NZ companies to learn from world’s biggest biotech event

NZ companies to learn from world’s biggest biotech event

May 21, 2019

A New Zealand delegation of biotech companies will attend the world’s biggest biotech conference in Philadelphia in the USA next month.

They will be among 16,000 attendees from around the globe at the Bio2019 event from June 3 to 6.

The New Zealand biotech experts attending are from businesses representing all parts of the burgeoning Kiwi biotech industry, BiotechNZ executive director Zahra Champion says.

This year, a significant number of our clinical trials will be on show at the New Zealand Pavilion, including the Medical Research Institute of NZ, Middlemore Clinical Trials, Optimal Clinical Trials, P3 Research, Pacific Clinical Research Network, New Zealand Association of Clinical Research, Lipid and Diabetes Research Group and Pharmaceutical Solutions who are dedicated to excellence in clinical research.

Among the 20 kiwi biotech companies and three universities attending are:

Wellington’s Avalia Immunotherapies, which has developed powerful and targeted vaccines that generate robust cell responses to prevent and treat infectious diseases and provide sustained clearance of cancer tumours

Auckland’s BioPacific Partners, which provides international corporates with unequalled access to the New Zealand and Australian life-science ecosystem, including 10 percent of the world’s top 100 life-science universities.

Tauranga’s Honey lab, which is a health product company. They develop novel products and undertake clinical research into the medical uses of honey, bee venom and other products from bees and their environment.

Auckland’s Pictor, which is a biotechnology company developing, manufacturing and marketing immunodiagnostic products based on a multiplexed and miniaturised Elisa technology platform.

Auckland’s Pharmaceutical Solutions, which is an independent organisation, dedicated to excellence in clinical research. They have 20 years’ experience managing and supporting clinical trials in New Zealand and Australia.

Auckland’s Cure Kids Ventures which is New Zealand’s largest seed and early stage healthcare investment fund. It has a portfolio of more than 15 companies, most notably the A2 Milk company.

Dr Champion says New Zealand’s biotech strengths embrace strong clinical trial expertise, history in protein development, excellent animal health status for animal health therapeutics, natural ingredients, medicinal plant growth for the pharmaceutical industry, strong links to Asia and environmental microbiology.

“We are lucky that MBIE has been integral in coordinating the New Zealand pavilion in Philadelphia, enabling companies to leverage the strength of the NZ brand. Callaghan Innovation, NZTE and BiotechNZ have all be key in creating content and events to be held at the conference.

“By attending the event will have huge spin-off and benefit to New Zealand and the public,’ she says.

© Scoop Media