Boao, Hainan, March 19, 2026 — Panboron Hainan BNCT Hospital today successfully carried out its first boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) treatment in a patient with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This marks the Center’s official entry into the clinical treatment stage and brings a world-class, high-precision treatment option to cancer patients in China.

For this treatment, the Center used the NeuCure® BNCT system developed by Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Steboronine®, the boron drug developed by Stella Pharma. This drug-device combination is currently the world’s only clinically approved neutron irradiation system and boron agent for BNCT. It received regulatory approval in Japan in March 2020 and was included in Japan’s national health insurance program in June 2020 for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck malignancies. To date, more than 1,000 treatments have been performed at two BNCT centers in Japan, demonstrating solid clinical safety and efficacy.

01 Comprehensive Support from a Top-Tier Team

Putting “Every Precious Life Matters” into Practice

The treatment was led directly by Professor Wang Enmin, President of Panboron Hainan BNCT Hospital and a pioneer in radiation neurosurgery in China. Professor Wang, the first Gamma Knife PhD in China, former Director of CyberKnife Center at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, has experience in more than 12,000 clinical cases.

Under his leadership, the Center assembled an international multidisciplinary team (MDT), including:

· Dr. Liu Junyang, Vice President, formerly of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the PLA Air Force General Hospital

· Zhu Fuhai, Head of Medical Physics and Technology, with a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from Tsinghua University

· Professor Chen Xianzhao, a foundational figure in radiation oncology in Hainan Province

· Professor Ao Huafei, formerly of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery

Together, they developed a highly precise and personalized BNCT treatment plan for the patient.

From initial patient selection through the treatment itself, the Center also received real-time remote guidance from internationally recognized experts. Specially invited experts included:

· Professor Koji Ono, Director of the Kansai BNCT Clinical Research Institute at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University and widely known as the “father of BNCT”

· Professor Teruhito Aihara, Deputy Assistant Director of the Kansai BNCT Collaborative Medical Center and the first BNCT physician certified by JSNCT

· Junior Associate Professor Naonori Hu, a leading international BNCT medical physicist and ISNCT committee member

In addition, specialist engineers from Sumitomo Heavy Industries provided both on-site and remote technical support, enabling seamless collaboration between international standards and local implementation.

Before treatment, the hospital team carried out meticulous planning and multiple full-process simulation drills to ensure that every step — from boron drug injection and neutron irradiation to real-time monitoring — was performed accurately and without error.

During the procedure, the system operated stably, and neutron beam irradiation was delivered with high precision. Teams from oncology, medical physics, nursing, and pharmacy worked in close coordination to complete the full treatment workflow successfully, including boron drug administration, patient positioning, blood boron concentration measurement, neutron beam irradiation, and post-treatment observation.

02 A High-Precision “Nuclear Reaction” That Targets Cancer Cells

BNCT is an advanced form of targeted radiation therapy, often compared to a “guided missile.” First, a boron-containing drug is administered to the patient. Because the drug selectively accumulates in cancer cells, subsequent irradiation with a neutron beam triggers a nuclear reaction within those cells. This allows cancer cells to be destroyed from within with high precision, while minimizing damage to surrounding normal tissue.

The first patient treated at the Center was from Henan Province and had recurrent squamous cell carcinoma after surgery and radiotherapy for tongue cancer. The patient had previously undergone years of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, but the tumor had recurred. After comprehensive evaluation by the Center’s team, the patient was considered highly likely to benefit from BNCT.

On the day of treatment, the patient received approximately 35 minutes of BNCT irradiation. Post-treatment observation showed that the patient was in good condition. Eating and daily activities had already returned to normal, and the patient remained in very good spirits. The patient has now entered the follow-up phase for long-term efficacy evaluation. Notably, the patient has an upbeat personality and enjoys sports, with a positive physical and mental condition that provides a strong foundation for treatment recovery and rehabilitation.

03 Six Years of Preparation: From Vision to Reality

From project introduction to clinical implementation, the BNCT program underwent nearly six years of preparation:

· October 2020 — Framework agreement signed with Japanese partners, launching the BNCT project

· November 2021 — Passed access review for the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone

· February 2022 — Park-entry agreement signed; hospital construction preparation began

· September 2022 — Groundbreaking ceremony held

· January 2023 — Medical institution practice license obtained

· June 2023 — Medical team completed its first training visit to the Kansai BNCT Collaborative Treatment Center

· January 2024 — Special import approval obtained for the BNCT equipment

· May 2024 — Delivery of the NueCure® system completed

· September 2024 — Equipment installation completed

· February 2025 — Special import approval obtained for the BNCT boron drug

· November 2025 — Equipment commissioning completed; first successful neutron beam irradiation achieved

· January 2026 — Medical team completed its second training visit to the Kansai BNCT Collaborative Treatment Center

· February 2026 — Trial operation and simulation training began

· March 19, 2026 — First BNCT treatment successfully completed

04 Based in Lecheng, Building a New Center of Excellence for BNCT in China

Founded in 2022, Panboron Hainan BNCT Hospital is a key strategic project of China Biotech Services Holdings Limited (8037.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company. As a specialist hospital dedicated to BNCT within the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone, the Center has, from the outset, embraced the mission of bringing high-precision medicine to every cancer patient.

The success of this first treatment not only validates the hospital team’s technical capabilities and robust operational processes, but also represents an important achievement in creating a seamless pathway from introduction and training to clinical application of world-leading BNCT drugs and equipment. As a new example of “special-access medical care” in the Lecheng Pilot Zone, it offers fresh hope to patients in China with recurrent and difficult-to-treat tumors.

Professor Wang Enmin commented:

“The success of this first treatment is the result of years of meticulous preparation by our team and a fulfillment of our commitment that every precious life matters. Going forward, we will leverage the policy advantages of Boao Lecheng, combine them with the expertise of leading top-tier hospitals in China, steadily advance the standardized clinical application of BNCT, and provide more eligible cancer patients with this new treatment option — minimally invasive, fast in recovery, and highly precise. Our goal is to build a new center of excellence for BNCT in China and across Asia.”

The Center is now accepting patient consultations and evaluation applications. Building on the successful completion of its first treatment, it aims to accumulate further clinical experience and bring new hope to cancer patients seeking treatment options in the face of difficult odds.

Address: No. 6 Guangci Road, Boao International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Qionghai, Hainan Province
Contact: 0898-36863666