Why Neutral Advocacy Matters in Emerging Therapies
- Oncothera Advocacy
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
In a time of rapid innovation across cancer care, new therapies are offering patients more options than ever before. Among the most exciting advances is theranostics – a targeted, personalised approach that combines diagnostic imaging with therapeutic treatment in a single, tailored intervention.
But as the science races ahead, healthcare systems, policy frameworks, and access models often lag behind. That’s where advocacy steps in. And when it comes to fast-evolving fields like theranostics, neutral advocacy isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s absolutely essential.
What Do We Mean by Neutral Advocacy?
Neutral advocacy means speaking up for what’s right – not what’s commercially convenient.
It means putting patients, evidence and equity at the centre, rather than representing a single manufacturer, company, or commercial agenda.
It’s being informed by science, not swayed by sales.
At Oncothera Advocacy, we are proud to be Australia’s independent, not-for-profit voice for equitable access to theranostic treatment. We don’t develop therapies. We don’t push products. We don’t sell anything. We represent everyone – patients, clinicians, industry, researchers, and policy leaders – with a single unifying mission: to make personalised cancer treatment available and accessible for all Australians who need it.
The Problem with Fragmentation
Emerging treatment categories often suffer from what we call “fragmented momentum.”
You have incredible innovation happening in labs. You have small pilot programs showing clinical promise. You have a few hospitals rolling out access
on a localised level. But without a unifying voice to push for national standards, proper funding pathways, or education across the healthcare system – progress stalls. Everyone wants to move forward, but no one owns the roadmap.
Neutral advocacy organisations help fill that space. We’re not just cheerleaders for progress. We’re translators, navigators, and sometimes pressure points – asking the right questions, having ”critical conversations” and helping decision-makers see the full picture.
Theranostics: The Opportunity and the Challenge
Theranostics is already delivering transformative outcomes for patients with prostate, neuroendocrine, thyroid and skin cancers. With global research programs expanding and new indications emerging, this field is only growing. But Australia is at a crossroads. Despite having world-class nuclear medicine capability, too many patients still face:
Inconsistent access depending on where they live
High out-of-pocket costs, even for approved therapies
Delays in funding decisions due to system unfamiliarity
Lack of awareness across primary care and the general public
Without coordinated advocacy, these systemic gaps persist. Worse – they risk undermining public confidence in the therapies themselves.
Why Being Neutral Builds Trust
Let’s face it – in a landscape filled with commercial interests, regulatory tension, and varying clinical opinions, trust is earned through independence.
When a not-for-profit like Oncothera Advocacy makes a submission to a government agency, or publishes an infographic, or speaks at a policy roundtable, people listen differently. Because they know we’re not lobbying for one brand. We’re advocating for a category. For a future where evidence-based, personalised care is accessible to all – not just the fortunate few.
Neutral advocacy gives us permission to say what needs to be said. And it gives others permission to engage without defensiveness or competition.
A Platform for Everyone – Especially Patients
We also believe that patients and carers deserve more than one-off anecdotes in clinical papers. They deserve a platform. Neutral advocates create spaces where patients can speak from lived experience, without being co-opted by commercial or political agendas.
When patients tell us they were diagnosed with late-stage prostate cancer and had to travel interstate just to access a promising theranostic treatment – we know that story has the power to move hearts and shift policy. But only if it’s shared in the right way, with the right framing, and with respect for the complexity of the healthcare system. That’s our role.
Looking Ahead: Building a Smarter Ecosystem
The truth is, no single stakeholder can solve the access problem alone.
Industry brings innovation
Clinicians bring expertise
Government brings regulation and funding
Patients bring lived insight
Advocacy brings it all together
At Oncothera Advocacy, we’re focused on connecting the dots – fostering collaboration, asking better questions, and supporting a shared language across the ecosystem.
We want to see a future where emerging therapies like theranostics are no longer “emerging” – they’re integrated, equitable, and understood.
Join the Conversation
Whether you’re a clinician curious about how to talk to your patients about theranostics, a policymaker wondering what access should look like in 5 years, or a patient wanting to share your experience – we welcome your voice.
Because neutral doesn’t mean passive. It means balanced, informed, and focused on what matters most: better outcomes for patients.
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