News Archive
Meet the Specialist: Dr Aminudin Rahman Bin Mohd Mydin
Malaysian sarcoma specialist believes novel immunotherapy agents may one day change outcomes for difficult to treat sarcomas, with “promising responses” recorded in some of his own patients.
Oncotype DX - Maxine Gladwin's Experience
Maxine Gladwin was 47 and single mum to three teenage daughters when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Introducing GIST and Sarcoma Specialist Dr Richard Quek
The Singapore based specialist in both GIST and sarcoma cancers believes it is a great privilege to care for patients during what is often a difficult cancer journey.
Suzanne Lombardo - International Women’s Day – Monday 8 March
Suzanne explains how her own experience with breast cancer and how it has changed the way she now approaches her work.
STA Announces New US Partner
STA has signed an exclusive distribution agreement for a new therapy to treat advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST)
Small Cell Lung Cancer: Fraser’s Story
New lung cancer therapies bring hope to people like Fraser Stewart.
ST wins Prime Healthcare Award
We won! STA is thrilled to announce that it has won a Prime Healthcare Award for Excellence in Patient or Customer Support.
STA Named Employer of Choice in 2020 ABA Business Awards
STA has been recognised as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2020.
Storytelling for Business
Our HR Manager Kate de Carolis has featured in HR Daily, explaining how STA uses storytelling for business as part of its culture-building initiatives
ST named as PRIME Awards finalist
ST scores finals nomination in prestigious Prime Healthcare Awards
Lung Cancer Awareness Month: Brian's Story
The former industrial cleaner was close to retirement when first diagnosed with lung cancer five years ago.
Breast Surgeon Jane O’Brien discusses Oncotype DX
Respected Australian breast cancer surgeon Jane O’Brien discusses the Oncotype DX breast cancer assay.
Philanthropy: MZFF recognised at TLC Ambulance Launch
The MZFF is extremely proud to be a foundation sponsor of the TLC Ambulance Project - an initiative developed by TLC for Kids in collaboration with Ambulance Victoria.
Collaborate: We work closely with global business partners
And we take care of their products as if they were our own.
New Deal: ST signs new license agreement
ST has signed a third license agreement with Spanish partner PharmaMar, providing Australian patients the opportunity to access a globally-recognised sarcoma therapy.
Sarcoma Awareness Month: Dr Ganessan Kichenadasse
Immunotherapy drugs used as single agent therapies are so far showing little effect in treating sarcomas, according to an Adelaide-based sarcoma specialist, Dr Ganessan Kichenadasse.
World First: AU patients first to access drug developed from sea squirt
The following news clip appeared on National Nine News.
Brain Tumour Awareness Month 2020: Introducing Vanessa
Recognising the people making a difference in brain cancer
ST CEO in The Australian newspaper, May 2019
The following article by Sarah-Jane Tasker has appeared in The Weekend Australian
Mother's Day
On Mother’s Day 2019 we recognise the Mothers and Daughters who face a breast cancer diagnosis together
International Women's Day
On International Women's Day, we acknowledge the women in our circles who inspire our careers and our lives. In this piece, we feature a neurosurgeon, a patient and one of our colleagues who articulates the motivation and meaning in her work.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg opens new ST headquarters
Political heavyweight, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, has praised ST's innovation, as he officially unveiled the company's new Australian headquarters and recognised its 10 year anniversary.
Our Philanthropic Heart: Moira Kelly Creating Hope
From Iraqi orphan to the X-FACTOR .. Emmanuel Kelly’s story reads like a movie script. Now he’s working with Coldplay’s Chris Martin on a new album. ST teams were delighted when Emmanuel turned up at our annual 'kick off' meeting with his mum, humanitarian Moira Kelly.
Philanthropy: MZFF and TLC for Kids
Our Family Foundation is now the major sponsor for a special project known as The TLC Ambulance. This amazing program will enable children in palliative care to be transported on a simple but special journey to a destination of their choice in their final days. The MZFF will donate $50,000 every year for the first three years to support the project, which is the first of its kind in Victoria and will be rolled out nationally.
