A new initiative aimed at increasing the presence of locally made medical technologies in healthcare services has been announced with the formation of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA). 

The Alliance, spearheaded by the BioMelbourne Network, builds on the foundation of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre and will pilot its efforts in Victoria.

The AMMA brings together several key industry partners, including AusBiotech, MTPConnect, AMTIL (Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited), and ICN Victoria (Industry Capability Network), with seed funding support from the Victorian Government.

Focus on advocacy and local procurement

The Alliance aims to address procurement barriers that currently limit the uptake of Australian-made medical technologies within the domestic healthcare system.

Karen Parr, CEO of BioMelbourne Network, highlighted the importance of the initiative in creating sustainable local opportunities.

“Australia is home to world-class medtech innovators and manufacturers. Increasing awareness of these companies and growing local content in health will support Australian health services to continue to deliver world-leading care and strengthen our country’s sovereign capabilities,” Parr said.

“The Victorian pilot aims to demonstrate the potential of this ambitious and important solutions-focused Alliance and serve as a stepping stone for advancing the national agenda.”

Call for industry support

The AMMA is inviting Victorian medtech companies currently manufacturing or developing products for local or international markets to join the Alliance.

Contract manufacturing firms are also encouraged to participate. While peak industry bodies involved in the initiative offer formal memberships, the AMMA has clarified that becoming an Alliance supporter is not contingent on membership.

The Alliance aims to work closely with these peak bodies to build on existing industry efforts, helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grow both locally and internationally.

New uplift program in development

The AMMA is also co-developing a capability uplift program to help medtech manufacturers identify and secure opportunities within the domestic health system.

The initiative aims to address this gap by creating clearer pathways into the health sector, mirroring practices in other international markets.

The AMMA said establishing strong domestic customers will serve as crucial proof points for Australian products and attract further investment in medical innovation.

The Alliance’s efforts aim to unlock opportunities within the healthcare sector to ensure Australian patients benefit from locally made technologies.

Companies interested in joining the Alliance or participating in the capability uplift program can express their interest directly through the AMMA.

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The Australian Medtech Manufacturing Alliance (AMMA) is being established in Victoria to boost opportunities for medtech manufacturers to supply healthcare services, expanding on the groundwork laid by the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre with a new, connected program.

The AMMA seeks to create a connected program to promote the sale of locally-made medtech products, as revealed in a media release. 

The initiative builds on the work of the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre, with the goal of increasing procurement from domestic suppliers.

The Alliance is being formed in collaboration with prominent industry bodies, including BioMelbourne Network, AusBiotech, MTPConnect, and the Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Limited (AMTIL). 

It also has the backing of the Industry Capability Network Victoria, with seed funding from the Victorian Government.

One of the primary goals of the AMMA is to advocate for Victorian small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) medtech manufacturers, addressing key challenges within the sector. 

By focusing on improving procurement practices, the Alliance aims to increase the proportion of homegrown medtech products used within Australia’s healthcare system.

Karen Parr, CEO of BioMelbourne Network and leader of the Alliance, emphasised the importance of the initiative in strengthening Australia’s medtech industry.

“Australia is home to world-class medtech innovators and manufacturers. Increasing awareness of these companies and growing local content in health will support Australian health services to continue to deliver world-leading care and strengthen our country’s sovereign capabilities,” Parr said. 

“The Victorian pilot aims to demonstrate the potential of this ambitious and important solutions-focused Alliance, and work as a stepping stone to empower the national agenda.”

The Victorian Government has welcomed the initiative, with Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins highlighting the state’s leadership in medtech innovation. 

“Victoria is the national leader for medtech innovation. A thriving and sustainable medtech sector is essential to ensuring Victoria can continue to deliver world-leading health care now and into the future,” Hutchins said.

A critical element of the Alliance’s work will be the development of an SME capability uplift program. 

This program, created in partnership with other organisations, will help local medtech companies identify and pursue opportunities in the Australian market, which has lacked a clear mechanism to support domestic medtech manufacturers.

The AMMA is inviting Victorian medtech companies currently manufacturing and selling locally or globally, as well as contract manufacturing and development firms, to participate in the Alliance.

For more information or to become an Alliance supporter, interested parties can contact the BioMelbourne Network at info@biomelbourne.org.

