Two major cancer treatment headlines broke last week: Gilead’s Trodelvy, paired with Keytruda, showed a 35% reduction in breast cancer progression while a BBC report spotlighted the personal stories behind cutting-edge cancer drug trials made possible by immunotherapy breakthroughs. While the science saving lives rightly grabs the spotlight, few may realize that helium - a finite, highly valuable and irreplaceable commodity - plays a vital role in supporting many of these medical breakthroughs.
Beyond its well-documented role in powering MRI scanners by enabling superconducting magnets, helium is also quietly driving breakthroughs in cancer treatment. In early-stage research, it’s used to generate cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) - a charged gas that selectively kills cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. CAP therapy is already showing promise in preclinical trials for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma and breast cancer.
Helium is also being used in advanced radiation therapy. Helium ion radiotherapy is emerging as a breakthrough option for targeting radioresistant tumors with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. Furthermore, in today’s clinical practice, argon-helium cryoablation is widely used to freeze and destroy tumors in patients where surgery isn’t an option - including cancers of the liver, lung, kidney, and breast.
Even in the operating room, helium plays a key role. Tools like the J-Plasma system use helium plasma to remove cancerous tissue with incredible accuracy, reducing risk near vital organs. Beyond treatment, helium supports drug discovery through x-ray crystallography, and helps some cancer patients breathe more easily during chemotherapy with helium-oxygen mixtures. Quietly and reliably, helium is there - powering progress at every step.
At first glance, helium might not seem like a healthcare story, but the fight against cancer, and the future of human health, increasingly depend on this scarce, high-performance gas. Pulsar’s mission to unlock a reliable domestic helium supply could soon become a critical part of delivering some of the U.S.’s most important and life-changing medical breakthroughs. For Pulsar investors, it’s another quiet validation: helium isn’t just essential - it’s irreplaceable.
Pulsar Helium’s shares trade on TSXV: PLSR | OTCQB: PSRHF | AIM: PLSR
Disclaimer
This article contains information based on current market conditions and publicly available data. It does not constitute financial advice, and investors should conduct their own due diligence before making any investment decisions.
Marc Farrington PR & Partnerships marc@pulsarhelium.com #PLSRINSIGHTS Follow us on X