Perth skin cancer patients undergo first treatments with OncoBeta’s Rhenium-SCT as part of the EPIC-Skin study

Perth, Australia– OncoBeta® GmbH today announced Perth’s Hollywood Private Hospital in Australia is the latest medical facility to participate in the global phase IV EPIC-Skin Study (Efficacy of Personalised Irradiation with Rhenium-SCT – for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) treating its first patients with Rhenium-SCT® as part of the international study.

The first Perth patients were treated at Hollywood Private Hospital on 3 June,  and are part of 210 adults participating in the international study that will follow their progress over the next 24 months.

The EPIC-Skin study is being conducted through study centres located in Australia, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom. The first patients to be treated globally with Rhenium-SCT® as part of the EPIC-Skin study occurred on the Gold Coast in late February, with other centres in Australian cities scheduled to participate in the study over the coming months.

Treating physician at Hollywood Private Hospital, Associate Professor Joe Cardaci, has been treating patients with Rhenium-SCT since 2018.

“Rhenium-SCT allows for a targeted and non-invasive treatment of NMSCs without damaging adjacent healthy tissue. The EPIC- Skin study offers the opportunity to further demonstrate the efficacy of this new non-invasive epidermal radioisotope therapy. With NMSCs very prevalent in Australia, it’s important that as a medical community we continue to investigate new treatment options to ensure we are improving patient outcomes,” said A/P Cardaci.

There are more than 7.7 million cases of NMSC each year, and incidence rates are increasing globally.^1,2 Standard treatments for NMSCs are surgery-based approaches, which may have a risk of scarring or loss of function. Rhenium-SCT uses a non-invasive paste containing ß-emitting particles directly to the lesion, which target cancer cells without the need for surgery, in one single session.^3-5

Dr Sam Vohra, Medical Director at OncoBeta Australia, says, “The aim of the EPIC-Skin Study is not to reverse the existing treatment options but rather to show Rhenium-SCT® is a patient friendly treatment alternative for NMSCs.”

The EPIC-Skin study will measure Patient Reported Outcomes such as quality of life, treatment comfort and cosmetic outcomes, as well as further evaluating the efficacy of Rhenium-SCT for the treatment of NMSC. To provide a simple and streamlined way to record their experiences, patients in the study will utilise the Clinical Study app.

Shannon D. Brown III, CEO and Managing Director at OncoBeta, says, “NMSC is a significant health concern in Australia and around the world. This study will offer new insights into the treatment of NMSC and the role of Rhenium-SCT® in the suite of treatments available to patients. The EPIC-Skin Study will be critical in assisting us in improving patient outcomes for those suffering with NMSCs.”

Clinicians who are interested in enrolling patients in the study can contact OncoBeta directly at www.oncobeta.com/contact.