First China-built radiosurgery robot shipped overseas

Baheal Pharma Group said on Thursday it had shipped the first China-manufactured ZAP-X radiosurgery robot, marking the first global deliveries of the brain tumor treatment system from a production base in northern China.

The shipment from a manufacturing facility in the Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone marks a milestone in the company's efforts to expand into the high-end radiation therapy equipment market and establish China as a global production hub for the device.

ZAP-X, developed by US-based ZAP Surgical Systems, is a robotic radiosurgery platform designed to treat intracranial and head-and-neck tumors and lesions. The system was created by neurosurgeon John Adler, the inventor of the CyberKnife radiosurgery system.

Baheal invested in ZAP Surgical in 2024 and entered a broad partnership covering manufacturing, commercialization and clinical deployment of the technology. Under the arrangement, a Sino-US joint venture operates the Chinese production facility, which serves as a global manufacturing center for the system.

The company said devices produced at the plant will be shipped to markets including the United States, the Netherlands and Japan following the initial delivery.

The facility is expected to manufacture 20 units in 2026, with annual capacity rising to 100 units after full project completion. Overseas orders are projected to account for about 80 percent of output, according to the company.

The move comes as Chinese enterprises seek to move up the industry's value chains and expand exports of advanced healthcare equipment, a sector traditionally dominated by Western manufacturers.

According to Baheal, the ZAP-X system has received regulatory approvals in 26 countries and regions and has been used in more than 7,500 patient treatments globally.

In China, Baheal is working with hospitals including Peking University International Hospital and Beijing Xuanwu Hospital to establish radiosurgery centers using the technology. The company said installations have been completed at both hospitals, while a treatment center at Peking University International Hospital is expected to begin operations soon.

The Shenzhen-listed company has been expanding its presence in the precision radiotherapy market as demand grows for non-invasive cancer treatment technologies.