Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy - October 2021 - Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation Jobs, Tourism, Science and ...
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Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Department of
Jobs, Tourism, Science
Department
and of Health
Innovation
GOVERNMENT OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Health and
Medical Life Sciences
Industry Strategy
October 2021
Contents
Deputy Premier's foreward ................................................................................3
Message from the Chief Scientist ................................................................. 4
Government’s vision............................................................................................. 6
Vision............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Objectives................................................................................................................................................... 6
Approach..................................................................................................................................................... 7
Why a Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy?............ 8
An industry of vast potential............................................................................................................. 8
COVID-19 and other opportunities.................................................................................................. 8
Acting now for future growth........................................................................................................... 9
Delivering a whole-of-government approach..........................................................................10
The benefits are broad and numerous........................................................................................10
Western Australia’s comparative advantages......................................... 12
Strong research base............................................................................................................................ 12
Vibrant health and medical innovation ecosystem............................................................... 13
Unique natural environment............................................................................................................14
An attractive place to live and do business...............................................................................14
Government focus areas....................................................................................19
1. Strengthening the innovation ecosystem .............................................................................19
2. Facilitating commercialisation..................................................................................................20
3. Developing skills and attracting talent..................................................................................20
4. Attracting investment ................................................................................................................... 21
5. Supporting infrastructure for advanced manufacturing............................................... 21
Implementation and stakeholder engagement.................................... 23
Acknowledgements............................................................................................ 23
2 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy
Deputy Premier's foreward
Global demand is increasing for new These advances are being transferred to
health and medical technologies, other sectors including defence, rural
pharmaceuticals and precision medical and remote health delivery and patient
products and Western Australia can monitoring, agriculture and advanced
meet this demand by utilising our state’s manufacturing applications for medical
internationally recognised expertise to products and devices.
commercialise practical solutions to
The Western Australian Government is
often complex health needs.
strongly committed to supporting the
Interest in the sector has been amplified medical technology and pharmaceutical
by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting sectors through attracting investment,
the importance of reducing dependence growing research and development and
on imports by building resilience and commercialising medical products and
sovereign capability to secure local services for the local, national and
health and medical supply chains. global marketplace.
WA’s health and medical life sciences The Health and Medical Life Sciences
sector has experienced significant Industry Strategy, will deliver economic
growth in recent years, creating and benefits and improved patient and
exporting world-leading innovations that general health outcomes. The strategy will
improve health outcomes for people in build on Western Australian Government
our state, nationally and globally. initiatives to stimulate and strengthen the
industry over the next four years, and
Diversifying the state’s economy is a key
position the health and medical life
objective of the Western Australian
sciences sector in WA as a world-leading,
Government. The state’s economic
sustainable and value-adding industry.
development framework Diversify WA sets
out the initiatives, actions and strategies I am pleased to support this collaboration
that will contribute to achieving a strong between the Department of Jobs,
and diversified economy delivering secure, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the
quality jobs through increased investment Department of Health, which provides
across a broad range of industries. strategic focus to removing barriers to
innovation, helping grow local businesses,
In Western Australia, our strong
creating and retaining highly skilled jobs
resources sector has played a vital role in
and diversifying the state’s economy.
our economic success, and the
importance of this sector will continue. Hon Roger Cook MLA
However, the emerging health and Deputy Premier; Minister for
medical life sciences sector presents an Health; Medical Research;
opportunity to grow a new, globally- State Development, Jobs
significant and sustainable industry and Trade; Science
sector to diversify our economy and build
economic resilience.
Western Australia leads the world in
autonomous and remote operations,
robotics and systems integration. These
capabilities have been developed by the
resources sector through unparalleled
automation across multiple operations.
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 3
Message from the Chief Scientist
I am delighted to support the Health test, while Avicena and the Telethon Kids
and Medical Life Sciences Industry Institute developed a LAMP-based
Strategy, an industry I am passionate screening test.
about. The strategy will enable turning
Western Australia’s health and medical
the state’s many comparative
sector uses world-leading remote
advantages in the life sciences into high
operation capabilities developed in the
quality jobs, greater investment and
state’s resources sector and Royal Perth
broad community benefits.
Hospital’s Health in a Virtual
Western Australia has a strong research Environment (HIVE) is a prime example
base, which is the engine room for of remote monitoring of patients.
creating innovative commercial
The state has a world-class research
opportunities. Our five universities all
base, entrepreneurial talent and
have strengths in the life sciences, as do
commercialisation track record in the
the excellent medical research institutes
health and medical life sciences. For
– Telethon Kids, Harry Perkins, Lions Eye
example, of the 15 Food and Drug
and Perron. The very bright people in
Administration approved drugs
these organisations generate the ideas
developed nationally through the
that become the commercial successes
university sector, six were developed in
now, as well as into the future.
WA and half of these were RNA
The state has been home to the therapeutics.
development of very successful
Our state is a biodiversity hotspot, with
companies, which have subsequently
flora and fauna which do not exist
grown nationally or internationally
anywhere else on the planet. The world
– Avita, iCeutica, and Sirtex to name a
has an urgent need for new antibiotics,
few. The current group of companies
cancer drugs, anti-viral compounds,
on the rise is extremely encouraging,
some of which could be isolated from
with Linear Clinical Research, Ozgene,
the state’s biodiversity treasure trove.