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The Victorian Government announced a $12 million investment in Aravax, a local biotechnology firm, in a push to revolutionise peanut allergy treatment.

This funding is part of a larger $66 million investment led by Breakthrough Victoria to propel the development of a pioneering peanut allergy therapy, the government said in a news release.

Minister for Economic Growth Tim Pallas made the announcement today, highlighting the potential impact of Aravax’s product, PVX108, in transforming the lives of peanut allergy sufferers globally.

Aravax, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, specialises in developing immunotherapies for food allergies.

PVX108 employs synthetic peptides to mimic crucial components of peanut proteins, offering a unique approach to retraining the immune system.

According to the government, the innovative aspect of this treatment lies in its monthly dosage regimen, a departure from the daily doses required by existing treatments.

Early research conducted at Alfred Health and Monash University laid the foundation for this therapy.

With over five million Australians grappling with food allergies, these trials mark a significant leap towards offering cutting-edge healthcare solutions.

To date, Aravax has already obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for Phase 2 trials.

Phase 1 clinical trials, completed in 2018 for adults in Victoria, paved the way for the current advancements.

The upcoming Phase 2 trials will assess the therapy’s effectiveness in children aged 4 to 17.

These trials will be conducted in clinics across Australia and the United States, further establishing Aravax’s commitment to expanding the reach of its groundbreaking treatment.

The Victorian Government said health technology is a rapidly growing sector in Victoria, contributing $3.02 billion in exports and supporting over 30,000 jobs.

The investment in Aravax aligns with the government’s ongoing commitment to bolstering the health technology industry.

This initiative is driven by Breakthrough Victoria and the $20 million Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre.

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Melbourne-based AusBiotech has launched the Australian biotechnology sector-led National Cell and Gene Manufacturing Blueprint, which provides a consistent and collaborative strategy to increasing Australia’s sovereign cell and gene (C&G) manufacturing capabilities and capacity.

In a news release, the company said the country risks losing out on the advantages of C&G manufacturing to both the Australian economy and the healthcare system, especially patients in critical need of innovative cures.

The AusBiotech-commissioned Blueprint also provided recommendations on how Australia’s ecosystem can collaborate to develop the necessary workforce, expertise, and infrastructure, to position Australia as a regional leader and deliver a new generation of medical treatments. 

Addressing critical and growing skills gaps in C&G manufacturing as well as building critical mass in the country’s C&G manufacturing ecosystem are two of the key challenges identified in the report. 

The Blueprint also said the country should optimise its contributions to the C&G pipeline, alongside tracking and guiding industry growth. 

“This report is an opportunity to harness Australia’s role in the global cell and gene ecosystem, and to ensure that we are best-placed as a nation to be involved in and benefit from these life-changing therapeutic approaches now and into the future,” said AusBiotech CEO Lorraine Chiroiu.

The report also offers opportunities for both government and industry to strategically invest and thus maximise the socioeconomic potential of C&G manufacturing, including job creation and healthcare outcomes. 

For the industry, the report provides an opportunity to shape the field for the future and to build a sustainable and growing ecosystem that attracts and supports local and international operators.

Furthermore, the blueprint addresses five key areas outlined in the Regenerative Medicine Sector Strategic Roadmap: workforce skills development, long-term investment opportunities, strengthened collaboration across the value chain, capability across the value chain, and clear market access pathways aligned with leading global markets.

Meanwhile, project partner Biointelect said it was thrilled to work with AusBiotech to establish the approach.

Co-founder Jenny Herz explained, “Cell and gene therapies are at the forefront of healthcare innovation and with a robust pipeline of therapies addressing increasingly common conditions, we have a unique opportunity to leverage our local strengths in research and clinical trials, improve access for Australian patients and drive the growth of an export industry.”

The Blueprint was established with the industry and government in mind by AusBiotech, the Cell and Gene Manufacturing Taskforce, and Biointelect, with support from the Victorian Government’s Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre (AMMC). 

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The Victorian government has issued a major new policy statement that seeks to boost economic growth and create high-skilled jobs in the manufacturing sector. 

The Made in Victoria 2030: Manufacturing Statement, launched by Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll, details an ongoing government plan for the state’s $31 billion manufacturing industry. 

