Global pharmaceutical companies, biotech entrepreneurs and venture capitalists hungry for Australian-developed medicines will shed light on the complex process of the commercialisation of new drugs at the three-day Bridge Program conference this week (October 21-23).
The Bridge Program, led by QUT and MTPConnect, an Australian Government Industry Growth Centre, aims to give Australian researchers the know-how to bring new medicines to market.
QUT Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Executive Director and Director of the Bridge Program, Professor Lyn Griffiths said Australia was punching above its weight in biomedical science and medical research.
“But we are not very good at translating our science into products that can enhance health and wellbeing,” Professor Griffiths said.
“This program helps fill the big gaps in taking biomedical research out of the lab and into healthcare by equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complex regulatory, financial, scientific and intellectual property issues involved in bringing new medicines to market.”
The three-day program is attended by 101 participants from 62 companies and universities from across Australia and follows the four-month online course participants have completed since the program’s June launch.
Participants include mid-career and senior researchers and scientists, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, IP lawyers, business development managers and university technology transfer staff and government agency representatives.
Major pharmaceutical companies whose representatives are involved in the program include Merck Sharpe & Dohme, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, Amgen, and Pfizer.
“It is a great networking opportunity for Australia’s researchers and scientists to meet with key representatives from these global companies,” Professor Griffiths said.
“It will contribute to the Bridge Program goal of assisting Australia’s bioscience sector to reach its full potential and create additional high-value translational jobs by 2025.”
The three-day program covers:
- how global pharmaceutical companies discover, develop and commercialise new drugs;
- intellectual property;
- capital raising;
- pitching and crafting a deal;
- navigating regulatory approval; and
- regulatory requirements for commercialisation.
The Bridge Program 2018 is also now open for applications for the next group of translational research participants.
The Bridge Program is implemented by QUT in collaboration with 15 pharmaceutical, university and venture capital partners, and is supported by MTPConnect, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to accelerate the rate of growth of medical technologies, biotechnologies and the pharmaceuticals sector to achieve greater commercialisation and establish Australia as an Asia-Pacific hub for MTP (MedTech and Pharma) companies.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT Media, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901 or media@qut.edu.au.