Orthocell, Suda, and Gelflex garnering
successes. While emerging What an exciting time to be working in
businesses such as OncoRes, the life sciences. Let’s grasp this special
Respirion, Artrya, and Singular Health moment and make the most of the
are burgeoning rapidly. opportunities in front of us.
It was uplifting to see how Western Professor Peter Klinken AC
Australian companies were able to adapt Chief Scientist of Western Australia
during the COVID-19 pandemic and
provide vital health commodities for the
community. The many success stories
include Wild Child Laboratories for
sanitisers, Adarsh Australia for face
shields, and several companies which
produced prototype ventilators.
Exciting novel approaches to diagnostic
tests for the COVID-19 virus have been
developed within the State, with
Alcolizer producing an antigen-based
4 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy
Defining health and medical life sciences
For the purposes of this strategy, the vaccines and other therapies. Leveraging
health and medical life sciences industry Western Australia’s comparative
has been divided into five subsectors, advantages and capabilities in ‘omics’
including digital health, medical and gene, cell and tissue therapies
technology, biotechnology, advances the whole biotech subsector.
pharmaceuticals and health and Western Australia is home to drug-
wellness. Some of these areas overlap development companies offering a new
and gains made in one subsector can generation of RNA therapeutics that
have positive flow-on effects to others. address unmet needs in treating disease.
Digital health is Pharmaceuticals are
characterised by the use of compounds, peptides or
digital technologies such as biologics manufactured for
smart phones, social use as medicines in health
networks, internet applications and data care. Our state has high-quality discovery
science to treat, diagnose, cure, mitigate research, pharmacology profiling
and prevent disease or other conditions. capability and pre-clinical models in
Western Australia is also a global leader in universities and research institutes,
autonomous and remote operations, alongside a number of small
artificial intelligence, robotics and systems pharmaceutical companies looking for
integration. This enables cross-sectoral
funding to expand.
application to rural and remote health
delivery and patient monitoring, and Western Australia has the capability to
advanced manufacturing applications for undertake globally-recognised clinical
medical products and devices. trials for large overseas pharmaceutical
companies, as well as home-grown
Medical technology
companies. Opportunities also exist for
(medtech) refers to the
bio-prospecting and the
development of medical
commercialisation of the state’s unique
devices and electronic
biodiversity through pharmaceuticals.
products for application in healthcare. It
is a broad sector, covering disposables, Health and wellness
capital equipment, surgical procedure refers to the products or
innovations, implant technology, services that improve health
biomaterials, testing and diagnostics and wellbeing, including
devices. Western Australia’s medtech wellness plans, cannabinoid products,
subsector consists of many small commercial innovative service models
companies at an early development stage. and cosmeceuticals. It does not include
Biotechnology (biotech) non-scientifically validated products or
is technology based on living services such as aromatherapy and
systems, organisms or alternative medicines. Growth in the
processes to improve the health and wellness sector does not
quality of human life. Biotech can be require progression through a complex
used for a variety of applications in pathway to commercialisation. Medicinal
agriculture, industry and medicine. In cannabis manufacturing is an area of the
medicine, biotech is used to improve health and wellness sector that is seeing
diagnosis, produce and deliver drugs, growth locally, nationally and globally.
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 5
Government’s vision
Vision
Western Australia has a world-class health and medical life sciences
industry. This sector commercialises local research and innovations –
contributing to the diversification of the economy, the creation of highly
skilled jobs and improved patient outcomes globally.
Objectives
Objectives Focus areas
Enhance collaboration and coordination
1. Strengthening the innovation
across the health and medical life
ecosystem
sciences ecosystem
Support market readiness and provide
accelerated pathways for the
2. Facilitating commercialisation
commercialisation of health and medical
life sciences products and services
Build a critical mass of skills and
expertise to develop and commercialise 3. Developing skills and attracting
health and medical life sciences talent
products and services
Facilitate access to investment necessary
to progress health and medical life
4. Attracting investment
sciences innovations through to
commercialisation
Support and enhance local medtech and
5. Supporting infrastructure for
pharmaceutical manufacturing
advanced manufacturing
infrastructure and capabilities
6 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy
Approach
The government’s strategy builds on industry feedback to drive the
growth of the health and medical life sciences ecosystem and the
commercialisation of local innovations.
The Health and Medical Life Sciences The strategy’s focus areas respond
Industry Strategy will guide the Western to industry’s concerns regarding
Australian Government’s efforts for challenges to:
strategic development of this industry by
» collaborate and scale-up operations in
building on the state’s comparative
the current ecosystem
advantages. This strategy supports the
state’s economic development » navigate regulations to commercialise
framework, Diversify WA, which innovations, particularly regarding
identifies health and medical life intellectual property, procurement and
sciences as a priority sector for the state. bio-prospecting
» attract and retain relevant capabilities
The strategy focuses on supporting the
and skills
growth of an ecosystem that will
support innovators, taking their ideas » attract large pharmaceutical companies
and research through to prototyping, and other investment to support
scale-up and commercialisation. It progressing local innovations along the
considers opportunities across the path to commercialisation
breadth of the health and medical life » access infrastructure to develop and test
sciences industry subsectors. prototypes, and manufacture products.
