Australian medical biotechnology company Ferronova has announced the completion of patient enrolment for its two year clinical trial supporting the commercial development of FerroTrace, an image guided surgery technology designed for difficult to treat cancers. The study focuses on gastric and oesophageal cancers and represents an important milestone in advancing more precise surgical care for patients with high recurrence risk.
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FerroTrace has been developed to help surgeons clearly identify lymph nodes affected by cancer spread, allowing for more targeted removal during surgery. By improving visibility of metastatic pathways, the technology aims to reduce the likelihood of cancer returning after surgery. Notably, this trial is the first to use tracer injection to map lymphatic drainage before patients undergo chemotherapy or radiotherapy, offering a clearer understanding of disease spread at an earlier stage.
The trial has successfully enrolled 62 adult patients diagnosed with gastric or oesophageal cancer across five hospital sites in Australia, exceeding the original enrolment target. Participating hospitals include Royal Adelaide Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Austin Hospital, and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Clinical evaluations and trial results are expected to be available in July 2026. This study builds on a series of earlier first in human trials conducted between 2020 and 2024, which helped establish initial safety and feasibility.
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Gastric and oesophageal cancers remain among the most lethal cancer types globally, together affecting more than 1.8 million people each year. Despite surgical intervention, recurrence occurs in up to 60 percent of patients. In Australia, three year survival rates for oesophageal cancer remain low at approximately 27 percent, highlighting the urgent need for improved surgical guidance tools.
FerroTrace uses super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles that accumulate within lymph nodes. This allows surgeons to more accurately detect and remove cancer affected nodes that are often missed using standard surgical techniques. The goal is to support more precise operations that can lead to better long term outcomes for patients.
Stewart Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer of Ferronova, said he was pleased with the speed and success of patient recruitment. He noted that the clinical teams at the participating hospitals worked efficiently to complete enrolment within a short timeframe. He added that Ferronova looks forward to completing final follow up visits and conducting a detailed analysis of the trial data.
Mr Bartlett explained that the company aims to give surgeons greater confidence and accuracy during procedures, which may allow for less invasive surgery in some cases and more thorough removal of cancer affected tissue overall. He described the trial as a key step in validating FerroTrace as the company moves closer to commercial availability.
Ferronova also announced the appointment of Ms Aki Smith as a new member of its scientific advisory board. Ms Smith is a patient advocate and founder of the United States based charity Hope for Stomach Cancer, which she established following her father’s diagnosis. The organization provides education and support to individuals and families affected by stomach cancer.
Mr Bartlett welcomed Ms Smith to the advisory board and said her personal experience would bring valuable perspective to future trial design and innovation. He emphasized that Ferronova is committed to involving patient voices in the development and evaluation of new technologies, particularly for aggressive and challenging cancers where better solutions are urgently needed.
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