OncoSil delivers first treatment at major Berlin hospital network
OncoSil Medical (ASX: OSL) has successfully completed its first treatment at Vivantes Neukölln Hospital in Berlin, Germany. The milestone marks the second German hospital to adopt the company’s OncoSil™ device for treating unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC), demonstrating growing clinical momentum in Europe’s largest healthcare market.
Vivantes Neukölln Hospital is one of Berlin’s largest facilities and forms part of the Vivantes Network for Health, Germany’s largest municipal hospital group. The hospital is a leading centre for gastrointestinal oncology and interventional therapies, providing comprehensive multidisciplinary cancer care to a large patient population.
The successful treatment represents an important milestone in OncoSil Medical’s continued expansion in Germany. The adoption reinforces growing clinical interest in the therapy within Europe’s most significant healthcare market, particularly as it occurred ahead of the initiation of the company’s G-BA trial. OncoSil™ is currently approved for sale in 30+ countries, with commercial treatments already completed across nine countries.
Why Germany matters for OncoSil’s commercial strategy
Germany represents a strategically important market for OncoSil Medical (ASX: OSL), combining high pancreatic cancer incidence with a strong network of tertiary referral centres specialising in complex oncological care. Establishing clinical adoption at major public hospitals such as Vivantes Neukölln Hospital supports the company’s strategy to build clinical momentum, expand physician awareness, and accelerate uptake of OncoSil™ across Germany and the broader European region.
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.
Germany’s position as Europe’s largest healthcare market, combined with its comprehensive oncology infrastructure, positions the country as a high-value target where successful adoption could accelerate revenue and validate the commercial model for other European markets.
Germany’s market characteristics include:
- High pancreatic cancer incidence rates compared to other European nations
- Extensive network of tertiary referral centres with advanced interventional oncology capabilities
- Europe’s largest healthcare market by patient volume and healthcare expenditure
- Strong regulatory and reimbursement frameworks supporting innovative cancer therapies
Understanding OncoSil’s targeted approach to pancreatic cancer
OncoSil™ delivers radiation directly into tumours using Phosphorous-32 (32P) microparticles, offering a fundamentally different approach compared to external beam radiotherapy. The device enables healthcare professionals to deliver a greater radiation dose directly into the tumour while sparing surrounding critical organs such as the bowel, stomach, and kidneys.
This targeted approach matters particularly for locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients who cannot undergo surgery. External beam radiotherapy is limited by the radiation tolerance of surrounding healthy tissues, restricting the dose that can be safely delivered to the tumour. OncoSil™’s intratumoural placement overcomes this limitation by concentrating the radiation source within the tumour itself.
The device has received breakthrough designation in both Europe and the United States, reflecting regulatory recognition of its differentiated mechanism. This designation acknowledges that OncoSil™ addresses an unmet medical need through a novel approach that could provide significant advantages over existing treatment options.
| Aspect | OncoSil™ (Intratumoural) | External Beam Radiotherapy |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation delivery | Directly into tumour via implanted microparticles | From outside the body through the skin |
| Dose to tumour | Higher concentrated dose to tumour tissue | Limited by surrounding tissue tolerance |
| Organ sparing | Spares critical surrounding organs | Risk of damage to nearby structures including bowel and stomach |
| Treatment sessions | Single implantation procedure | Multiple daily sessions over several weeks |
Building momentum ahead of the G-BA trial
The adoption at Vivantes Neukölln Hospital occurred before the initiation of the G-BA trial, demonstrating organic clinical demand independent of trial requirements. Establishing a clinical footprint at major institutions supports awareness and referral pathways that could translate to faster commercial uptake once the G-BA trial data supports reimbursement discussions in Germany.
Nigel Lange, CEO and Managing Director of OncoSil Medical, highlighted the significance of the second hospital adoption:
“The successful first treatment at Vivantes Neukölln Hospital represents an important milestone in our German expansion and is particularly significant as it marks the second hospital in Germany to adopt OncoSil™. Achieving adoption at a second leading institution ahead of the initiation of the G-BA trial is an important step in building clinical momentum and awareness within the German healthcare system. We are encouraged by the growing interest from German clinicians seeking innovative localised treatment options for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.”
The G-BA (Federal Joint Committee) trial represents a critical pathway for OncoSil Medical’s long-term commercial strategy in Germany. Hospital adoption independent of trial requirements suggests organic demand from clinicians seeking alternative treatment options for their LAPC patients, which could support broader market penetration as clinical evidence accumulates.
European footprint continues to expand
OncoSil Medical (ASX: OSL) has received CE Marking approval, providing marketing authorisation in both the EU and the UK. The company has now completed commercial treatments in nine countries, demonstrating the breadth of its European presence:
- Spain
- Italy
- Austria
- Germany
- Greece
- Turkey
- Portugal
- Israel
- United Kingdom
Each new market and institution builds the evidence base and clinical network that supports long-term commercial scale. The company’s approval covers 30+ countries including the European Union, United Kingdom, Turkey and Israel, providing a substantial addressable market as clinical adoption accelerates.
The successful treatment at Vivantes Neukölln Hospital reinforces the company’s strategy to establish clinical momentum at leading tertiary centres before broader market penetration. As Germany’s largest municipal hospital group, the Vivantes Network for Health provides access to a large and diverse patient population, potentially supporting multiple additional treatments and broader institutional adoption across the network’s facilities.
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