On 25 April, Varian Medical Systems and Siemens Healthcare announced the signing of a strategic global partnership to provide advanced diagnostic and therapeutic solutions and services for treating cancer with image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery.
The collaboration covers the mutual marketing and representation of products for imaging and treatment in the global radiation oncology business. This collaboration further comprises the development of software interfaces between Siemens and Varian treatment systems. The two companies will also investigate opportunities for joint development of new products for image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery.
Under the agreement that was signed the last week of April, Varian will represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products such as CT, PET/CT or MRI to radiation oncology clinics around the world beginning immediately in most international markets and expanding to North America later this year.
Siemens Healthcare will similarly represent Varian equipment and software for radiotherapy and radiosurgery within its offerings to its healthcare customers. This will enable the companies to offer comprehensive solutions to support the entire clinical workflow from imaging to treatment. Siemens will continue to service and support its global installed base of approximately 2,000 medical linear accelerators. The agreement will give Siemens customers more choices for therapy equipment, including smooth transition and interface to Varian equipment, as aging accelerators are due for replacement.
Furthermore, Varian and Siemens will develop interfaces that will enable connecting Varian’s ARIA oncology information system software with Siemens accelerators and imaging systems to give clinics more options for improving workflow and streamlining their operations. The collaboration enables Varian and Siemens to co-develop and offer cancer treatment centres new imaging and treatment solutions utilising the strengths and technology of both companies.
“This is an exciting development that will enable Varian to enhance and expand its clinical offerings for the benefit of cancer patients around the globe,” said Tim Guertin, President and CEO, Varian Medical Systems. “By developing strong software connectivity and new architecture linking Siemens and Varian systems, together we can give clinics important new options for imaging and treating patients. Another key objective of this partnership is to accelerate innovation and provide more efficient and effective solutions, particularly in emerging markets.”
“With this step under Siemens’ Healthcare Agenda 2013, we aim to strengthen our position as Imaging Partner of Choice in Radiation Oncology,” said Walter Marzendorfer CEO, Siemens Radiation Oncology and Computed Tomography. “Through this collaboration, Siemens will continue to serve the global radiation oncology business and help improve the treatment of cancer patients around the globe with high-quality imaging and treatment solutions that utilise our core competency and engineering excellence in imaging.”
