OncoSil Medical sees 78% surge in brachytherapy device use for pancreatic cancer

OncoSil Medical (ASX: OSL) has announced a 78% increase in the number of doses of its OncoSil single-use brachytherapy device used in commercial treatments for patients with pancreatic cancer, reflecting a growing adoption of the device in clinical practice.

The increase was recorded during the three months to the end of June and was 2.7 times higher than the average volume for the first three quarters of the 2024 financial year.

The growth is believed to highlight the success of OncoSil’s strategic initiatives focused on expanding market reach and enhancing access to innovative cancer treatment solutions.

Industry confidence

Managing director Nigel Lange said the significant surge in demand demonstrated strong industry confidence in the OncoSil device as an essential tool in the fight against pancreatic cancer.

“This remarkable growth in sales and commercial treatments clearly demonstrates the efficacy of the OncoSil device and the strong trust our healthcare partners have in our technology,” he said.

“Our focus on delivering innovative solutions for patients battling pancreatic cancer is producing significant and meaningful results.”

“We are committed to sustaining this momentum and becoming even more aggressive in our market penetration and growth strategies to ensure that more patients around the world can benefit from our treatment options.”

Common cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer in men and 11th in women, with around 500,000 new cases detected worldwide every year.

The cancer is typically diagnosed at a later stage and has a poor prognosis for long-term survival.

OncoSil’s brachytherapy device has been developed as a critical component of revolutionary brachytherapy (or internal radiation) treatment for locally advanced pancreatic tumours that are unable to be removed surgically due to their size or location close to blood vessels.

Predetermined dose

The device delivers a predetermined dose of the radioactive isotope phosphorus-32 via injection directly into cancerous tissue under endoscopic ultrasound guidance.

The process takes place in combination with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.

The OncoSil device is currently approved for sale in more than 30 regions including the European Union, the UK, Türkiye and Israel.

Initial commercial pancreatic cancer treatments using the device have commenced in Spain, Italy and Israel.

First OncoSil resection

OncoSil confirmed this week that the first patient to be commercially treated with the OncoSil device in Türkiye had undergone a successful surgical resection of a pancreatic tumour.

The patient was initially diagnosed with inoperable locally-advanced pancreatic cancer and underwent treatment with the OncoSil device in concert with chemotherapy.

Following the combined treatment approach, the patient’s tumour was reduced to a size and state that made it amenable to surgical resection.

Mr Lange said the resection following OncoSil treatment was a testament to the device’s ability to enhance the efficacy of conventional therapies.

“This breakthrough offers new hope for patients who were previously considered inoperable, and we are excited about the future possibilities this treatment combination holds,” he said.