Sarcoma Awareness Month: A/Prof Jayesh Desai
Associate Professor Jayesh Desai says making a correct diagnosis at early stage - before the cancer has spread to other organs - is crucial to helping patients make a complete recovery.
New Concept: ST Sponsors Major Scientific Award.
Immunotherapy and Pancreatic Cancer: New research into the potential benefit of immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer patients has been recognised at the AGITG’s Annual Scientific Meeting. Dr Lorraine Chantrill was awarded the Best New Concept award at the meeting’s New Concepts Symposium for the concept titled: A pilot feasibility and discovery study of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX followed by immunotherapy for resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
Exercise and Pancreatic Cancer: Expert Guidelines
Exercise can halt, or even reverse the decline of function and energy that commonly occurs as a result of pancreatic cancer and subsequent treatment regimens. We spoke with an exercise physiologist who specialises in working with cancer patients about the best way to approach exercise after a cancer diagnosis.
Our Philanthropic Heart
Our CEO is in Africa with Specialists Without Borders, an organisation committed to leaving an enduring medical legacy in third-world nations. ST is proud to be an inaugural and ongoing sponsor of this amazing organisation, which facilitates specialist medical training in some of the world's poorest nations every year.
10 Years of Meeting Unmet Needs: A testimonial
Rare Cancers Australia Chief Executive Richard Vines discusses STA.
10 Years of Innovation: How we set a new benchmark
STA prides itself on being innovative and entrepreneurial. We set a new pharma industry benchmark in Australia when we decided to stop bonus payments to our in-field representatives based on sales volumes in their territories. We wanted them to focus on their customers, build real relationships and educate, rather than sell. We think it’s worked. Read more.
New Early-Breast Cancer Drug to be Made Available in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia following License Deal
A new breast cancer drug shown to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence will soon be made available in Australia, New Zealand and throughout South-East Asia.
Our Philanthropic Heart: A Hall without Walls
It was three years ago that our family decided we wanted to give and support causes beyond our local community. After making this decision, we were made aware of the struggles facing the people of Timor-Leste.
Living with Pancreatic Cancer
It’s estimated that more than 3000 Australians will be diagnosed with pancreas cancer this year.
Funding Denied for Breast Cancer Test
Genetic testing of breast tumours can help some women avoid chemotherapy
Medical Oncologist Opinion: What I want from Pharma
By Assoc. Prof. Gary Richardson, Director of Oncology Clinics Victoria and Oncology Services and Assoc. Prof. of Medicine, Monash University
Guest Blog: Rare Cancers Australia CEO Richard Vines
By Richard Vines, CEO & Co-Founder Rare Cancers Australia
Wellbeing: Making a Difference to Breast Cancer Patients
Christine Daley was one of the first Australian women to receive the ABRAXANE Wellbeing Kit early in 2017, as part of a pilot program.
Dragons and Angels: Support for Dragons Abreast Australia
Specialised Therapeutics is proud to be named as a silver sponsor of the 2017 Dragons Abreast Australia (DAA) Corporate and Community Challenge. This amazing organisation was founded in Australia in 1998, but the idea of breast cancer survivors taking taking part in dragonboating to stay active, improve strength and connect with others facing similar diagnoses was first raised by a Canadian physician and introducer overseas two years earlier. Sue Bowen joined a team after her diagnosis 17 years ago. She says, "It gave me back my life." This is her story.
Corporate Support: ST supports the GI Cancer Institute
ST is a longstanding supporter of the GI Cancer Institute, which saves lives by funding important research into gastro-intestinal cancers, including pancreatic cancer. In a few days, medical oncologist Dr Lorraine Chantrill will walk the Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory to raise new funds. In this short video, she explains her mission and motivation.
Senate Inquiry Into Rare Cancer Survival
Brain Tumor Alliance Australia co-founder Denis Strangman AM has appeared before the Senate Committee into Funding For Research Into Cancers With Low Survival Rates.