Commercialisation pipeline and key components
A metaphor of a ‘pipeline’ is often used to describe the innovation and commercialisation
process, from idea generation through to scale-up and export. The diagram below shows the
different stages of growth along the pipeline and the key components. This process has been
simplified and displayed linearly. However, in practice it is often complex and iterative.
Clinical/product
Ideas Early concept Scale-up
generation development development and export
and testing
Needs assessment, Basic research, Evidence-building, Scaling-up,
design thinking pre-clinical testing, proof of concept, exporting, public
construction of prototyping, listing, expansion to
value proposition manufacturability, other markets,
feasibility studies, global marketing,
clinical trials, international
regulatory approvals exporting
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 7
Why a Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy? Western Australia stands on the cusp of exponential growth in the health and medical life sciences industry. The state needs a dedicated strategy to reap the full potential of its world-class research, vibrant innovation ecosystem, unique environment and cross-sector manufacturing capability. An industry of vast potential trillion for pharmaceuticals and $1.0 According to AusBiotech’s Life Sciences trillion for medtech. Sector Snapshot 2019, Western The MedTech and Pharma Growth Australia’s broader life sciences sector, Centre (MTPConnect) anticipates that which includes the health and medical the medtech, biotech and life sciences industry, has experienced pharmaceuticals industries could create the fastest growth in Australia. 28,000 jobs and 200 new companies The number of life sciences companies in nationally by 2025. Western Australia has increased significantly in recent years. This growth COVID-19 and other mirrors global demand for opportunities pharmaceutical and medical products, The COVID-19 pandemic has vastly which are already one of Australia’s accelerated this growth by driving global largest manufactured exports, with an interest in medical innovations, diagnostic estimated value of $8.4 billion in 2019. devices, vaccines and treatments. It has CSIRO’s Medical Technologies and highlighted sovereign risks associated Pharmaceuticals Roadmap 2017 with external supply of strategic medical forecast global revenue from medtech inputs and products, and has provided and pharmaceutical industries to reach local industry with an opportunity to $3.7 trillion in 2025, including $2.4 innovate and adapt their services. 8 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy
The pandemic also reinforced
opportunities for Western Australia’s WA CASE STUDY
health and medical life sciences industry.
COVID-19 and Western
Companies can draw on expertise from
the resources and space industries to
Australia’s health and medical
advance remote health delivery, robotics, supply chains
artificial intelligence, virtual reality and Diversify WA: Supply Chain Development
wearable device technologies. Plan identifies key actions to target the
The trends and predictions show the growth of industries in the health and
potential for Western Australia to play a medical life sciences sector, particularly the
far greater role in this sector and development and commercialisation of
capitalise on the local research talent is innovative medical products and services
globally recognised. and opportunities for local manufacture.
Western Australia is well-placed to seize During the height of the COVID-19
this opportunity. It can build on its pandemic in Western Australia, and with
successful management of the support from government, a number of
COVID-19 pandemic to penetrate this companies across a variety of industries
rapidly growing global market. rapidly adapted their services to produce
hand sanitisers, personal protective
Coupled with local expertise in delivering equipment, testing regimes and drugs to
health services in remote areas, be used in the treatment of the disease.
transferable technologies from the This rapid transition to COVID-19-specific
resources sector, and access to biodiversity collaboration has been expanded across a
hotspots, this capability is key to growing a broader suite of health and medical goods
competitive health and medical life and services beyond the pandemic.
sciences industry in Western Australia.
COVID-19 has impacted supply chains and
highlighted the importance of reducing
Acting now for future growth dependence on imports and building
Western Australia aims to fully realise the resilience and sovereign capability to
opportunity of this rapidly growing industry secure local health and medical supplies.
with strong leadership and support from
government, which will grow the local Successfully securing supply chains will
health and medical life sciences be reliant on industry’s capacity and
ecosystem and facilitate accelerated capability to access the relevant capital
pathways to commercialisation. and infrastructure, technical expertise
and certification for prototyping and
Local start-ups, scale-ups and small-to- manufacturing. This will enable
medium-enterprises must be given the collaboration and cross-sector
right support to assist in removing engagement to establish effective
barriers so they can continue to grow, business–government relationships.
create jobs and importantly, stay and
thrive in Western Australia.
The window of opportunity is limited in
time, as global supply chains
reorganise themselves on the back of
the COVID-19 pandemic, and as other
jurisdictions compete to capture global
investment and talent.
The right time is right now.
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 9
Opportunity exists for government and alignment enables the state to focus
private investors to help diversify the resources, facilitate delivery, and secure
Western Australian economy in a way opportunities with other industries
that is meaningful, sustainable and targeted by Government, such as
valuable to our community. automation and remote services,
advanced manufacturing, data science
Delivering a whole-of- and cybersecurity.
government approach The strategy also provides a robust basis
The Department of Jobs, Tourism, for working with the Australian
Science and Innovation, in collaboration Government to grow the industry by
with the Department of Health, has led leveraging support through targeted
the development of the Western programs and initiatives, such as the
Australia’s Health and Medical Life Modern Manufacturing Strategy.
