Specifically, the collaboration will focus on the development of novel boron-10 compounds and their evaluation in pre-clinical and clinical studies targeting a range of cancer indications.
Brain tumors, such as glioblastomas, are among the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers. Standard treatment options—including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—often provide limited survival benefits and can severely impact patients’ quality of life. Similarly, head and neck cancers present unique challenges due to their proximity to critical structures, making conventional radiation therapy risky and sometimes inadequate. BNCT offers a precision-targeted approach capable of selectively eradicating malignant cells while preserving surrounding healthy tissue, making it particularly suitable for these complex cases.
Dr. Zachary Morris, Chair and Paul Harari Professor of Human Oncology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, emphasized the potential impact of this collaboration:
“Today marks a significant milestone in the field of oncology in the United States. Our collaboration with TAE Life Sciences brings together our expertise in clinical radiation medicine, translational research, and theranostics with the accelerator-based BNCT system, enabling us to harness the full potential of this advanced cancer treatment. Together, we aim to accelerate the development and clinical implementation of this therapy, ultimately providing patients with what we hope will be a markedly improved cancer treatment option that is currently not available anywhere else in North America.”
Global Momentum and Clinical Implementation
Robert Hill, Chief Executive Officer of TAE Life Sciences, highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership:
“Our collaboration with the esteemed University of Wisconsin–Madison underscores the growing momentum and recognition of BNCT as a transformative cancer therapy. By working closely with UW and the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, a leading cancer center renowned for its commitment to innovation, we aim to revolutionize the landscape for cancer treatment, and make even the most challenging cancers treatable with minimal side effects.”
The TAE Life Sciences collaboration aims not only to install the Alphabeam system but also to create a robust framework for clinical trials, translational research, and drug development. Through this integrated approach, the team will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and optimization of boron-10 compounds in combination with the accelerator-based neutron source. This model is expected to accelerate the timeline for BNCT clinical implementation and provide a replicable template for future centers across the United States.
Advantages Over Traditional Cancer Therapies
One of the primary benefits of BNCT lies in its ability to selectively target tumor cells while sparing normal tissue. Traditional cancer treatments—such as surgery, chemotherapy, and conventional radiation therapy—often involve trade-offs between treatment efficacy and patient quality of life. Chemotherapy can cause systemic toxicity, while conventional radiotherapy may damage surrounding healthy tissue, leading to long-term complications. BNCT’s dual-component approach addresses these limitations by concentrating the cytotoxic effects specifically within tumor cells, reducing collateral damage and potentially enhancing patient outcomes.
Furthermore, the compact, accelerator-based design of Alphabeam removes the logistical barriers that have historically limited BNCT adoption. Nuclear reactor-based systems are costly, complex, and often geographically constrained, limiting access for patients and researchers alike. By contrast, Alphabeam can be installed in a hospital or research facility, expanding availability and streamlining operational requirements. This accessibility is expected to facilitate broader adoption of BNCT in clinical practice and support ongoing research into novel boron-10 drugs.
Pipeline Development and Clinical Prospects
TAE Life Sciences’ vision extends beyond system deployment. The company is actively developing a pipeline of novel boron-10 compounds designed to improve tumor uptake, maximize therapeutic efficacy, and expand BNCT applicability to multiple cancer types. The collaboration with UW will enable rigorous pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of these compounds, providing critical data to support regulatory approval and clinical adoption.
Initial studies will focus on cancers with high unmet needs, including glioblastomas and recurrent head and neck cancers. Both indications are notoriously difficult to treat with conventional therapies, and BNCT offers a potential breakthrough solution. As research progresses, the partnership aims to expand into additional tumor types where targeted neutron therapy may provide superior outcomes.
Future Outlook and Implications for U.S. Oncology
The TAE Life Sciences establishment of an accelerator-based BNCT center at UW–Madison represents a significant milestone for oncology in the United States. By combining technological innovation, translational research, and clinical expertise, this initiative has the potential to redefine cancer treatment paradigms. Patients who previously had limited options for resistant tumors may soon benefit from a therapy that is both effective and minimally invasive.
Moreover, the successful deployment of Alphabeam in the U.S. could catalyze the establishment of additional BNCT centers nationwide. As clinical evidence accumulates, regulatory pathways are clarified, and physician familiarity grows, BNCT may become an integral part of multidisciplinary cancer care, complementing surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and conventional radiotherapy.
Research and Safety Considerations
It is important to note that both the Alphabeam BNCT system and the boron-10 drugs developed under this collaboration are currently intended solely for research purposes and are not commercially available. The partnership emphasizes rigorous safety and efficacy evaluation through controlled pre-clinical and clinical studies. These studies will be essential in determining optimal dosing, treatment protocols, and patient selection criteria, ensuring that BNCT can be safely and effectively implemented in future clinical practice.
The TAE Life Sciences collaboration between TAE Life Sciences and the University of Wisconsin–Madison represents a major step forward in the adoption of next-generation cancer therapies in the United States. By bringing accelerator-based BNCT to UW and combining it with innovative boron-10 drug development, the partnership aims to deliver a transformative therapy that addresses unmet clinical needs in brain and head and neck cancers.
Through this initiative, patients in the United States may soon have access to a highly selective, minimally invasive treatment that could revolutionize cancer care. As research progresses and clinical trials advance, the promise of BNCT—once constrained by the limitations of nuclear reactors—may finally be realized on a broader scale, offering new hope to patients and families facing challenging cancer diagnoses.
Robert Hill of TAE Life Sciences and Dr. Zachary Morris of UW–Madison both underscored the significance of this collaboration, emphasizing that it combines global technological innovation with local clinical expertise to accelerate the development and adoption of BNCT in North America. With the Alphabeam system poised for installation at UW and research initiatives underway, the stage is set for a new era in precision oncology, where targeted therapies can effectively combat tumors while preserving patient quality of life.
As TAE Life Sciences BNCT continues to gain traction globally, the U.S. initiative led by TAE Life Sciences and UW–Madison is poised to position the country at the forefront of this emerging therapeutic frontier. The coming years will be crucial in translating this innovative approach from research to clinical reality, potentially establishing accelerator-based BNCT as a standard-of-care option for select cancers and offering a beacon of hope to patients with limited treatment options.
