Targettech invests $400,000 in proton therapy co pCure - pCure's system is intended to equalize the cost of proton therapy to the cost of regular radiation treatments

The Netanya-based incubator Targetech Innovation Center has invested $400,000 in pCure Ltd., which has developed a proton therapy device to treat cancer. This is Targetech's third investment this year.

Proton therapy is a form of radiotherapy that is considered safer than conventional radiotherapies for treating tumors. "Existing radiation treatments, such as X-rays and electrons, enter the body at maximum energy, which has ebbed by the time they reach the tumor. In contrast, protons are heavier so they enter the body at low energy, and can be energized as we direct them," said pCure founder Dr. Michael Marash, who currently serves as CTO of Vecta Ltd. "But the price of proton therapy is 20 times that of regular radiation treatments, and involves the use of expensive equipment, which has delayed market penetration of the technology. Building a room for proton therapy costs over $100 million. As a result, there are only 25 such treatment centers in the world today.

pCure's system is intended to equalize the cost of proton therapy to the cost of regular radiation treatments, thereby making it available in every hospital. "We use the same protons, but we've developed a new system for sending them from the accelerator to the patient in a way that greatly reduces the system and cuts its cost by at least 20-fold."

Targetech managing director Azriel Kadim said, "Targetech has existed for six years and has graduated a number of companies in different fields. However, this is the first time we've had such an important opportunity to invest in lifesaving technology."