Mr. Archie Hwang has generously donated AB-BNCT equipment. Benefit more cancer patients.
Mr. Archie Hwang, a distinguished alumnus of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) and founder of HERMES-EPITEK Corporation, has generously donated accelerator-based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) equipment, developed by Heron Neutron Medical Corp., to his alma mater. Valued at NT$1.2 billion, including installation costs, the equipment will be installed at Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH). The signing ceremony on October 22, 2024, was attended by Mr. Hwang, Dr. Wei-Ming Chen, Superintendent of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and Dr. Chi-Hung Lin, President of NYCU.The equipment is expected to be installed by 2025 and completed by 2027. It will be provided free of charge to Taipei Veterans General Hospital to enhance cancer care, clinical teaching, and research. This makes the hospital one of the few worldwide to offer both heavy particle therapy and accelerator-based BNCT, raising Taiwan’s cancer treatment to international standards. This state-of-the-art equipment, developed in Taiwan, follows the global efforts of Japan, the U.S., China, and South Korea, and has received approval from Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare. Collaboration between academia and healthcare will further boost Taiwan’s biotechnology and medical industries. BNCT is a highly targeted cancer therapy combining drugs and radiation. Boron-containing drugs selectively accumulate in tumor cells, which are then irradiated with a neutron beam, triggering a nuclear reaction that kills the cancer cells while sparing normal tissue. Since 2010, Taipei Veterans General Hospital has treated over 500 patients using BNCT, achieving a two-year survival rate of 47% and a response rate of 65% for recurrent head and neck cancers. The hospital plans to expand BNCT applications to other cancers, including meningiomas, gynecological cancers, and breast cancer. Dr. Chen expressed deep gratitude for Mr. Hwang’s continued support, which follows his earlier donation to build Chu-Ming Hospital in Hsinchu. This collaboration allows the hospital to treat even more cancer patients using the new BNCT technology. Taipei Veterans General Hospital is the only hospital globally offering both heavy particle therapy and BNCT, two highly effective treatments for common and aggressive recurrent tumors. Dr. Chen also acknowledged the long-standing partnership with National Tsing Hua University, whose nuclear reactor has been the primary neutron source for BNCT for over 14 years. International patients, including those from Europe, the U.S., Japan, and China, now seek treatment at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, thanks to the high-quality neutron beams and strong research collaboration. As demand grows, the hospital plans to build its own in-house…
