50 years of innovation and beyond
Building hope
Founded by Lars and Laurent Leksell in 1972, we have dedicated ourselves to pioneering advances in cancer care and the treatment of brain disorders.
Today, we are over 4,700 people working towards a world where everyone has access to the best cancer care.
This is our story.
Our story
The Early Years
A Company Grows Up
Important Turns
A Modern Approach
The Early Years
Neurosurgeon Lars Leksell invents Leksell Gamma Knife to treat brain cancer—without an open surgical procedure! Now, how will that impact traditional radiotherapy? Sons Larry and Danny help turn it all into a proper company.
Surgeon and inventor: Lars Leksell's brilliant mind
Elekta was founded in 1972 and is tightly connected to the vision of non-invasive brain surgery and non-invasive cancer treatment. Discover how Elekta started
Disciples spreading the word
The environment that Lars Leksell nurtured at the Seraphim Hospital and the Karolinska Institute became a hotbed for talented neurosurgeons from different parts of the world.
The knife in media
Elekta was founded in 1972 and is tightly connected to the vision of non-invasive brain surgery and non-invasive cancer treatment. Discover how Elekta started
A Company Grows Up
Finally, the first Gamma Knife sale! The treatment brings new hope to cancer patients, while Elekta figures out how to work with health care providers worldwide.
Entering the US market
Entering the US market was a do or die move for Elekta. It meant building trust and establishing a solution previously unheard of in a market with fierce competition.
Big in Japan
The introduction to the Japanese market was the most expensive in the company’s history.
A gate to China
Building trust in China and establishing the Asian headquarters in Hong Kong in 1994.
Members only
By encouraging the growing number of believers to develop and spread the message, Elekta convinced the world of the excellence of the Leksell Gamma Knife. The Leksell Gamma Knife Society became the platform for discussions and knowledge exchanges. And a key to the society’s success was that Dan Leksell ensured the doors stayed closed to Elekta’s own sales team and for non-customers.
Important Turns
A major acquisition paves the way for a broader Elekta way—because radiosurgery and radiotherapy can play well together.
The “Crawley Acquisition” of 1997
Elekta was founded in 1972 and is tightly connected to the vision of non-invasive brain surgery and non-invasive cancer treatment. Discover how Elekta started
A Modern Approach
A modern approach to cancer care, find out more about how Elekta's past has shaped its vision for the future, providing hope for those dealing with cancer
The IMPAC acquisition
When Elekta, in January 2005, announced its intention to acquire the Silicon Valley oncology software company IMPAC it seemed like the perfect match. And, in many ways, it was, but there were also two very different cultures moving in together.
Moving inside the body
Through the acquisition of the Dutch company Nucletron, Elekta gained a new vital business area - Brachy Solutions. For the management of Nucletron, the sale fulfilled the ambition to have more cancer patients benefit from brachytherapy.