Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia

What Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia does

Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia (TOGA) is a not-for-profit clinical research organization founded in 2008 (rebranded from the Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group in 2012) and headquartered in Thornbury, Victoria, Australia. TOGA designs and coordinates multi-site clinical trials in lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other thoracic malignancies across 15+ Australian hospital sites, leveraging partnerships with the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Melbourne, Omico (CaSP genomic profiling), and international collaborators such as PrECOG. Its core technical assets include comprehensive genomic profiling via next-generation sequencing, serial liquid biopsy and ctDNA analysis (ASPiRATION-2L), the TRACKER national lung cancer biobank, and a National Molecular Tumor Board that translates test results into treatment recommendations.

The organization's business model is a hybrid charitable, grant-funded, and member-supported model. Revenue streams include large competitive government grants from the Medical Research Future Fund (notably AUD $14.7 million for ASPiRATION-2L), philanthropic donations and community fundraising (City2Surf, Melbourne Marathon, Kosi Climb, Lunar New Year Banquet), membership fees from 400+ healthcare professionals, event registration from the Annual Scientific Meeting and preceptorships, and pharmaceutical sponsorship from 14+ companies for events and programs. TOGA serves three primary segments: healthcare professionals (respiratory physicians, medical oncologists, surgeons, nurses, allied health), patients and consumers with thoracic cancers, and clinical and translational researchers, with a secondary consumer-advocacy function co-led with groups such as ALK Positive Australia.

TOGA operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees under CEO Megan Sanders and a clinician-led board chaired by Prof Emily Stone, with Prof Ben Solomon as Scientific Chair and Prof Shalini Vinod as Finance Chair. Its funding flow is concentrated through a small number of large grants, which introduces program-level concentration risk exemplified by the early closure of the DREAM3R mesothelioma trial at 214 of a 480-participant target. TOGA's strategic priorities for 2025-2028 center on expanding trial portfolio breadth, scaling the TRACKER biobank and LUCAP quality data platform, supporting the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, and embedding consumer advocacy across its research governance.

Name

Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia

Legal name

Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia Limited

Website

https://thoraciconcology.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia (TOGA) is an Australian not-for-profit clinical research organization that designs and coordinates multi-site thoracic cancer trials, operating the TRACKER national lung cancer biobank and serving healthcare professionals, patients, and researchers across Australia and New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thoracic Oncology Clinical Research

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Thoracic (Lung) Oncology (HLAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lung Cancer Screening & Pulmonary Nodule Clinic (HLAKANAI), Molecular Tumor Boards & Clinical Interpretation Services (HLAAANAD), Oncology Diagnostics (tumor profiling, MRD, liquid biopsy) (HLAAALAE)

Keywords

• Thoracic oncology research
• Lung cancer clinical trials
• Comprehensive genomic profiling
• Medical research grants
• Healthcare professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: TOGA accepts donations to support lung cancer and mesothelioma research. Fundraising activities include City2Surf, Melbourne Nike Marathon Festival, Kosi Climb, Lunar New Year Banquet, and other community events. Donations are tax-deductible for Australian donors (ABN: 47 641 984 198).
2. Government and Research Grants: TOGA receives funding through Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grants, including $14.7 million for ASPiRATION-2L liquid biopsy trial, and other research funding.
3. Membership Fees: TOGA operates a membership program for healthcare professionals and consumers interested in thoracic oncology research and care.
4. Event Registration: Revenue from Annual Scientific Meetings, workshops, preceptorship programs, and educational events.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

TOGA designs, coordinates and funds multi-site clinical trials in lung cancer and mesothelioma across Australia and New Zealand, supported by a national molecular tumor board, comprehensive genomic profiling, liquid biopsy testing and the TRACKER lung cancer biobank. It also delivers healthcare professional education through an Annual Scientific Meeting, workshops, preceptorship programs and podcasts, and disburses research grants to advance thoracic oncology outcomes.

Product overview

The Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia (TOGA) is a clinical trial network and research organization rather than a traditional software product company. Its portfolio consists of clinical trials (ASPiRATION Program, ASPiRATION 2L liquid biopsy trial, DREAM3R mesothelioma trial, OCEANiC, SHERLOCK, DYNAMALK), supported by core enabling infrastructure (TRACKER Biobank, LUCAP quality data platform, Molecular Tumour Board). These clinical research programs are complemented by education initiatives including the Annual Scientific Meeting, TOGA Podcasts, and Inspirational Research Grants. TOGA does not operate as a unified software platform but rather as a collaborative research consortium that coordinates multi-site clinical trials across Australia and New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASPiRATION: A pioneering national initiative to assess the clinical impact of comprehensive genomic profiling in metastatic lung cancer patients, delivering access to genomic testing and targeted therapies across Australia.
• ASPiRATION-2 Liquid (ASPi-2L)
• Inspirational Research Grant
• TRACKER Lung Cancer Biobank

