The Australian Government has recently partnered with the Cancer Council of Australia to launch a nationwide colorectal cancer screening campaign, in response to the increasing prevalence of colorectal cancer and declining screening rates. Against this backdrop, the Australian colorectal cancer screening tests market is forecast to reach $10 million in 2030, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, “Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests Market Size (Value, Volume, ASP) by Segments, Share, Trend and SWOT Analysis, Regulatory and Reimbursement Landscape, Procedures and Forecast, 2015-2033,” reveals that Australia’s colorectal cancer screening tests market will account for about 8% of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market in 2023.

Nandini Nagpal, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although there is evidence that screening reduces colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, there is a large gap between the goals and reality of colorectal cancer screening in Australia. To overcome this, the Australian Government is investing $10.8 million to encourage eligible people to undergo potentially life-saving colorectal cancer screening. This is expected to improve testing rates, enable early detection and treatment, and save many lives.”

The efficacy and safety limitations of currently available colorectal cancer detection methods highlight the need for new methods to detect early-stage cancer. In this regard, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration recently approved the COLOTECT DNA methylation detection kit from BGI Genomics Co Ltd which has the potential to significantly improve early detection rates by providing a more accurate and reliable alternative to existing ones.

The COLOTECT DNA Methylation Detection Kit allows self-administration of sample and delivery to clinical laboratories by mail, reducing implementation costs and lessening the burden on public health systems.

Nagpal concludes: “BGI’s COLOTECT has the potential to broaden the screening aspect in the cancer domain. Government initiatives and the availability of new products are expected to provide great opportunities for the early detection and treatment of cancer. But to make government efforts more fruitful and protect themselves against such life-threatening diseases, people need to take on equal responsibility.”