Australia's roadmap for pharma research and manufacturing welcomed

Australia's Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, has commissioned the Pharmaceuticals Industry Strategy Group to develop a strategic plan to increase investment in pharmaceutical R&D and manufacturing in the country over the next decade. This has been welcomed by the drug industry and could be the envy of New Zealand, observers note.

Along with announcing that Brian McNamee, the chief executive of Australia's largest drugmaker, CSL, will head the PISG, Sen Carr released the terms of reference for the new body which is tasked with developing a plan to attract investment in R&D, clinical trials and manufacturing activity to the nation.

He said that "the Strategy Group will examine the drivers and barriers to attracting new internationally competitive and sustainable manufacturing and R&D investment in the pharmaceuticals sector. It will present a draft report to me by September and a final report by the end of the year. The environment the pharmaceuticals industry operates in has changed dramatically over the last decade. We need a full and frank assessment of the opportunities and challenges facing the sector."