HEALTHiClinic X OncoBeta® Media Release
OncoBeta® and HEALTHiClinic partner to offer a cutting-edge treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer to Sydney patients.
OncoBeta® announces a new partnership with HEALTHiClinic to provide Sydney patients with access to Rhenium-SCT® – an innovative, single session and non surgical treatment option for some non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).
NMSC represents a significant health concern in Australia, with an incidence five times higher than that of all other cancers combined.¹ Medicare reported over 350,000 NMSC treatments in New South Wales alone in 2023, yet a recent survey revealed that 29% of Australians had never had a professional skin check.²,³ Patients with NMSC also face an increased risk of developing additional lesions, often making the disease and its treatments a recurring part of their lives.⁴
Current treatment options for NMSC typically include surgery, external beam radiotherapy, topical therapies, and ablation.⁵ Whilst surgery is often effective, it can lead to scarring, complications, or downtime that impacts quality of life.⁶
“The burden of skin lesions in aesthetically sensitive areas and in older people where mobility is of concern, is significant”, noted Dr. Niro Sivathasan, service lead at HEALTHiClinic.
To help address these challenges, OncoBeta developed Rhenium-SCT® – a non-invasive*, single-session radioisotope therapy for NMSC.⁷⁻¹⁰ This personalised treatment may offer an alternative for certain patients where other treatments are not appropriate, including those who live remotely, have significant comorbidities, and/or cannot attend multiple treatments.7,11
Now available at HEALTHiClinic on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, Rhenium-SCT® is applied directly to lesions as a topical paste, minimising damage to surrounding tissue.⁷,⁸ This makes it particularly suitable for certain tumours where tissue considerations, whether cosmetic or functional, are important, such as those on the nose, ears, or lips.⁷,⁸,¹¹
According to Lyle Holm, Group CEO for HEALTHiClinic, “Non-melanoma skin cancer continues to be a major health concern in Australia, with nearly 70% of Australians expected to have at least one NMSC excised in their lifetime”.¹²
Dr. Niro Sivathasan stated, “Whilst surgery and radiotherapy remain important treatments, having a non-invasive option like Rhenium-SCT® allows doctors to offer patients more choice, as available in other parts of the world. The ability to precisely treat complex areas, including some zones with compromised blood flow, is an additional tool in the armamentarium available for managing patients irrespective of age.”
Holm added, “By incorporating this therapy into our treatment portfolio, HEALTHiClinic is ensuring that patients who are not suitable for surgery still have access to alternatives that support both medical outcomes and quality of life.”
Kristy Frappell, CEO of OncoBeta Therapeutics – Asia Pacific, noted that the therapy has already been widely adopted throughout much of Europe and South Africa, she said the partnership with HEALTHiClinic represents an important step in improving patient access in Australia, adding that “we are delighted to continue to expand access to Rhenium-SCT throughout Australia and bring world-class care to so many.
About HEALTHiClinic: Setting New Standards in Specialist Care
HEALTHiClinic on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, is a multi-disciplinary, multi-specialty facility which offers holistic care under one roof. Amongst its suite of specialist services is a comprehensive skin cancer treatment facility and on-site diagnostics.
The clinic located within the Royal North Shore Hospital medical precinct in Greenwich, and is easily accessible whether by private- or public- transport, allowing it to serve all of Sydney’s population. Other services include cosmetic medicine, osteopathy, podiatry, and vascular surgery. The dedicated team is proud to offer comprehensive, personalized care to patients, underpinned by professionalism and compassion.
Find out more at www.healthiclinic.com.au
*A treatment is considered non-invasive when no cut or break in the skin is created.¹⁰
References
1. Staples MP, et al. Med J Aust. 2006 Jan 2;184(1):6-10.
2. Australian Government; Services Australia – Medicare Item Reports. Available at: http://medicarestatistics.humanservices.gov.au/statistics/mbs_item.jsp. (Accessed August 2024).
3. TAL SpotChecker Australian Skin Safety Report 2021. Available at: https://www.tal.com.au/-/media/tal/files/spotchecker/tal-spotchecker-australian-skin-safety-report_2021.pdf; (Accessed August 2024).
4. Wehner MR, et al. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(4):382-388.
5. Cancer Council Australia. (2024). Clinical practice guidelines for keratinocyte cancer (v1.4). Retrieved January 23, 2025, from https://wiki.cancer.org.au/australia/Guidelines:Keratinocyte_carcinoma
6. Lee EH, et al. Australas J Dermatol. 2016;57(3):e100-e104.
7. Tietze JK, et al. Clin Nucl Med. 2023;48:869–76.
8. Cipriani C, et al. International J Nucl Med Research. 2017; July:114–122.
9. Castellucci P, et al. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2021; 48: 1511–1521.
10. Cipriani C, et al. J Dermatol Treat. 2022;33(2):969–975. Epub 22 Jul 2020.
11. Baxi S, et al. J Nuc Med. 2024;65(9):1450-1455.
12. Olsen CM, et al. Public Health Res Pract. 2022;32(1):3212203.