Health Check: Oncosil pancreatic cancer trial achieves 100pc local disease

• Oncosil’s targeted radiotherapy for difficult pancreatic cancer shows great promise
• Mach7’s overhaul reaches warp speed
• All the latest quarterly results spills and thrills

Ahead of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November, OncoSil Medical (ASX:OSL) reports encouraging results from a small trial showing 100% local disease control (LDC) using its targeted radiation device.

As published in Cancers, the peer-reviewed study catalogued the early results of 17 patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPD).

The study treated the patients with a combination of Oncosil’s eponymous injected therapy and the chemotherapies gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel.

A novel brachytherapy for pancreatic and liver cancers, Oncosil’s treatment involves irradiating tumours with a targeted intra-tumoural injection of liquid phosphorous-32.

This is done under endoscopic ultrasound guidance, in combo with the chemo.

Athens’ Agios Savvas Hospital hosted the prospective single-centre observational cohort study.

The trial evaluated “technical feasibility, preliminary safety, local disease control, tumour response, subsequent surgical resection and exploratory survival outcomes”.

Analysing the results

The study achieved 100% LDC, which means the primary tumour had not spread.

All 16 evaluable patients had LDC at 16 weeks, with another one undergoing surgery before that timepoint.

Seven patients (43.7%) achieved a partial response and nine (56%) showed stable disease.

In other words: they didn’t get any worse.

In the case of four patients, the tumours shrank to the degree they could be surgically removed successfully.

The study achieved progression-free survival of 9.7 months and estimated median overall survival of 18.8 months, when measured from Oncosil implantation.

It stated: “With only three deaths during a median overall survival follow-up of 15.6 months, survival estimates remain exploratory and statistically immature.”

Pancreatic cancers are among the most fatal tumours.

Oncosil CEO Nigel Lange said the publication added to the “growing body of clinical evidence investigating the addition of the Oncosil device to a multidisciplinary treatment approach for patients with unresectable LAPD”.

European regulators approved the device in April 2020 – and updated crucial certification in January last year.

The company eyes a fast-track pathway to the US, via a Humanitarian Device Exemption.

Mach7 gains velocity

Fifteen months into her reign, Mach7 Technologies’ (ASX:M7T) livewire CEO Teri Thomas says the imaging group’s transformation drive is reaping benefits.

Often perceived as a ProMedicus (ASX:PME) ‘mini me’, the similarly US-focused Mach7 reported September (first) quarter receipts of $7.3 million, 58% higher year on year.

Operating cash flow of $300,000 compared with $3.7m of outflows a year ago, marking the fourth consecutive surplus quarter.

Annual recurring revenue rose 8.5%, to $23.5m. Costs fell 17%.

“New customers went live in record time, existing customers are expanding their volumes and the pipeline is growing,” trills Thomas.

Management will focus on “translating those improvements into greater customer value and stronger commercial performance”.

Mach7 provides diagnostic and imaging tools to radiologists, oncologists, cardiologists and other ‘ologists’, via digital picture archive communications systems.

In effect, the company takes images, videos and documents and consolidates them on the one platform.

Flamingo maps out a flight path

Mach7 is banking on a ‘next generation’ platform, Flamingo, to drive more growth.

Flamingo is a “modular portfolio that allows [healthcare providers] to address specific clinical and operational needs, adopt new capabilities incrementally and expand over time”.

Thomas said the company also would focus on integrating customers’ imaging with their electronic medical record workflows.

While Mach7 looks to be gaining altitude operationally, it’s not flying so well with the metric that matters the most: the share price.

Mach7 shares have tumbled almost 60% year to date, although they have recovered 14% in the last week.

The company’s $19m cash balance (and no debt) compares with its $58m market cap.

Kwarterly Korner

In the early days of commercialising its Colostat bowel cancer assay locally, Rhythm Biosciences (ASX:RHY) reports customer receipts of $36,000.

A blood-based test, Colostat could replace the standard-of-care ‘poo’ test which over 50s are familiar with.

Rhythm’s corporate cadence has been slow, but the company was busy in the September quarter.

Measures include enabling GPs to order Colostat directly with their practice software and expanding partner 4Cyte Pathology’s blood collection network to more than 100 eastern seaboard sites.

Having recorded cash outflows of $1.47m, Rhythm had thin September-end cash of $1.8m – enough for 1.2 quarters.

Undeterred, the company says it has a “proven track record of raising capital as and when required”.

Rhythm also expects to pocket a $1m-plus research and development tax rebate before the calendar year is done and dusted.

I’m ill: what’s on telly?

Along with contracting golden staph, one of the greatest risks for hospital patients is dying of boredom.

Fortunately, they have Oneview Healthcare (ASX:ONE) to provide “digital tools for patients, families and caregivers to improve the care experience”.

In other words: the bedside telly.

The US-focused Oneview reported record customer adoption for the quarter, with six new facilities added.

Oneview reported receipts of €594,000 ($940,000), taking the calendar 2026 tally to date to €5.736m.

The company recorded operating cash outflows of €4.8m, compared with a €2.2m deficit a year previously.

The accounts department had received all delayed renewals post September, or expected to “in coming weeks”.

US rollouts gain traction

Lumos Diagnostics (ASX:LDX) reports strong take-up of its FebriDx bacterial-versus-viral test in its early days of US commercialisation.

The company says that as of October 11, 265 healthcare sites across 29 states were using the assay. This is up from 215 sites across 26 states, as of September 15.

Lumos reported September quarter revenue of US$2m, with FebriDx sales up 224% to US$564,000.

The company says 13 of the top 100 urgent care groups are either using or evaluating FebriDx

Three of the groups are appraising FebriDx across 50 sites, which treat a combined 250,000 respiratory patients annually.

Lumos recorded operating cash outflows of US$4.7m, including US$1m of inventory buildup ahead of the US flu season.

Still in the US, Botanix Pharmaceuticals (ASX:BOT) reported steady revenue of US$10.1m. The company sells its anti-sweating drug Sofdra in the land of the free and whiffy.

During the stanza the company filled 35,130 prescriptions, up 32% over the last six months. Net margins remained subdued.

Botanix had cash outflows of US$9.2m compared with a previous US$10m deficit.

At Stockhead we tell it as it is. While Lumos is a Stockhead advertiser, the company did not sponsor this article.

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