Orthocell’s Remplir used in nerve-sparing prostate cancer surgery

• Australian urologists are using Orthocell’s flagship nerve repair product Remplir in prostate cancer surgery
• Remplir holds promise in reducing post-surgical complications due to peripheral nerve injury
• Up to 80% of men experience erectile dysfunction and up to 35% suffer from urinary incontinence following radical proctectomy

Special Report: Australian urologists are now using Orthocell’s flagship nerve repair product Remplir during prostate cancer surgery in a promising new application aimed at reducing post-surgical complications caused by peripheral nerve injury.

Perth-based regenerative medicine company Orthocell (ASX:OCC) has announced its flagship nerve repair device Remplir has been introduced to urologists in Australia for use in nerve-sparing robotic-assisted radical prostatectomies (RARP).

A nerve wrap used in peripheral nerve repair Remplir has been used in ~40 surgical cases to assist in improving recovery of erectile function and urinary continence post-surgery.

Orthocell is collating clinical data on initial patients and will release findings once available.

The company is also investing in further clinical studies to build evidence and assist medical education initiatives to drive further adoption of Remplir in the prostate cancer treatment market.

Most diagnosed cancer in men

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in Australia, with the disease the most diagnosed cancer in men in the country, with more than 26,000 new cases in 2024.

If the tumour has not spread beyond the prostate, first-line treatment is radical prostatectomy, the complete removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissue to ensure all cancer cells are removed.

Orthocell said radical prostatectomy is associated with high rates of urinary incontinence (UI) and erectile dysfunction (ED) post-surgery, which significantly impact quality of life.

Post-operative ED rates can be as high as 80% 12 months after surgery, while UI rates can affect up to 35% of patients three months post-surgery.

Watch: CEO and managing director Paul Anderson 

Use of Remplir in robotic-assisted radical prostatectomies

While RARP increases surgical precision and preserves prostate anatomy, the risks of ED and UI remain significant.

Remplir is being adopted by Australian urologists in RARP to protect the neurovascular bundle (NVB), a network of peripheral nerves and blood vessels surrounding the prostate during surgery.

In low-risk patients, nerve-sparing procedures to preserve integrity of the NVB, have been shown to reduce the number of patients who experience post-surgical ED and UI.

It is estimated up to 75% of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy could be eligible for such procedures.

In Australia, over 12,000 RARP procedures are performed annually using the da Vinci Surgical System (DVSS).

Orthocell’s distribution partner, Device Technologies, is the exclusive DVSS distributor across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

The strategic alignment supports the introduction of Remplir to urologists performing RARP, furthering its expansion into new surgical specialties.

Orthocell explained, much like peripheral nerve repair procedures that restore function to the arms and legs, Remplir can protect the NVB from damage and promote restoration of normal nerve function.

Significant step forward in Remplir expansion

Orthocell CEO and managing director Paul Anderson said use of Remplir in nerve-sparing RARP highlights the product’s versatility and superior performance in protecting and reconstructing damaged peripheral nerves.

“Surgeons across multiple specialties – including orthopaedics, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and now urology – are increasingly adopting Remplir to simplify procedures, minimise scarring and improve functional recovery,” he said.

“This represents a significant step forward in Remplir’s organic expansion into broader peripheral nerve repair applications and has the potential to substantially increase the device’s global total addressable market.”

With ~$27 million in cash and no debt, Orthocell said it was well-positioned to drive rapid product adoption, delivering a step change in revenue in FY26.

Following US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in April the Remplir rollout in the US$1.6 billion US market continues to build momentum.

In-country representatives are working with distributors to gain hospital approvals, on-board surgeons, and establish active accounts with initial US surgical cases continuing to build.

The company is also accelerating its Canadian launch and remains on schedule to submit its EU/UK application in Q4 CY25.

This article was developed in collaboration with Orthocell, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.