OncoSil Medical Completes First Turkey Treatment in 8,500-Case Cancer Market
OncoSil Medical Limited (ASX: OSL) has successfully completed its first OncoSil™ treatment at Acibadem Maslak Hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 14 January 2026. The milestone represents a strategic expansion for the company into a market with approximately 8,500 new pancreatic cancer cases annually, validating the company’s commercial execution in a region known for rapid adoption of advanced medical technologies.
The treatment was performed at one of the flagship hospitals within Acibadem Health Group, one of Türkiye’s largest and most reputable private healthcare providers. This marks OncoSil’s entry into a market with active commercial treatments, following earlier deployments across Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Greece, Portugal, Israel, and the United Kingdom.
OncoSil Medical Performs First Treatment at Türkiye’s Acibadem Maslak Hospital
The OncoSil™ treatment at Acibadem Maslak Hospital positions the company within a healthcare network of considerable scale and clinical prestige. Founded in 1991, Acibadem Health Group operates across 24 hospitals and 15 medical centres spanning 5 countries, supported by approximately 25,000 employees including more than 3,500 physicians and 4,500 nurses. The Group’s comprehensive “360-degree” healthcare service model encompasses hospitals, medical centres, affiliated support service companies, and Acibadem University.
Türkiye’s healthcare infrastructure is characterised by sophisticated clinical capabilities and a demonstrated willingness to adopt innovative medical technologies rapidly. The country’s private healthcare sector attracts both domestic and international patients, providing a foundation for clinical awareness and referral networks that extend beyond national borders.
Acibadem Health Group’s infrastructure includes:
- 24 hospitals providing tertiary and quaternary care across multiple specialties
- 15 medical centres offering outpatient and diagnostic services
- Operations spanning 5 countries in the wider region
- Workforce of approximately 25,000 employees, including 3,500+ physicians and 4,500 nurses
- Integrated academic platform through Acibadem University
Professor Guralp Onur Ceyhan, HPB Surgeon at Acibadem Maslak Hospital, commented on the clinical context for localised therapies:
“Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging malignancies to treat, particularly in patients with locally advanced disease where surgical resection is not initially possible. Localised therapies can play an important role in this setting, as they offer the potential to control tumour growth while minimising systemic toxicity. Our aim is to use effective local treatments to downstage disease, allowing more patients to become eligible for surgical resection, which remains the only curative option. Innovative approaches such as OncoSil™ can provide an important addition to the multidisciplinary treatment strategy for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.”
Why Is Acibadem Maslak Hospital Significant for OncoSil Medical?
The partnership with Acibadem Maslak Hospital provides OncoSil with clinical credibility at a top-tier institution, which serves as a reference point for other centres evaluating the therapy. Türkiye’s ~8,500 new pancreatic cancer cases per year represent a substantial addressable market, whilst the country’s healthcare system is structured to facilitate relatively rapid uptake of evidence-based technologies.
Acibadem’s reputation extends beyond Türkiye, with international patient referrals reflecting the network’s clinical standing. Establishing treatment protocols at such an institution can accelerate awareness and adoption across neighbouring markets in the region.
| Market Factor | Türkiye/Acibadem Advantage |
|---|---|
| Annual Pancreatic Cancer Cases | ~8,500 new diagnoses per year, indicating substantial patient population |
| Healthcare Network Scale | Acibadem operates 24 hospitals and 15 medical centres across 5 countries |
| International Patient Draw | Centres of clinical excellence attract domestic and international patients, expanding referral base |
| Technology Adoption Profile | Türkiye is recognised as a fast adopter of innovative medical technologies |
For investors, the significance lies in OncoSil’s ability to convert regulatory approvals into real-world clinical adoption at internationally recognised institutions. The Turkish market provides both volume and a platform for regional expansion.
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How Does OncoSil Treatment Work for Pancreatic Cancer Patients?
OncoSil™ is a medical device designed to deliver targeted radiation therapy directly into pancreatic tumours. The treatment uses Phosphorous-32 (³²P) microparticles, which are placed into the tumour via interventional radiology.
The device’s targeted approach enables healthcare professionals to deliver a greater radiation dose directly into the tumour compared to external beam radiotherapy, whilst sparing surrounding critical organs. This localised delivery method aims to control tumour growth and reduce tumour size, potentially making patients eligible for surgical resection (the only curative option for pancreatic cancer).