Products and services

• ASPiRATION Program An observational cohort study and pioneering partnership that provided comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) for 1000 newly diagnosed metastatic NSCLC patients, enabling access to targeted therapies through a national Molecular Tumour Board and remote referral pathways.
• ASPiRATION-2L Liquid Biopsy Clinical Trial A landmark national clinical trial evaluating serial liquid biopsies to guide treatment decisions for 500 patients with advanced oncogene-addicted NSCLC that has become resistant to targeted therapy, using circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) analysis to enable personalized treatment selection.
• DREAM3R Clinical Trial Phase III randomized trial evaluating durvalumab with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma, identifying potential biomarkers from blood and tissue samples.
• OCEANiC Clinical Trial Clinical trial optimizing adjuvant therapy in early-stage EGFR-mutant lung cancer, determining whether patients require intensification of osimertinib monotherapy with chemotherapy.
• SHERLOCK Clinical Trial Clinical trial examining sotorasib in first-line treatment of advanced KRAS G12C+ NSCLC in combination with chemotherapy and bevacizumab.
• DYNAMALK Clinical Trial Clinical trial exploring dynamic molecular profiling via ctDNA in ALK-positive NSCLC to describe resistance patterns and inform personalized management.
• TOGA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) Annual conference bringing together over 400 professionals to discuss advancements in thoracic cancer care, featuring scientific sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities.
• TOGA Podcast Series - Conversations in Lung Cancer Research Educational podcast series featuring expert discussions on lung cancer research, treatments, clinical trials, smoking cessation advice and clinical practice for healthcare professionals and patients, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Inspirational Research Grants Philanthropically-funded grants supporting research into prevention, treatment, and improved lives of those living with thoracic cancers, awarded to researchers with diverse project portfolios.
• TRACKER Lung Cancer Biobank First national lung cancer biobank collecting tissue and blood samples from individuals with lung cancer for translational research, supporting immunotherapy resistance studies.
• LUCAP Lung Cancer Audit Platform National lung cancer clinical quality data platform enabling quality improvement and benchmarking across Australian healthcare services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Medicare-funded NGS testing for non-squamous NSCLC enabled nationwide access to precision medicine
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ALK Positive Australia Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 July 2024Partnership dedicated to advancing ALK+ NSCLC research through grant funding. ALK Positive Australia and TOGA co-funded a grant to support research in ALK-positive lung cancer, with consumer representative Lisa Briggs co-leading fundraising efforts and shaping the DYNAMALK clinical trial.
• PrECOG (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on DREAM3R clinical trial - DuRvalumab with chemotherapy as first-line treatment in advanced pleural mesothelioma. PrECOG serves as the US coordinating group for this Phase III randomized trial.
• University of Sydney - NHMRC Clinical Trials CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ASPiRATION and ASPiRATION-2L clinical trials. The NHMRC CTC coordinates remote consent and enrollment for patients outside participating trial sites across Australia.
• University of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on ASPiRATION-2L liquid biopsy trial, contributing to national framework for delivering liquid biopsy testing across Australia.
• Omico (Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the ASPiRATION program providing comprehensive genomic profiling through the Cancer Screening Program (CaSP). Omico enables remote consent and central testing for patients nationwide.
• Slater and Gordon LawyersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSlater and Gordon team was the highest fundraiser at City2Surf 2023, raising funds for thoracic cancer research. The firm has supported TOGA through participation in fundraising events over multiple years.
• Multiple Pharmaceutical Companies (Sponsors)minorOthersPharmaceutical sponsors including Johnson & Johnson, Boehringer Ingelheim, MSD, Pfizer, Amgen, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Roche, Illumina, Eli Lilly, Merck, Daiichi Sankyo, GenesisCare, and others sponsor TOGA's Annual Scientific Meeting and events.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LUNGevity Foundation: Largest US non-profit lung cancer-focused organization funding research, education, and patient support. Comparable to TOGA in mission and donor-funded research model, but operating at greater scale in the US with broader funding programs.
• ALK Positive (US): Patient-founded advocacy organization funding ALK-positive lung cancer research and co-funding the DYNAMALK trial with TOGA. Directly comparable peer as an active funder and shaper of thoracic oncology patient-oriented research.
• Lung Foundation Australia: Australia's leading lung health non-profit covering lung disease and lung cancer research, advocacy, and patient support. Comparable to TOGA as an Australasian thoracic-health-focused organization, with broader respiratory mandate but overlapping lung cancer activities.
• Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF): US-based patient-founded non-profit funding lung cancer research and patient advocacy initiatives. Comparable to TOGA's role as a lung cancer research convener, with similar focus on patient involvement in clinical trial design.

Broad incumbents

• ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group: One of the largest US NCI-sponsored cooperative clinical trials groups running multi-site thoracic oncology trials. Direct functional analog to TOGA's clinical trial network model, but operating across the United States with substantially larger scale.
• European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): European clinical trials cooperative group conducting thoracic cancer trials and translational research. Comparable to TOGA in its cooperative group structure and cancer trial focus, but operating across European academic centers.
• International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC): Global multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the study and eradication of lung cancer. Comparable to TOGA as the worldwide convener of thoracic oncology research, education, and clinical guidance, but at a much larger international scale.

Others

• Cancer Australia: Australian government cancer control agency that awarded TOGA-affiliated researchers the Jeannie Ferris Award and shapes national lung cancer policy. Adjacent ecosystem peer as the federal body governing cancer research funding and screening program implementation.
• Omico (Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Centre): Australian non-profit enabling national comprehensive genomic profiling for cancer patients through the CaSP program in partnership with TOGA's ASPiRATION. Functionally adjacent infrastructure partner, not a competitor, but operationally comparable as a non-profit cancer research delivery organization.

Regional players

• Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG): Australia/New Zealand cooperative cancer trials group focused on gastrointestinal cancers. Closest structural peer to TOGA as an Australasian cooperative oncology trials group, with parallel membership, MRFF grant model, and clinical trial network approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TOGAANZ
• YouTubepodcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/toga-podcast/id1542166572
• Facebookfacebook.com/Thoracic-Oncology-Group-of-Australasia-Ltd-100035080938511
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thoracic-oncology-group-of-australasia
• Instagraminstagram.com/togaanz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia