AusBiotech

With the biotechnology at the forefront of the COVID-19 response, especially in clinical trials for new therapies and vaccines, AusBiotech is calling on the Government to support pre-revenue companies with access to funds including the JobSeeker payment and early payment of the R&D Tax Incentive refund.

AusBiotech is pleased to announce that Dr Megan Baldwin, CEO and Managing Director of Opthea Limited, has been appointed as AusBiotech’s new Deputy Chair, following Michelle Burke becoming the Chair in late February.

Amid the sudden shock of COVID 19 to our society and economy, AusBiotech has joined the growing chorus of businesses calling for the Government to fast track RDTI cash refunds and drop the proposed plans to cut the landmark programme. 

In support of the clinical trials sector and in recognition of the challenges the health system faces during the COVID-19 pandemic, a position statement has been developed by the Research and Development TaskForce (RDTF), sponsored by AusBiotech, Medicines Australia, and the Medical Technology Association of Australia, together with respective memberships.

The Australian Government has announced $13 million to fast-track research and development of treatments for COVID-19 and has opened the Boosting Female Founders Initiative with $6 million to launch and scale businesses into domestic and global markets.

A free webinar is being provided for the Australian clinical trials sector to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Two new seminars have been announced as part of the AusBiotech Regulatory Roadshow, which has been designed to help SMEs, early-stage companies, and clinicians understand the medical device evidential requirements of both regulators and payers in the US healthcare market.

AusBiotech has announced that a new Chair has been appointed to its Board following the decision of its current long-serving Chair, Julie Phillips, CEO, BioDiem, to step down from the AusBiotech Board.

Medtronic Australasia is calling for innovative companies across Australia and New Zealand that are looking to scale-up, as it launches its new Eureka LIVE programme at AusMedtech 2020.

The Department of Health is currently seeking expressions of interest to assist with grant review and assessment processes for the MRFF Rural, Regional and Remote Clinical Trial Enabling Infrastructure Grant Opportunity.

Western Australia is preparing to become a world-leading life sciences hub of note, announcing the formation of an Industry Reference Group to drive the development of a new five-year life sciences action plan.  

Australian biotech companies are at the forefront of global responses following the infection of thousands from the coronavirus, which is continuing to rapidly spread across the world, and a summer of catastrophic fires across Australia.