Sciences Industry Strategy.
The benefits are broad
This strategy provides a strategic
framework with a consistent, clear and
and numerous
coordinated approach that can be Local success in the life sciences industry
implemented with industry, to build on drives jobs creation, economic growth
the state’s current and future comparative and increased investment, while it also
advantages and overcome barriers to improves the health and wellbeing of the
growth and increased commercialisation. global community.
All government agencies and external This success will also support the
stakeholders must work toward a resilience of the state’s economy by
common vision, in line with the Western growing a sector that has emerged as
Australian Government’s broader one of the world’s ‘recession-proof’
economic development agenda. This economies as it rapidly, and
WA CASE STUDY global clients, which highlights the risk of
lost IP, talent, jobs and growth for the State.
The Zenith endograft – This valuable lesson in lost opportunity
Invented in Perth, now underscores the imperative for the
a global success story implementation of this strategy to
manufactured in Queensland enable local companies to stay and
Thousands of patients’ lives have been grow in Western Australia.
saved around the world because of an
invention from Western Australia.
Professor Michael Laurence-Brown and
Mr David Hartley invented the Zenith
endograft to repair abdominal aortic
aneurysms under radiological
guidance while working at Royal Perth
Hospital in the 1990s.
This technology has since been licensed
to an out-of-state company which
manufactures and exports the stents to Image credit: WA Health
10 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategyexponentially, outperforms other The State’s close proximity to major
sectors. It will reduce the sovereign risk markets and outstanding international
of health and medical supply chains connectivity result in an economy that is
being compromised, and contribute to a export-orientated – with around half of
safer, better future. Australia’s exports of goods originating
from WA each year. WA also has timezone
A global network proximity with more than half of the
WA’s network of global investment and world’s populations, and its counter-
trade offices provide support and geographic location to Europe and North
information for worldwide investors America enables work to continue across
and buyers. time zones for 24 hours if required.
Existing state initiatives that support the growth of the health and
medical life sciences industry include:
Western Australia's
Western Australia industry policy and
health initiatives funding frameworks
» WA Sustainable Health Review 2019 » The New Industries Fund
» WA Future Health Research and » Western Australian Science and
Innovation Fund Strategy 2020–2022 Innovation Framework 2018–2022
» Precision Health in Western Australia » Diversify WA
Inaugural report from the Minister for » Diversify WA: Supply Chain
Health’s Precision Health Council 2020 Development Plan 2021-22
» Royal Perth Hospital Synapse 74 » MTPConnect WA Life Sciences
Innovation Hub (WALSIH) (supported
» Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE)
by the New Industries Fund - UWA-
» Medical Research Institutes, including MTPConnect)
› Telethon Kids Institute » Investment Attraction and New
› Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Industries Fund
Research
» COVID Industry Support Fund
› Perron Institute for Neurological and
Translational Science » Local Capability Fund (LCF) is to assist
› Lions Eye Institute small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
in Western Australia to increase their
» WA Health Translation Network (WAHTN)
capability and competitiveness as
suppliers of products, services and
works to the Western Australian State
Government, major projects and other
important markets.
» State STEM Skills Strategy ‘Future Jobs,
Future Skills – Driving STEM Skills in
Western Australia’.
Image credit: WA Health
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 11Western Australia’s
comparative advantages
Western Australia’s unique comparative advantages in the health and
medical life sciences industry are key to attracting capital and talent in an
increasingly competitive global environment.
Strong research base the growth and competitiveness of the
industry are already here in Western
Western Australia has an internationally
Australia. Their expertise extends to
recognised research base and significant
niche and specialised technologies, such
entrepreneurial talent in health and
as rare diseases and ‘omics’ technologies.
medical sciences, achieving both scientific
excellence and commercial success. The state’s substantial expertise in this
Researchers, experienced clinicians, industry is underpinned by outstanding
entrepreneurs and innovators who have research infrastructure, including five
the expertise and ability to contribute to universities, three medical schools,
Highlights
» Nobel Laureates and Western Australian remote monitoring service, providing
clinicians Professor Barry Marshall and continuous monitoring of vulnerable
Dr Robin Warren discovered the role of patients in selected hospitals through
the Helicobacter pylori bacterium in an artificial intelligence platform and a
causing stomach ulcers, which resulted two-way audio-visual system linking
in the formation of the company Tri Med. HIVE clinicians with staff on the ward.
» A team of Western Australian » MTPConnect WA Life Sciences
researchers, led by Professors Steve Innovation Hub focuses on developing
Wilton and Sue Fletcher, has pioneered medtech, biotech and pharmaceuticals
a US Food and Drug Administration to grow Western Australia’s life sciences
(FDA) approved personalised treatment sector, create jobs and expand
for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This opportunities for greater access to
therapeutic platform has the potential international markets
to be used in treating diabetes, asthma,
» The Royal Perth Hospital Synapse 74, a
coronary heart disease and Alzheimer’s,
health and medical innovation hub
and to even induce host resistance to
funded by the Western Australian
COVID-19 infection.