The policy statement seeks to ensure Victoria continues to be a place for advanced manufacturers to grow, including in key sectors such as low-emissions and renewable energy, health technologies, defence and space, digital and advanced technologies, as well as food manufacturing. 

Victoria plans to adopt new technology, increase industry engagement, enhance local supply chains, upskill the future workforce, create thriving hubs and precincts, and boost exports. 

The state’s manufacturing industry is comprised of around 23,000 firms and employs over 260,000 people, contributing more than 27 per cent of Australia’s overall manufacturing output. 

Victoria currently houses facilities of world-leading manufacturing companies, including Moderna’s investment in mRNA vaccine manufacturing and research, Nissan casting’s expansion into electric components, Hanwha’s delivery of multibillion-dollar defence projects, and George Weston Foods’ new flour mill. 

“This statement provides a clear vision and plan for our advanced manufacturing future – creating jobs and positioning Victoria as a world-leading manufacturing location,” said Carroll.

“We’re supporting local manufacturers to succeed and create high-value jobs that deliver greater prosperity for Victorians – ensuring Victoria remains the manufacturing state in the future.”

Major investments in the state are creating secure jobs, building local capability to connect into global chains and putting Victoria at the forefront of advanced manufacturing, the state government said in a media release. 

The Labor government has rolled out an array of initiatives to back Victoria’s advanced manufacturers, such as the Breakthrough Victoria Fund, the Manufacturing Industry and Development Fund, the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre and the Low Carbon Manufacturing Grant Program. 

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The Victorian government has established a $260,000 medtech innovation partnership with the University of Melbourne and Bendigo Health. 

The new acceleration program is intended to help accelerate the development of medtech products in Bendigo and marks the first time the initiative expanded to regional Victoria. 

The program, supported by the state government’s Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre, will convene clinicians, researchers, engineers, and manufacturers to support medtech projects across the hospital. 

Bendigo Health will fully operate the program after 12 months, the Victorian state government said in its announcement. 

“We will continue to back Victoria to become a global centre for medtech innovation and are proud to be expanding this fantastic program to Bendigo,” said Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll. 

“Our regional clinicians understand the unmet health needs of our community and this collaboration offers the chance to translate their ideas into practical care solutions,” said Dr Angela Crombie, director of research and innovation at Bendigo Health. 

“It’s important that regional communities like Bendigo share the benefits of our investments in medtech innovation that are creating jobs and improving the lives of people worldwide,” Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards said. 

This latest rendition of the program for Bendigo follows the previously established partnerships with the University of Melbourne, Western Health, and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. 

The program led to the creation of the McMonty by MediHood, a personal ventilator hood for hospital beds and the Stroke Rapid Diagnostic Test, which allows paramedics and clinicians to quickly determine the cause of a stroke and help them decide whether to administer life-saving treatment.  

The Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre is a $20 million government initiative designed to support the growth of medical technology manufacturing in the state. 

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The Victorian Government has announced $400,000 in funding for two new innovation challenges to fast-track the development of healthcare products in the state.

Announcing the funding at Swinburne University on Tuesday, Minister for Medical Research Jaala Pulford said the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery Medtech Challenge and the Swinburne LivingAT Health Innovation Challenge would strengthen ties between allied health workers, researchers, developers, and manufacturers while propelling the commercialisation of new ideas.

“This program is backing the brightest minds to innovate and design new technologies that will assist people with disabilities or health conditions such as diabetes and osteoarthritis to live more independently and improve their quality of life,” the Minister said.

“We’re supporting local production of health and medtech products to create new local jobs, reduce our reliance on overseas suppliers and protect us from supply chain disruptions.”

The Medtech Challenge at the Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery will focus on developing special equipment to help people with conditions such as type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and neurological conditions like epilepsy.

The Swinburne LivingAT Health Innovation Challenge is expected to produce customized designs for new mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers.

The projects are supported by the Australian Medtech Manufacturing Centre, which aims to propel the state’s push to become a global leader in healthcare design and innovation while also developing local manufacturing capacity and creating jobs.

They go hand in hand with recent government investments in medtech, which have allowed companies like Compumedics to manufacture its medical-grade wearable monitoring gadget in Abbotsford after a decade of doing so abroad.

Image Credit: <a href=”https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/”>www.premier.vic.gov.au</a>

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