TOKYO, Mar 23 (Pulse News Wire) – Stella Pharma Corporation (4888.T) announced today that the Pengbo (Hainan) BNCT Center began its first patient treatment using Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) on March 23, 2026. The therapy targets head and neck cancer patients and utilizes the company's boron drug "Stebronin." The center, located in the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province, was established through a basic supply contract signed with China Bioscience Services Holdings Limited (Stock Code: [TICKER_0]) in June 2022.
Despite delays due to typhoon damage in late October 2024, the facility opened on February 7, 2026. Looking ahead, the company plans to expand BNCT treatments to more patients suffering from unresectable locally advanced or recurrent head and neck cancers. With approximately 140,000 new cases annually in China, Stella Pharma aims to offer a new treatment option alongside its partners, Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Pengbo Company.
Clinical data collected during real-world treatments could also support future approval applications within mainland China. This development marks a significant step toward realizing BNCT’s global implementation outside Japan, according to the company. The impact on Stella Pharma's fiscal year ending March 2026 is expected to be minor.
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