Will I Require Chemotherapy?
Wendy Dunstone was diagnosed with early breast cancer and chose to have her tumour tested using the genomic test, Oncotype DX to guide decisions on her treatment.
Teresa Hammer is Living with Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Teresa Hammer was 48 years old, recently re-married and “the happiest I had ever been” when she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer almost three years ago.
Logistics: How ST Transports Specialty Medicines
Specialised Therapeutics’ Quality Assurance Manager David Wilson explains how we transport specialist medicines to patients around the world
Living with Multiple Myeloma: A Patient’s Story
Terry Arnold was devastated when he became one of the estimated 1800 Australians every year who are diagnosed with blood cancer. This is his story.
ST's Business Development Team at #BIO2018
Our delegates will be attending the BIO International Convention, which returns to Boston Massachusetts this June.
Julie's Ordeal with Oropharyngeal Cancer and Oral Mucositis
Accomplished Australian journalist and broadcaster Julie McCrossin had frequently hosted and entertained medical professionals at major international cancer conferences. Then she was diagnosed with Stage 4 oropharangeal cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. She endured chemotherapy and radiation therapy which saved her life, but caused debilitating oral mucositis.
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Living with Pancreatic Cancer
Linda Wilson is a mother, wife, grandmother and nurse who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer five years ago. She had surgery, but was devastated when her cancer recurred. While she was given just months to live, she has steadfastly refused to abandon hope. She says, "I don't consider I am dying from pancreatic cancer, I consider I am living with pancreatic cancer." This is her story.
Keryn Barnett is Living with Triple Negative Breast Cancer
April 24, 2017: 45 year old Keryn Barnett never really knew what she wanted to do with her life in terms of a career. While always employed, she was missing what she thought was her true calling. It was only after being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer in late 2014 and her subsequent treatment, that the answer finally dawned. She is now in her second year of a four-year university course, training to become a radiation therapist. She will soon be helping other cancer patients “and this time it will be them getting zapped, not me!”
Under the Sea
ST’s Spanish partner PharmaMar employs a team of dedicated professional divers who are seeking new solutions for cancer, hundreds of metres below the sea’s surface.
Our Philanthropic Heart: ST and the Melbourne Coastrek
We are so proud of our intrepid STA foot soldiers, who last week took on the annual Coastrek challenge and walked 30 kilometres in the name of charity.
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ST supporting Private Cancer Physicians of Australia
A haematology career combines cutting edge medicine with a strong focus on people, according to advanced trainee Dr Joel Wight. We profile his "fortuitous" career in the first of a special series ahead of the Private Cancer Physicians of Australia (PCPA) annual conference in Melbourne this weekend, April 29 and 30, 2017. As a company, ST remains committed to advanced trainee education and are proud to be co-sponsoring this prestigious annual meeting.
ST supporting Private Cancer Physicians of Australia
While Dr Hilda High was always intent on a career in medicine, her professional life took a few tangents before her true calling again beckoned. Following a dietetics degree and experience in computer programming, Hilda began her medical training relatively late in life, at age 32. Now, at 50, she is among Australia’s telehealth pioneers, after establishing a private cancer genetics clinic in NSW four years ago. Last year she consulted with more than 200 families around the country, sometimes face to face and sometimes remotely. She describes cancer genetics as endlessly fascinating and concedes that working in a private practice has enabled unrivalled flexibility, both personally and professionally. Still, finding her niche has not been without its challenges.
Endometrial Cancer Trial: Clinical Phase Completed
There is hope that a new therapy will one day be available for women with endometrial cancer, following the completion of the clinical phase of an important Phase 3 study of Zoptrex (zoptarelin doxorubicin). Proceed to Press Release issued by Aeterna Zentaris, Inc.
Oral Mucositis - Expert Opinion, Prof Dorothy Keefe
Internationally regarded mucositis expert Professor Dorothy Keefe says managing this extremely debilitating condition is completely central to managing cancer patients properly.
