Amgen has become the only pharmaceutical industry member of the new Digital Health CRC consortium.
Senator Zed Seselja, the assistant minister for science, jobs and innovation, announced late last week the government will invest $55 million in the new Digital Health CRC (Cooperative Research Centre) with the goal of further developing Australia's digital health technology and services industry.
The new CRC will also receive funding, in cash and in-kind, through collaborative partnerships with around 40 government and non-government organisations.
It will have at least $111 million in cash funding, and $118 million in-kind funding, to invest over its seven-year life. It will invest to develop and test digital health solutions impacting patients and service providers.
According to My Linh Kha, managing director of Amgen Australia, “Amgen is pleased to be a member of the Digital Health CRC consortium, as we see the future of medicines being increasingly linked with digital solutions, not only in terms of better ways of managing records and information, but in helping address the community’s needs for better outcomes from treatment.
"Amgen’s involvement in the CRC reflects our commitment to being able to demonstrate the value of our medicines. The purpose of the CRC - to optimise the use of evidence to improve personal healthcare - is well aligned with Amgen’s mission to serve patients. We look forward to working with our new CRC partners to find ways to create better health outcomes through the use of information and technology.”
Senator Seselja said, “The CRC brings together industry and research partners across Australia’s health and wellness landscape in a collaborative approach to advancing health and medical technologies and pharmaceutical industries.
“CRCs have a proven track record in delivering tangible benefits for industry. By linking industry expertise with our world-class research capability, CRCs generate new knowledge, solve problems and offer opportunities to commercialise new ideas.”
“Timing is everything,” said CEO-designate David Jonas. “Australia has pioneered many health advances. If we act now, the Australian health industry can be pioneers in digital health transformation and leaders in digital health technology."