The OncoSil™ treatment process involves three key steps:
- Image-guided placement of microparticles into the tumour using interventional radiology techniques
- Targeted radiation delivery as ³²P emits beta radiation over a period of weeks, concentrating dose within the tumour
- Combined therapy approach where OncoSil™ is used alongside chemotherapy to improve overall outcomes
For patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), where surgical resection is not initially possible due to tumour location or vascular involvement, localised therapies such as OncoSil™ address a critical unmet need. The treatment’s clinical goal is to downstage disease, meaning to reduce tumour size and vascular involvement sufficiently to allow surgical resection.
Professor Ceyhan’s comments reinforce this clinical rationale, emphasising that localised therapies offer the potential to control tumour growth whilst minimising systemic toxicity, thereby supporting the objective of making more patients eligible for curative surgery.
What Does OncoSil’s Expansion Into Türkiye Mean for Investors?
The OncoSil™ treatment at Acibadem Maslak Hospital validates the company’s commercial execution strategy and demonstrates progress in converting regulatory approvals into revenue-generating clinical adoption. Türkiye’s ~8,500 annual pancreatic cancer cases represent a sizeable addressable market, whilst the country’s healthcare infrastructure and fast-adopter profile suggest the potential for accelerated case volume growth.
OncoSil™ is currently approved for sale in 30+ countries including the European Union, United Kingdom, Turkey, and Israel, with commercial treatments now undertaken in Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Israel, and the UK. The device has received CE Marking approval (providing marketing authorisation in both the EU and the UK) and is designated as a breakthrough device in both Europe and the United States.
| Metric | Figure | Investor Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Pancreatic Cancer Cases (Türkiye) | ~8,500 | Substantial patient population indicating market size and revenue potential |
| Countries with Approval | 30+ | Regulatory foundation established across major markets |
| Countries with Active Treatments | Multiple (Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Israel, UK) | Commercial execution underway, validating clinical adoption |
| Regulatory Designations | CE Mark, Breakthrough Device (EU, US) | Accelerated pathways and market access advantages |
Nigel Lange, CEO and Managing Director of OncoSil Medical, commented on the strategic significance of the Turkish market:
“The successful completion of the first OncoSil™ treatment at Acibadem Maslak Hospital is an important step forward for the Company and a clear validation of our clinical and commercial strategy. With around 8,500 new pancreatic cancer cases diagnosed annually, Türkiye represents a significant opportunity to address an area of high unmet medical need. From our experience, Türkiye is also a fast adopter of new medical technologies, supported by a sophisticated healthcare system and highly skilled clinicians. Partnering with leading institutions such as Acibadem Maslak Hospital allows us to demonstrate the clinical value of OncoSil™ in world-class settings and supports our objective of expanding access to this innovative therapy for patients who urgently need new treatment options.”
For investors, the focus shifts from regulatory milestones to commercial execution metrics. The company’s ability to establish clinical adoption at leading institutions such as Acibadem Maslak Hospital supports the objective of expanding access to the therapy across the region.
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Next Steps and Future Outlook
OncoSil Medical’s strategy centres on building clinical momentum within Türkiye whilst leveraging the Acibadem partnership to demonstrate clinical value in a world-class setting. The company’s focus includes expanding adoption across the Acibadem network and establishing treatment protocols at additional Turkish centres.
The broader regional opportunity positions Türkiye as a gateway to neighbouring markets, with clinical credibility at prestigious institutions serving as a foundation for market entry elsewhere. OncoSil’s mission is to improve outcomes for people living with cancer by utilising the selected and targeted intratumoural placement of Phosphorous-32 (³²P) microparticles in addition to chemotherapy.
The company’s three-phase strategic approach includes:
- Establish clinical credibility at flagship institutions such as Acibadem Maslak Hospital to validate the therapy’s clinical value
- Expand to additional Turkish centres to build case volume and clinical awareness across the country
- Leverage regional reputation to enter neighbouring markets, using Türkiye’s clinical experience as a reference point
Pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer in men and the 11th most common cancer in women globally, with 500,000 new cases detected every year. Since pancreatic cancer is generally diagnosed at a later stage, it has a poor prognosis for long-term survival, reinforcing the clinical need for effective localised therapies.
For investors, the transition from regulatory approvals to commercial execution represents a critical inflection point. OncoSil’s ability to secure treatments at internationally recognised institutions demonstrates the company is progressing beyond the regulatory phase into revenue-generating clinical adoption.
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