RxPONDER: Medical Oncologist Dr Richard de Boer
Medical oncologist Dr Richard de Boer discusses interim results from the Oncotype DX RxPONDER study, presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
RxPONDER: Professor Arlene Chan
Professor Arlene Chan discusses interim results from the Oncotype DX RxPONDER study, presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
Call to Screen Type 2 Diabetics for Pancreatic Cancer
November 21, 2016: Dr Lorraine Chantrill discusses Type 2 diabetes and pancreatic cancer. While no link between these two diseases has been established, Dr Chantrill says tumours can affect normal insulin production and a surprise diabetes diagnosis may sometimes be an early cancer warning.
Sports Broadcaster Takes On New Sporting Challenge
October 20, 2016: Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) has a particular interest in pancreatic cancer and is committed to supporting efforts to advance understanding and improve clinical outcomes in this disease. Testimony to this commitment, we recently sponsored well-known television personality and sports broadcaster Tiffany Cherry to participate in the GI Cancer Institute’s ‘Gutsy Challenge’ - a seven day cycling challenge across Cambodia to raise awareness and vital funding for Australian research into GI cancers.
Shelli's Story: How Breast Cancer inspired 'Kit for Cancer'
October 10, 2016: Two and a half years ago, Melbourne based high flyer Shelli Whitehurst was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. The devastating diagnosis inspired her to found a business that’s now helping other cancer patients around the world.
ICLUSIG™ to be PBS Listed November 1, 2015
October, 2015: Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) is delighted to announce that ICLUSIG™ has received a confirmed listing date of 1 November 2015.
Updated Pancreatic Cancer Data Presented At International Cancer Conference
January, 2014: A leading breast cancer drug, ABRAXANE® (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel), has been shown to extend overall survival (OS) for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer when used in combination with current standard of care, gemcitabine, with some patients surviving longer than three years.1
From Big Pharma to Small Starts: Risking it All on a Life-Saving Cancer Drug to Win
March, 2016: Our story as featured in The Australian newspaper on 19 March, 2016 by Sarah-Jane Tasker
Melbourne Biopharmaceutical Company Named First Corporate Sponsor of International Medical Aid Organisation
June, 2013: Melbourne biopharmaceutical company Specialised Therapeutics Australia has become the first corporate sponsor of an international charitable organisation which enables medical and surgical specialists to impart their expertise to colleagues in developing countries.
ABRAXANE Meets Primary Endpoint of Overall Survival Improvement in Phase III Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Study
November, 2012: Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) is pleased to announce that the phase III, randomised, international study of ABRAXANE® (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel) in combination with gemcitabine in treatment-naïve patients with advanced pancreatic cancer met its primary endpoint of overall survival.
New Drug To Fight Hospital Superbug Infection
June, 2012: A new therapy to treat a common hospital superbug* infection Clostridium difficile, will soon be available to Australian & New Zealand patients.
Royal Melbourne Hospital: First Public Hospital in Australia to Adopt New Technology for Brain Tumour Surgery
May, 2012: Patients with an aggressive form of brain tumour, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), have been given access to a new brain tumour visualisation drug, Gliolan® (5-aminolevulinic acid), at The Royal Melbourne Hospital.
First Australian Patients Treated With New Brain Tumour Drug - Gliolan®
September, 2011: Two Australian patients have undergone surgery with the aid of a new drug which assists neurosurgeons to visualise and remove high grade gliomas - brain tumours which typically have a poor prognosis.
Specialised Therapeutics’ Compassionate Program has provided cancer patients access to over $1m of cancer drug, ABRAXANE® since TGA approval
August, 2010: Hundreds of cancer patients around Australia have had free and subsidised access to a world leading cancer drug, under a compassionate program administered by the family-owned bio-pharmaceutical company which markets the treatment in Australia.
ABRAXANE® in Focus at International Conference
May, 2010: World leading advanced breast cancer drug ABRAXANE® (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel) will be in focus at a leading international medical conference in Chicago next week.