The $500 Billion Oncology Market Has a Massive Problem

Proton therapy is one of the most precise and effective radiotherapy treatments for cancer on the market today.

Unlike traditional radiotherapy that can damage healthy tissue surrounding tumors, proton beams can be far more controlled and accurate in their treatments.

All of which is creating a massive opportunity for companies, such as LIXTE Biotechnology Holdings (NASDAQ: LIXT), a $25 million company that just acquired Liora Technologies and its LiGHT proton therapy platform, which could be a massive game-changer for millions of patients and the $500 billion oncology market.

It Could be a Massive Game-Changer for Cancer Patients

For one, investors just invested about $300 million in the development of the breakthrough technology. Two, the technology just saw proven clinical validation at 230 MeV.

It’s also seeing breakthrough economics that could finally make precision cancer treatment accessible to millions of patients worldwide.

In addition, the LiGHT proton therapy platform raises the bar far beyond the reach of legacy proton therapy with pinpoint accuracy, stopping exactly at the tumor site and move with almost 3D capability. All while sparing critical organs and minimizing devastating side effects.

For millions of patients, including those with tumors near vital organs, the LiGHT proton therapy can mean the difference between a cure where quality of life remains intact.

Or a cure that comes with permanent damage to healthy tissue.

Think about a child with a brain tumor, for example.

Traditional radiation can cure the cancer, but it can also cause permanent cognitive impairment, hormone deficiencies, and developmental delays that affect the child for life.

LiGHT proton therapy can deliver the cure while sparing the developing brain from unnecessary radiation exposure. For elderly patients with prostate cancer near the bladder and rectum, traditional radiation often causes long-term incontinence and bowel problems. The LiGHT proton therapy targets only the tumor, preserving quality of life.

While Beneficial, There’s also a Massive Problem

Right now, there aren’t enough proton therapy facilities for patients.

That’s because traditional proton therapy systems, albeit much more accurate than traditional radiotherapy, have cost $200 million to $300 million per facility and required massive infrastructure as well as a three to five-year installation timeline.

Making matters worse, fewer than 5% of cancer patients who could benefit from proton therapy actually have any access to it at all. That’s because there are only about 300 treatment rooms available worldwide, while more than 9,500 are needed to meet current demand.

However, thanks to LIXTE’s LiGHT Platform, that could soon change.

At roughly $85 million for a facility with up to four treatment rooms, which is just 30% the cost of legacy systems, the LiGHT platform can offer not only more affordable and accessible proton therapy, but also proton therapy based on technology with accuracy and capability that will be a game change in proton therapy.

It’s the same transformation that happened when affordable MRI machines went from a handful of research centers to thousands of hospitals worldwide.

Yet, despite growth, LIXT remains undervalued.

However, we don’t expect for that to be an issue for long either.

First, the LiGHT platform has achieved 230 MeV at Daresbury, which is the validation milestone that proves the system works at the required level. LIXTE isn’t betting on science that might work someday. The company acquired technology that’s already been de-risked through $300 million in development investment.

Second, the market is desperate for a solution.

With a 9,500-room global shortfall and fewer than 5% of eligible patients getting access to proton therapy, hospitals worldwide are actively seeking affordable alternatives to $200 million to $300 million legacy systems. LiGHT’s breakthrough pricing ($85 million for a 4-room facility) finally makes proton therapy economically viable for thousands of hospitals that were previously priced out of the market.

Third, the commercialization timeline is immediate.

Unlike early-stage biotechs that might be five to 10 years from revenue, LIXTE is targeting first patient treatments within 2 years and full commercial operations within 3 years. The Daresbury facility is already in advanced stage to become operational, regulatory pathways are well-defined (proton therapy has been used for decades), and the joint venture business model is designed for rapid, capital-efficient expansion.

When a $25 million company acquires $300 million in proven technology that addresses a multi-billion-dollar market gap, and the commercialization timeline is measured in years, not decades, institutional investors and market makers tend to take notice quickly.

In short, LIXT, which just acquired massive, proven, game-changing technology, is trading at a small fraction of what it could ultimately be worth.