Sirtex moves toward US target

Sirtex Medical is on track to achieve its goal of rolling out its SIR-Spheres cancer treatment in ten US hospitals by the end of the year, according to CEO Colin Sutton, with the ninth centre at Emory University Hospital treating its first two patients last week.

Other US hospitals that have recently adopted Sirtex's technology include Vanderbilt University Hospital in Memphis and the Fox Chase Cancer Centre in Philadelphia.

"Our plans for next year are to continue to roll out the therapy to other hospitals in the US," Sutton said.

Sutton said that the rapid adoption of the technology in the US highlights the difference between the US and other major markets, including Europe and Australia, where reimbursement and funding constraints impact the uptake.

In Australia, while the treatment is available in 11 hospitals around the country, the Medical Services Advisory Committee has so far declined to approve a subsidy for the treatment, which has demonstrated delayed disease progression in patients with liver cancer in clinical trials.

Sutton said that the company hoped to further raise the profile of the treatment in Australian hospitals.

Sirtex is also planning to move into the European market after gaining approval last month from the European Community.

"We expect to do our first implant before the end of the year, and then begin the rollout in earnest," explained Sutton. He said that the first implant would take place in the UK, and other European countries targeted for the initial expansion included Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

The company also recently received regulatory approval and treated its first patient in Malaysia. "We'll continue to develop the Asia-Pacific market," said Sutton. He noted that the company would next seek regulatory approval in Taiwan.

"We're taking it one country at a time, and being careful about the rollout to make sure that everyone is trained to the standards that Sirtex has set," Sutton said.

Sutton praised the efforts of Sirtex's medical director Dr Bruce Gray, who has been instrumental in training staff at each new medical centre in the procedures.

Chairman Chris Roberts yesterday addressed shareholders at the company's AGM, announcing that sales for the September quarter reached $1.3 million, primarily from US sales, compared to $696,000 for the 2001-2002 financial year.