Health Minister commits to a ‘whole pipeline approach’ at AusBiotech conference

Biotech News: The four-day AusBiotech Conference has set a new benchmark with a record-breaking attendance of 1,600 participants this week. Among them, over 200 delegates have travelled from overseas, including significant delegations from Korea and Taiwan.

Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler MP, attended the event and emphasised the importance of medical advancements, stating, “The medical advances we make in this country are always about improving the lives of Australians, as well as people around the world. To take full advantage of these incredible advances, they need to be developed, realised, and commercialised.”

He further expressed the government’s commitment to collaboration, saying, “But I also want to make clear my desire, the government’s desire, to continue to work with AusBiotech and its industry members to bridge the gap between invention and realisation. We need a whole pipeline approach – from discovery to start-up, clinical trials, manufacturing, export, access, and reimbursement. Health is at the beginning and the end of that pipeline.”

Addressing the diverse audience, which included start-ups, small to medium enterprises, research institutes, multinationals, investors, and manufacturers, Minister Butler added, “And, to the people in this room… we are stronger together. This is why we need to work on a whole-of-government and industry approach.”

AusBiotech CEO Rebekah Cassidy shared her enthusiasm for the conference’s success, stating, “We have been delighted by the level of interest in this year’s event from local and international life sciences leaders, investors, and from both Federal and State Governments.”

Cassidy underscored the significance of partnerships, saying, “We value government partnership in addressing and advancing Australia’s life sciences sector and appreciate the national and state commitment to working with industry.”

In related news, AusBiotech’s has formalised its relationship with BioMelbourne Network and Life Sciences Queensland (LSQ) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build synergies that amplify shared strengths and present a united front to government, moving away from a fragmented approach.

With data from 2024 showing that the sector now employs approximately 350,000 Australians and includes over 2,900 life science organisations, nearly 1,600 biotech and medtech companies, and 168 life sciences companies listed on the ASX, she affirmed, “We are ready to thrive.”

Moreover, Cassidy highlighted the innovative spirit of the nation’s biotech and medtech companies.

“We already have many remarkable, entrepreneurial biotechnology and medtech companies leading on the global health innovation stage. The time is now to harness and build on that potential.”

She stressed the importance of viewing the local life sciences capability as a health security asset in the face of global challenges.

“Within the context of a changing and more disrupted world, the attention on our sector is warranted. My consistent message is that locally and globally, new pressures such as pandemics, supply chain challenges, aging populations, and climate change among others mean that our home-grown life sciences capability must be viewed as a health security asset.

“The time is now for Australia to critically and strategically leverage our health and medical innovation capability – nurture and protect it – to ensure its long-term viability.”

Featured speakers include US-based Australian innovator Dr Daniel Timms, whose company BiVACOR conducted the first human implant of a fully artificial heart earlier this year, and Dr Intan Oldakowska, Co-Founder and CEO of Earflo, which has developed a revolutionary approach to chronic ear infections, offering fast and affordable relief to millions of children diagnosed annually.

Additionally, global speakers like Michael Lopez-Algeria, Chief Astronaut at Axiom Space, shared insights from conducting medical experiments aboard the International Space Station, while Michael Hund, Global Chief Executive Officer of the EB Research Partnership, discussed innovative business models accelerating the search for cures for rare diseases.

With over 260 speakers across 60 sessions marking a vibrant display of commitment to growth and innovation in the life sciences sector, Cassidy noted, “As we celebrate over 38 years of AusBiotech’s commitment to the sector, it’s incredibly rewarding to witness record-breaking attendance and enthusiasm this year.

“This milestone not only reflects the vitality of our industry but also reinforces AusBiotech’s role as the national convening power and lead advocate for biotechnology and medtech innovation and growth in Australia.”

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