Government, will provide an
» iCeutica created new branded environment for closer interaction
medicines using its proprietary between clinicians, patients, innovators
SoluMatrix™ Fine Particle Technology, and innovation funders.
invented in Western Australia. Three
» Western Australia is home to Avicena
products using the technology have
Systems, a medtech company that is
been approved by the FDA and
designing and manufacturing the
launched in the USA.
world’s first low-cost, ultra-high
» Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE) throughput robotic LAMP-based
is Western Australia’s first in-patient screening system for COVID-19.
12 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry StrategyNorthern corridor
multiple medical research institutes Edith Cowan University,
and one of the largest medical Joondalup Heath
precinct in the Southern Hemisphere. Campus, Telethon Kids
Institute presence and
Western Australia is home to the Queen new ORIGINS Project.
Elizabeth II Medical Centre (QEII), and
new technologically advanced hospitals,
including recently commissioned
facilities such as Fiona Stanley Hospital
and Perth Children’s Hospital. Western corridor Central
QEII Campus, The Business District
The Western Australian Government University of Western Royal Perth Hospital,
Australia, Telethon Kids
has committed $1.8 billion toward the Synapse 74, university
Institute, Linear Clinical presence, Medical
construction of a new world-class Research, new Perth Research Foundation
Women and Babies Hospital. Children’s Hospital, Harry and innovation
Perkins Institute of collaboration spaces.
Western Australia also hosts strong Medical Research and
data science infrastructure and high- the Western Australian
performance computing, including the Health Translation
Network headquarters.
Pawsey Supercomputer and DownUnder
GeoSolutions, which provides high-
performance computing as a service.
Vibrant health and medical
innovation ecosystem Perth
Western Australia has a rapidly
growing and very active health and
medical innovation ecosystem,
comprising a mix of private businesses,
universities, public hospitals and non-
governmental organisations.
In 2019 there were more than 41 Fremantle
biotech and pharmaceutical
companies and 53 medtech and digital Eastern corridor
health companies based in Western Curtin University
Australia, along with 22 research Bentley, new Midland
Hospital Campus,
institutions and 63 services and ChemCentre and new
support organisations. Since 2020, and Southern corridor biobanking centre.
especially as a result of the impact of Murdoch University
Health Precinct including
the new Australian
National Phenome Centre,
Fiona Stanley Hospital,
State Agricultural
Biotechnology Centre,
Harry Perkins Institute of
Medical Research South,
and the Animal
Resource Centre.
N
Rockingham
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 13COVID-19, significant numbers of local Australia’s 15 biodiversity hotspots
companies and institutions have
expanded their staff levels to
accommodate rapidly growing demand.
Global growth forecasts already show an
extremely promising future ahead for
these organisations. All it will take is
visionaries, both from government and
private investors, to take a risk and back
our existing local enterprises.
Most of these entities are located in
multiple clusters across the
metropolitan area, including the
MTPConnect WA Life Sciences
Innovation Hub, based at the Harry
Perkins Institute of Medical Research,
where facilities and IP (intellectual Source: The Western Australian
Biodiversity Science Institute
property) protection services support
active collaboration and innovation.
and a favourable climate. There is a
Unique natural environment vibrant and high-performing local
economy, with a high proportion of
Western Australia’s unique natural
ASX-listed companies and operational
environment has shaped local expertise
bases for large multinationals.
and know-how and is a key comparative
advantage to developing niche health In the current climate, Western Australia
and medical life science products. is an increasingly attractive destination
for returning talent, who are drawn to
In particular, the vast distances in the
the safety, security and strong economy
state’s regional and remote areas have
of their home state.
spurred advances and innovations in
telemedicine, which are supported by Western Australia has the competitive
world-leading expertise in remote advantage of close geographic and
mining operations. timezone proximity to more than half of
the world’s populations. When coupled
The wealth of natural genetic material
with the state’s abundant resources, highly
found in the state’s eight biodiversity
sought-after world class industries and
hotspots and their potential commercial
internationally-renowned research and
applications present bio-prospecting
education institutions, Western Australia
opportunities for researchers and industry
is a highly attractive business destination.
practitioners to identify characteristics in
native flora and fauna that could have
commercial applications in health.
An attractive place to live
and do business
Perth is consistently ranked as one of the
world’s most liveable cities, due to the
high quality of education, infrastructure
and health care, pristine surroundings
14 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry StrategyHighlights
» Of the 15 drugs developed through
the Australian university sector that
have achieved US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approval, six
are from Western Australia.
Achieving FDA approval is a difficult
process and provides a launch pad to
the global market.
» Epichem, based in Western Australia, is
Australia’s only commercial chemistry
company for drug discovery, drug
development, drug design and
pharmaceutical reference standard
production and manufacture.
