Pioneers of radiotherapy

The development of medical imaging has played a pivotal role in the history of Siemens Healthineers. In January 1896, just a few days after the announcement of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen’s discovery of X-rays, Siemens Medical Technology Division began developing special X-ray units for diagnosing diseases. It became increasingly clear over the following years that high-energy X-rays could prevent cell division in tumor tissue and could therefore be used to treat cancer. Siemens began conducting initial experiments with a view to harnessing the power of X-rays for radiotherapy. Over subsequent decades, numerous approaches were devised in the search for the optimum technology.

In the early days of radiotherapy in the 1910s, Siemens developed the “Reform Apparatus.” This device pioneered the use of numerous techniques that are still applied in radiotherapy today, such as the targeted irradiation of tumors from multiple directions.

Nine directors signed the articles of incorporation on April 20, 1948. Around two months later, with a starting capital of USD 22,000 and just a handful of tools, Varian Associates began its work. The articles of incorporation set out the company’s aim as being “to conduct general research in the fields of physical science of every kind of nature” and specifically mentioned technologies relating to heat, sound, light, optics, X-rays, charged particles, ionizing radiations, electricity, vacuum technology, magnetism, chemistry, and many other fields. Some 40 years later, Varian was one of the world’s largest technological pioneers and ranked third in the list of companies in Silicon Valley to have filed the most patent applications. 

Varian innovations played a pivotal role in the history of many technologies. For example: the introduction of the klystron tube had a decisive impact on the development of television and satellite technology. In 1949, Varian launched the world’s first instrument that could analyze the properties and interactions of matter using magnetic resonance—this represented a significant contribution to the field of analytical chemistry and provided a technological basis for modern magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In 1991, the chemist Richard Ernst received the Nobel Prize for his work on magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which he began while working at Varian in 1963. One of Varian’s best-known inventions is the magnetometer, which allowed precise measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field for the first time in the mid-1950s. In 1988, the company received an Emmy Award for the development of an energy-efficient TV transmitter tube. Today, Varian is best known for its leadership in medical technology. Beginning in its early days as a company, Varian embarked on a course that would see it become the leading supplier of radiotherapy systems.

In the early 1950s, Varian and Stanford University worked together on a huge system for studying atoms in the field of particle physics. Measuring almost 70 meters in length, the linear accelerator represented a historic development in the world of science and technology. A few years later, the Stanford Professor Robert Hofstadter received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his research using this device—and the linac also inspired Stanford professor and radiologist Henry Kaplan to make a suggestion that led to the invention of modern radiotherapy. Kaplan invited Edward Ginzton to lunch and suggested developing a medical linear accelerator specifically for use in cancer treatment. Ginzton succeeded in convincing the other directors at Varian despite the considerable costs involved in the project. Some five years later, in January 1956, the “Stanford Cancer Gun” was used for the first time at the university’s medical center in San Francisco. The next challenge facing Varian was that of converting this bulky and immovable prototype into a compact system that could be installed quickly and easily in hospitals.

In many respects, this initial model was already far superior to the cobalt devices that were commonplace at the time. The treatment beam generated by a klystron could reach tumors deep inside the body thanks to an acceleration potential of 6 million volts—and, for the first time in the history of radiotherapy, the gantry could be rotated through 360 degrees around the patient. From that point onward, Varian began investing significantly in the further development of Clinac systems. The development of the first medical linac was particularly important to Edward Ginzton, whose father had died of cancer a few years earlier. 

In 2012, the Siemens medical technology division discontinued the development of its own linear accelerators. In April that year, Varian and Siemens announced a new worldwide strategic partnership in the areas of radiotherapy and radiosurgery. From then on, Varian supplied radiation oncology clinics with Siemens imaging systems such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scanners—and, for its part, Siemens offered its customers Varian’s range of radiotherapy and radiosurgery systems. Together, the two companies supplied systems that covered the entire clinical workflow from initial diagnosis to follow-up. They decided that, in the future, they would work together on new imaging and treatment solutions that drew on the strengths of both companies. Over the next few years, this partnership grew stronger and stronger. By 2013, Varian and Siemens were able to announce that the first jointly developed software, which seamlessly brought together specific systems from the two companies, had been installed at the therapy center of Ohio State University. 

On August 2, 2020, Siemens Healthineers and Varian Medical Systems announced they had reached an agreement whereby Siemens Healthineers would acquire all of Varian’s shares for a total price of around USD 16.4 billion. By April 2021, the companies were in a position to announce the successful completion of the combination. “Through the transformative combination of Varian and Siemens Healthineers, our united company will address the growing need for personalized, data-driven diagnosis and precision cancer care that enables us to fight back against globally increasing cancer rates,” explained Chris Toth, the new head of the Varian Business Area within Siemens Healthineers. “By bringing together our unique and highly complementary portfolios and capabilities, we will support oncology clinicians and patients in achieving better outcomes and move even closer to achieving our vision of a world without fear of cancer.”

The innovations that Varian has developed over the last 75 years have helped shape the history of radiotherapy, and now, as a Siemens Healthineers company, these innovations are transforming cancer care. Since the combination of the two companies, Varian and Siemens Healthineers have jointly reached over 400 million patients around the globe each year. This combination has further extended our reach, as we address the entire cancer care pathway – from screening to survivorship – and expanded our shared vision for the future and what we can achieve for patients. Together, we are getting closer than ever to a world without fear of cancer.