Rhythm Biosciences activates 38 collection sites to scale ColoSTAT blood test rollout
Rhythm Biosciences (ASX: RHY) has activated 38 blood collection sites across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane through its partnership with 4Cyte Pathology, marking a significant expansion of the Rhythm Biosciences ColoSTAT Commercial Rollout. The activation follows the company’s first commercial sale and validates the end-to-end testing pathway from blood collection through to result reporting.
The network spans three states (Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria) and enables both the ColoSTAT Access Program and physician-directed prescribing through established clinician referral pathways. Additional collection sites are being activated across the 4Cyte network in coming weeks, progressively expanding patient access to the blood-based colorectal cancer test.
This demonstrates the company has moved beyond proof-of-concept into scalable commercial operations with established healthcare infrastructure. By leveraging 4Cyte’s existing national network, Rhythm can focus resources on building test volumes rather than constructing collection infrastructure from scratch.
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How the 4Cyte partnership accelerates ColoSTAT commercialisation
Partnering with an established pathology network provides Rhythm with immediate access to clinical infrastructure that would otherwise require significant capital and time to build independently. 4Cyte operates a national pathology network with existing relationships across primary care practices, providing ready-made channels for clinician engagement and patient referrals.
The partnership brings several key advantages:
- Established clinician referral pathways: 4Cyte maintains existing relationships with referring physicians across major metropolitan centres, reducing the time required for Rhythm to build direct clinical relationships.
- Business development teams: 4Cyte’s business development personnel work directly with medical practices, accelerating clinical awareness and promotion of ColoSTAT.
- Scalable infrastructure: The network enables rapid expansion without capital-intensive investment in collection facilities.
- Tracking platform: Progress and expansion are tracked via 4Cyte’s online platform, providing visibility on network growth and test accessibility.
Leveraging existing pathology infrastructure reduces Rhythm’s go-to-market costs and accelerates clinician adoption without building a collection network from scratch. The model allows the company to focus capital on test volume growth and market penetration rather than infrastructure development.
What is ColoSTAT and why does a blood-based bowel cancer test matter?
ColoSTAT is a blood-based test measuring five protein biomarkers that indicate the likelihood of colorectal cancer. The test is intended for individuals with symptoms associated with colorectal cancer, providing a detection method that requires only a blood draw rather than invasive procedures.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths globally. Early detection significantly improves curability, making accessible screening tools clinically valuable for at-risk populations. Traditional detection methods often involve colonoscopy, which can be a barrier to screening uptake in some patient groups.
The test is based on research from Australia’s CSIRO and is protected by international patents. This intellectual property foundation provides regulatory and commercial protection as the company scales its commercial operations across multiple markets.
Blood tests offer a more accessible detection method compared to invasive procedures, potentially improving screening uptake in symptomatic patients who might otherwise delay investigation due to the nature of traditional diagnostic pathways.
Director quote on commercial momentum
Dr David Atkins, Managing Director and CEO
“The activation of our collection centre network with 4Cyte across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria marks a pivotal step in ColoSTAT’s commercial journey. Having a validated, scalable pathway—from blood collection through to result reporting—means we can now focus our energy on building test volumes, both through direct engagement with primary care physicians and our ColoSTAT Access Program.”
The statement emphasises the company’s shift from validation phase to volume-building phase. With end-to-end logistics confirmed through the first commercial sale, operational focus now centres on scaling test volumes through the activated collection network.
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What comes next for ColoSTAT commercialisation
The immediate focus areas centre on building test volumes through two primary channels: direct physician engagement and the ColoSTAT Access Program. Both channels now operate through a validated commercial and logistical pathway, enabling the company to scale operations across the activated network.
Additional collection sites are being activated across the 4Cyte network in coming weeks, progressively expanding geographic coverage beyond the initial 38 sites in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The company has committed to providing regular updates on collection network growth and test volumes, giving investors visibility on commercial traction.
Key next steps for the rollout include:
- Activate additional collection sites across the 4Cyte network to expand geographic reach.
- Scale physician engagement through 4Cyte’s business development teams and established referral relationships.
- Grow ColoSTAT Access Program enrolments to build test volumes alongside physician-directed prescribing.
- Report test volume progress through regular commercial updates to shareholders.
Investors should watch for test volume disclosures and network expansion updates as leading indicators of commercial traction. The rate of site activation and clinician onboarding will signal market receptivity and the effectiveness of the 4Cyte partnership in driving adoption.
ColoSTAT rollout at a glance
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Collection sites activated | 38 |
| States covered | Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria |
| Cities | Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane |
| Pathology partner | 4Cyte Pathology |
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