Established 17 years ago, the company Epichem – Epichem Synthetic Organic
exports 80% of its products and Chemists, Dr Roger Derbyshire and Dr
Rafiqual Islam, chat about precision
services to the USA and Europe and is
weighing for compounds at the balances in
recognised in the top 10 small-to- the Robert Stick Laboratory
medium-size enterprise employers of
PhD graduates in Australia.
remove all cancerous breast tissue in
» A growing pipeline of promising early- the first surgery
stage companies includes:
› Artrya’s AI solution which increases
› development by OncoRes of a the accuracy of identifying patients at
handheld imaging tool and console risk of coronary artery disease,
to help surgeons better identify and resulting in faster, better treatment.
OncoRes Medical – OncoRes Board and Artrya – John Barrington AM, Managing
Management Team March 2020: Back (L – R) Director, Co-Founder and John
Anthony Fortina, Kath Giles, Leslie Wise, Konstantopoulos, Executive Director –
Simon Graindorge, Robert Pass, Sofie de Wolf, Product, Co-Founder.
Stuart Bartlett. Front (L – R) Georgina
Holbeche, Jill Anderson, Stephen Thompson.
Photo by Rob Johnson.
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 15WA CASE STUDY
Dimerix Limited –
Western Australian innovation expanding beyond our borders
Dimerix is a clinical-stage is fully funded for those current activities.
biopharmaceutical company, with Dimerix continues to assess other
multiple Phase 3 opportunities, developing potential opportunities that fit with the
and commercialising pharmaceutical company strategy.
products for global markets.
Dimerix was originally founded in 2004,
Dimerix pursues new product concepts based on technology developed at the
and applies strong scientific know-how Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research
to the discovery of products from early- and The University of Western Australia.
stage development through to
commercialisation. The company has Though the company’s headquarters
discovered a treatment that has and staff are now in Melbourne, Western
potential utility in the treatment of Australia still benefits from its operations
patients with kidney disease and with through links back to the State, both in
COVID-19 respiratory complications. terms of financial returns, as well as
capability and capacity-building.
Dimerix has completed multiple Phase 2
clinical trials of DMX-200, a chemokine Supporting local companies to scale
receptor blocker and is currently in three and creating an environment that
different Phase 3 clinical studies in enables local talent to stay longer and
inflammatory diseases, as well as grow their businesses in Western
developing other longer-term Australia, will support local jobs and
propositions. Importantly, the company benefit the economy.
Dimerix is currently engaged in three different Phase 3 clinical trials
16 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry StrategyWA CASE STUDY
PYC Therapeutics – A new generation of RNA therapeutics
RNA therapeutics have come of age, Professor Fletcher and colleague
with an expanding landscape of pre- Professor Steve Wilton created a world-
clinical, clinical and commercial first treatment for a fatal childhood
validation across many modalities. muscle-wasting disease, Duchenne
muscular dystrophy, which in 2016
The heightened awareness of mRNA received accelerated approval by the US
vaccines – or “messenger” RNA vaccines Food and Drug Administration.
that teach cells how to make a protein
that triggers an immune response – to “If you think of the gene as being the
protect against COVID-19, is bringing hardware and the RNA as being the
greater attention to the work of Perth- software, we’re modifying the software
that provides the instructions for
based PYC Therapeutics.
building proteins and cell components,”
PYC is building a pipeline of highly- Prof Fletcher explained.
precise RNA therapeutics, leveraging the
PYC, a “precision medicine” company, is
latest generation in Antisense
initially using its technology to treat two
Oligonucleotides called
rare inherited eye diseases that cause
Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino progressive vision loss – retinitis pigmentosa
Oligomers (PMOs). The PMOs enable a type 11 and autosomal dominant optic
safer and more effective RNA atrophy – but plans to eventually apply it
therapeutic to address the underlying to the central nervous system.
drivers of a range of genetic diseases for
which currently there is no treatment. PYC’s discovery and laboratory
operations are located at the Harry
PYC’s market capitalisation has jumped Perkins Institute of Medical Research,
five-fold in the last few years, to well over and the company’s preclinical, clinical,
$400 million, with much of the success regulatory and corporate operations are
driven by Perth’s Professor Sue Fletcher, based in the US to better reach partners
a medical researcher and respected RNA and investors in the well-established
therapeutics pioneer. American life sciences market.
Left to right Professor Sue Fletcher, Dr Adam Martins, Chris McFarlane
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 17WA CASE STUDY
The Australian National Phenome Centre
The Australian National Phenome Centre COVID-19 samples and is collaborating
(ANPC), located at Murdoch University’s with international researchers from
Health and Knowledge Precinct, is the Cambridge University, Massachusetts
international centre of expertise in General Hospital for Children, CIC
metabolic phenotyping and one of the bioGUNE, Spain and UNIMAS, Malaysia
most significant health research to better understand the disease.
collaborations realised in Western Australia.
