Sumitomo Heavy Industries Announces Start of BNCT Treatment in China's Hainan Island Medical Special Zone
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. has announced the commencement of its first practical clinical treatment using its BNCT system, 'NeuCure®', in the Hainan Bo'ao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in China. This marks a significant step towards market expansion in China and leverages the special zone's regulatory advantages.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 11:52 (93h 20m after Collected)
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Toshiro Watanabe; hereinafter "the Company") announces that the BNCT treatment system "NeuCure®" and the BNCT dose calculation program "NeuCure Dosing Engine®" have been introduced at the Pengbo (Hainan) BNCT Center in the Hainan Bo'ao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, China. On March 19, 2026, the first BNCT treatment (hereinafter "the Treatment") targeting head and neck cancer was performed.
The Treatment combines the Company's BNCT treatment system "NeuCure®" with Stella Pharma Inc.'s boron drug for BNCT, "Steboronin®," marking the commencement of practical clinical BNCT treatment in China.
The real-world clinical data obtained in the Hainan Island Medical Special Zone is expected to be utilized for future medical device sales applications in mainland China. The Company positions this treatment as a first step towards market expansion in China.
Moving forward, in collaboration with partner companies, we will contribute to the advancement of global healthcare through the international deployment of advanced cancer treatment technologies.
[Exterior view of the BNCT Center building] [Scene of the treatment]
[About the Hainan Island Medical Special Zone]
The Hainan Island Medical Special Zone is a special zone with relaxed regulations aimed at promoting medical tourism, offering preferential measures for the import of medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
A key feature is that while medical devices and pharmaceuticals typically require an application and approval from regulatory authorities after clinical trials in China, similar to Japan, this system permits the import and use of unapproved products within China if they have already obtained approval in other countries and are clinically urgently needed. This allows for treatment in actual clinical practice without conducting clinical trials.
■For details on this matter, please see the following URL:
・Announcement regarding the introduction of BNCT to China's Hainan Island Medical Special Zone, the first overseas introduction (June 24, 2022)
https://www.shi.co.jp/info/2022/6kgpsq000000lngk.html
End
The Treatment combines the Company's BNCT treatment system "NeuCure®" with Stella Pharma Inc.'s boron drug for BNCT, "Steboronin®," marking the commencement of practical clinical BNCT treatment in China.
The real-world clinical data obtained in the Hainan Island Medical Special Zone is expected to be utilized for future medical device sales applications in mainland China. The Company positions this treatment as a first step towards market expansion in China.
Moving forward, in collaboration with partner companies, we will contribute to the advancement of global healthcare through the international deployment of advanced cancer treatment technologies.
[Exterior view of the BNCT Center building] [Scene of the treatment]
[About the Hainan Island Medical Special Zone]
The Hainan Island Medical Special Zone is a special zone with relaxed regulations aimed at promoting medical tourism, offering preferential measures for the import of medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
A key feature is that while medical devices and pharmaceuticals typically require an application and approval from regulatory authorities after clinical trials in China, similar to Japan, this system permits the import and use of unapproved products within China if they have already obtained approval in other countries and are clinically urgently needed. This allows for treatment in actual clinical practice without conducting clinical trials.
■For details on this matter, please see the following URL:
・Announcement regarding the introduction of BNCT to China's Hainan Island Medical Special Zone, the first overseas introduction (June 24, 2022)
https://www.shi.co.jp/info/2022/6kgpsq000000lngk.html
End