University of Western Australia
A new partnership between The University of Western Australia and Bridgewest Perth Pharma will benefit the Western Australian biomedical and health innovation sector.
Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy; Medical Research, announced the collaboration at the Early-Stage Biomedical and Health Innovation Showcase, a satellite of the Science on the Swan conference co-hosted by Biodesign Australia and the City of Perth.
“UWA looks forward to working with NovaCina and LumaCina to develop this incredibly important part of the WA economy, providing sovereign capability for manufacturing medicines to enable our community to live longer and healthier lives.”
Professor Kevin Pfleger, Director Biomedical and Health Innovation, UWA
The Memorandum of Understanding includes university-industry training, research and development collaborations, and is aligned with the WA Government’s Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy.
Professor Kevin Pfleger, Director Biomedical and Health Innovation at UWA, said the partnership would enhance the critical link between internationally recognised teaching and research in academia and Perth’s pharmaceutical manufacturing expertise.
“UWA looks forward to working with NovaCina and LumaCina to develop this incredibly important part of the WA economy, providing sovereign capability for manufacturing medicines to enable our community to live longer and healthier lives,” Professor Pfleger said.
Bridgewest Perth Pharma, a subsidiary of the private equity firm Bridgewest Group and the parent company of NovaCina and LumaCina, brings together innovative life sciences and experts to meet the escalating demand for high-quality drug manufacturing and therapeutics.
“The health and medical life sciences sector in WA is very excited to welcome Bridgewest Perth Pharma, who have taken over the Pfizer facility in Bentley securing over 400 jobs in the process,” Minister Dawson said.
NovaCina is a leading supplier of sterile liquid pharmaceutical contract manufacturing services and LumaCina is a fully integrated global supplier of sterile injectable pharmaceutical drugs.
Brett Alderson, president and site leader of NovaCina, and COO of Bridgewest Perth Pharma, said they wanted to lead the development and production of life-changing medicines.
“Our commitment begins with delivering quality medicines to our existing customers and patients, while also developing solutions for the future,” he said.
The announcement comes a year after Biodesign Australia, administered by UWA, announced a partnership with the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical centre in the world.