The work of the ANPC supports almost
Led by Murdoch University and housed every area of bioscience. Its sophisticated
in the Harry Perkins Institute (South), the biological analysis technology will
ANPC is a powerful resource for transform and optimise disease
researchers, enabling them to examine prevention, diagnosis, and personalised
the complex interaction and influence of health. It reaches across traditional
genes, the environment and lifestyle on research silos and fosters a new, more
human and animal health. collaborative approach to science that is
critical to solving some of the world’s
Research at the ANPC is connected with
most challenging problems, including
work at similar centres across the
chronic diseases and the many health
International Phenome Centre Network,
issues associated with population ageing.
including sites in London, Birmingham,
Hong Kong and Singapore, supported by Supported by the Western Australian
Bruker Biospin and Bruker Daltonics. Government and the Australian
This collaboration will progress the Research Council, the ANPC is a core
global understanding of the effects of platform of the Western Australian
diverse environmental and cultural Health Translation Network (WAHTN)
conditions on a range of serious diseases and plays a key role in realising the vision
and conditions including type 2 diabetes, of the government’s Sustainable Health
cancer and autism. The ANPC is also Review – to position Western Australia’s
leading a global initiative to phenotype health system for the future.
Australian National Phenome Centre, Murdoch
18 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry StrategyGovernment focus areas
The strategy outlines five focus areas that address the challenges facing the
life sciences industry in Western Australia, and frames the implementation of
a growth plan, which has been designed in consultation with industry.
1. Strengthening the support in the form of promotional and
innovation ecosystem facilitation activities, targeted incentives,
active partnership, and regulation that
The Western Australian Government supports data sharing.
will build on the MTPConnect WA Life
Sciences Innovation Hub to facilitate Government will focus on:
active collaboration and the growth of » providing the strategic support
a healthy innovation ecosystem. required to enhance coordination and
A healthy innovation ecosystem is key to collaboration
supporting the growth of the health and » supporting and promoting the
medical life sciences industry in Western MTPConnect WA Life Sciences
Australia, and to keep businesses in the Innovation Hub as a central point of
State for longer as they scale up to fully facilitation and advice
realise their commercial potential. The
growth of a vibrant health and medical » expanding networks and collaboration
life sciences ecosystem around the across the industry
MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation » expanding access to data and the
Hub requires long-term government ability to share data.
WA CASE STUDY
Baxter and Pure IV In November 2020, a $290 million
Department of Health contract was
There is developing capability and awarded to Baxter Healthcare and local
emerging opportunities to leverage the Western Australian company Pure IV to
high-quality infrastructure of large manufacture specially prepared medication
world-class companies based in and supplies across the Western Australian
Western Australia. health system. Baxter’s Canning Vale
facility has capability to produce more than
200,000 units of critical medical products
and Pure IV combines a purpose-built
manufacturing and pharmacy facility in
Shenton Park that enables dispensing
and supply direct to patients.
The contract replaces various separate
agreements between pharmaceutical
companies and individual hospitals and
will save the Western Australian health
system up to $35 million over the next 10
years, as well as supporting local
The PureIV production team within manufacturing and jobs in the Perth
one of the aseptic suites while compounding metropolitan area.
is taking place
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 192. Facilitating
WA CASE STUDY commercialisation
Orthocell – One of Western The Western Australian Government
Australia’s many emerging will reform its intellectual property,
companies leveraging procurement and bio-prospecting
frameworks to support the
Government support to
commercialisation of local
attract investment and grow innovations in the health and medical
internationally life sciences industry.
An example of Western Australia’s future, Management of intellectual property,
Orthocell provides hope for people with government procurement and bio-
quadriplegia by enhancing the surgical prospecting are areas of particular
repair of damaged nerves with their complexity, which directly affect
CelGro collagen medical device. The pathways to commercialisation for
company’s technology has assisted in health and medical innovations.
returning function to previously paralysed
arms and hands for patients with nerve Government can support innovative
and spinal injuries. businesses to navigate these pathways.
It can provide increased clarity,
Orthocell snapshot consistency and access across the
» Currently employs 30 people public health system and associated
» On the verge of local and regulation, developing accelerated
international market approvals for its pathways to commercialisation, and
locally manufactured medical device providing funding to engage and de-
for nerve repair risk these pathways.
» Technology invented by Professor
Government will focus on:
Minghao Zheng, The University of
» improving the effectiveness of
Western Australia
government policy and processes that
» $300k Laboratory Construction Grant affect commercialisation, including
received from the Western Australian procurement and intellectual property
Government in 2008 – integral to tech
development and translation of research » improving sector-wide capacity and
capability to commercialise ideas and
Orthocell is at a similar stage to Avita build successful businesses.
Medical, founded by Western Australian Dr
Fiona Wood, and PolyNovo, prior to them
gaining major market approvals. 3. Developing skills and
attracting talent
The Western Australian Government will
work actively with industry to expand
the pool of locally-available skills and
talent to progress innovations through
to scale up and commercialisation.
Access to talent and skills is critical to
enable growth and innovation in the
health and medical life sciences
industry. This is recognised in the State
Image credit: Orthocell STEM (science, technology engineering
20 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategyand mathematics) Strategy Future » facilitating access to market information
Jobs, Future Skills – Driving STEM Skills and international conferences
in Western Australia.
» leveraging Western Australian and
Through training schemes, promotional Australian government funding to
programs and direct incentives, attract private sector investments.
government can help build a critical mass
of talent and an environment where 5. Supporting infrastructure
innovative thinking and entrepreneurship for advanced manufacturing
are valued, which will strengthen the
The Western Australian Government
ecosystem overall and enable Western
will support the development of
Australian companies to compete for skills.
testing and manufacturing facilities
to enable the scale up and
Government will focus on:
commercialisation of local health and
» enhancing and developing local skills,
medical life sciences innovations.
particularly entrepreneurial skills and
commercial capacity Western Australia is growing its
infrastructure capability to progress
» improving the attraction and retention
innovations through to later-stage
of new talent, including entrepreneurs
clinical trials and manufacturing. In
and business executives.
particular, the medtech and
pharmaceutical subsectors need access
4. Attracting investment
to wet lab incubators as well as
The Western Australian Government will accredited and sometimes purpose-built
promote Western Australia as a prime facilities for prototyping, testing and
destination for investment in health manufacturing their innovations at scale.
and medical life sciences activities. Government can also incentivise and
One of the key challenges in progressing de-risk the development of such
through the commercialisation pipeline capability through procurement,
is securing investment beyond early- funding, land provision, and collaboration
stage concept development and testing. with the Australian Government.
Building on the state’s strong comparative
advantages, government can help Government will focus on:
promote Western Australia as a prime » supporting and enhancing local
destination for investment and open up manufacturing to unblock the pipeline
supply, trade and investment opportunities for research, development and testing
in local, national and international of innovative products
markets. Government funding can also » enhancing local manufacturing
be leveraged to attract private sector capabilities to ensure security of supply
investment and venture capital. chains and sovereign capabilities.
Government will focus on:
» developing a coordinated approach to
attract investment by promoting
strengths and opportunities in Western
Australia’s emerging health and
medical life sciences industry
» developing relationships with
prospective local and international
investors
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 21WA CASE STUDY
Linear Clinical Research
As a world-class leader, Linear Clinical Since 2010, Linear has achieved the
Research (Linear) is a purpose-built, following other notable milestones:
state-of-the-art, clinical trials facility
» Chosen to deliver five COVID-19
operating out of QEII Medical Centre in
related trials, including a global
Perth, Western Australia.
COVID-19 Vaccine study, fully funded
Linear has come a long way since its by the Coalition for Epidemic
inception in 2010 as a visionary Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and
collaborative venture between The Harry COVID-19 preventative study with
Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Stanford University
the Western Australian Government. The » More than 50 actively recruiting
facility was established with $9.4 million oncology and haematology studies
funding from the government to provide
the state’s first early phase clinical trials » Recognised as a global leader in the
facility and critical infrastructure for the use of eSource data capture
state’s local biotech, pharmaceutical and » Listed in the AFR’s Most Innovative
clinical research sectors. Companies list for Healthcare in 2020
Linear provides a focal point for Australian » More than 300 studies across 19
clinical and medical research, bringing therapeutic areas
world-first clinical trials to Western » Sponsors from 15 countries
Australia and making innovative therapies
» More than 40,000 clinical trial
available to the Western Australian
participants on their database
community. They have now grown to
more than 250 staff and have generated » Winner of multiple industry export
revenue in excess of $100 million per awards
annum. Linear is Australia’s most » Globally experienced team hailing from
technology-forward trial facility and most more than 30 different nationalities.
active phase I cancer trials team.
Image credit: Linear
22 | Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry StrategyImplementation and
stakeholder engagement
Contribution from all stakeholders is important to achieve the Government’s
vision for Western Australia’s health and medical life sciences industry.
The Western Australian Government AusBiotech 2022 and Australia Biotech
works closely with industry, research Invest and Partnering Conference in
organisations and the Australian Perth in October 2022.
Government. An industry reference
The Department of Jobs, Tourism,
group, chaired by the Chief Scientist of
Science and Innovation, in collaboration
Western Australia, has been established
with the Department of Health, will
with key industry leaders to provide
lead the implementation of the
strategic advice and represent the
strategy by developing an
overall views and interests of the
implementation plan, in consultation
industry. The reference group will
with industry, which will include tangible
remain in place throughout the
actions giving effect to the strategy.
implementation of the strategy. The
Western Australian Government is well- The strategy and the associated
connected with the MTPConnect implementation plan will remain flexible
Industry Growth Centre through its to address changing market conditions
partnership in the MTPConnect WA Life and maintain alignment with other
Sciences Innovation Hub. It has also Western Australian Government priorities.
formed strong relationships with the Government will report regularly on
national peak body for life sciences, progress in the delivery of the strategy
AusBiotech, and will host the and its implementation plan.
Acknowledgements
The Western Australian Government thought leaders who have nurtured the
acknowledges and thanks the many industry to its current state.
stakeholders who have contributed to
For further information please email
the development of the Health and
the Science and Innovation division at
Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy,
the Department of Jobs, Tourism,
including the Industry Reference Group
Science and Innovation on
for the Life Sciences Industry and the
lifesciences@jtsi.wa.gov.au
many innovators, researchers and
Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy | 23Department of
Jobs, Tourism, Science
and Innovation
GOVERNMENT OF
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Government of Western Australia
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Level 11, 1 William Street,
Perth, Western Australia 6000
Telephone: +61 8 6277 3000
Email: lifesciences@jtsi.wa.gov.au
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