Johnson & Johnson Innovation Industry Excellence Awards recognise biotechnology leaders at AusBiotech 2014

Medtech featured strongly when the prestigious Johnson & Johnson Innovation Industry Excellence Awards 2014 were announced, recognising those at the forefront of Australia’s world-class biotech, medical technology and healthcare sectors in Australia.

Dr Chris Nave received the Industry Leadership Award for his leadership role in commercialising early-stage medical research technology in Australia and for his mentoring of a number of young executives. In particular, he drove the formation of The Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) Collaboration in 2007 as an innovative collaborative approach to investing in early-stage development and commercialisation opportunities emanating from Australian medical research institutes and allied research hospitals.

Atomo was named Emerging Company of the Year for its award-winning development of a next-generation rapid diagnostic platform that replaces ineffectual ‘bits in a box test kits’ with an integrated, all-in-one test ideal for the self-testing, thereby expanding the application.

Uscom was awarded Company of the Year for its work developing medical devices that specialise in the design and manufacture of non-invasive cardiac monitoring equipment.

Dong Wu, head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation Asia Pacific, said: “These award recipients are aiming to improve the health of people across the globe, which is a very noble mission, and we are delighted to sponsor these awards that help recognise this important work.”

AusBiotech’s chief executive officer, Dr Anna Lavelle, said each had made a significant contribution to the sector, and to the ongoing growth of Australia’s biotechnology and medical technology.

“These awards recognise the standard-bearers for excellence in our industry,” Dr Lavelle said. “They also point to what can be achieved when innovation is accompanied by the business acumen needed to bring novel medicines, medical devices and other new technologies to key markets.”

The awards were announced as part of the official opening of the AusBiotech 2014 national conference, the largest event of its kind in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region for the biotechnology industry. AusBiotech 2014 is underway at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 29-31 October.

More information on the award recipients is included below.

Dr Chris Nave, Managing Director, Brandon Capital Partners

Chris is a founding partner of Brandon Capital Partners and principal executive of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund. He was previously director of commercialisation at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne. He was responsible for the commercialisation of technologies developed at the Baker and the Alfred Hospital, including the management of local and international spinout companies.

Chris drove the formation of The MRCF Collaboration and it was established in 2007 as an innovative collaborative approach to investing in early-stage development and commercialisation opportunities emanating from Australian medical research institutes and allied research hospitals.

MRCF helps ensure that great Australian ideas, research and innovation are developed for the benefit of the national economy. It assists in building innovative new businesses, developing skilled fund managers and furthering the growth of Australia’s venture capital market.

Chris has been a driving force in commercialising early-stage medical research technology in Australia and a mentor to a number of young executives.

Atomo Diagnostics

Atomo Diagnostics is a young, fast-growing medical technology company bringing to market a next-generation rapid diagnostic platform, AtomoRapid. The AtomoRapid platform aims to revolutionise the lateral flow industry by replacing ineffectual ‘bits-in-a-box test kits’ with an integrated, all-in-one test. AtomoRapid tests are not only suited to professional use, but are also ideal for self-testing - thereby opening up a market opportunity that up until now has been limited.

Atomo’s design team is Australian based with considerable local and international experience. The founders have all worked at ResMed and, more recently, at Unilife on product design, development and commercialisation. Since its inception four and half years ago, Atomo has gone from strength to strength, receiving numerous awards, including the Bradfield Award 2012 for Engineering Excellence from Engineers Australia.

The most prestigious and most recent honour was given to AtomoRapid HIV, which won both Best in Show and Gold (IVD Category) at the Medical Design Excellence Awards in New York, the world’s most recognised medical design awards. Atomo also received top billing as the Most Innovative Company in Australia in Anthill’s Smart 100 list for 2014.

The Australian Government recently announced that HIV self-testing is now allowed in Australia. As the only Australian IVD manufacturer with an HIV test and one that is designed specifically for self-testing, Atomo is engaged with the TGA and the Kirby Institute to introduce this new global benchmark test to the Australian market in the near future.

Uscom

Uscom Limited is an Australian medical devices company that specialises in the design and manufacture of non-invasive cardiac monitoring equipment.

While standard medical practice involves measurement of blood pressure either distally (with a cuff on the arm) or invasively (via a catheter inserted into the heart), there are a number of limitations with both leading to the risk of losing lives.

Uscom’s cardiac output product, UltraSonic Cardiac Monitor (USCOM 1A), uses Doppler ultrasound to provide real-time continuous measurement of cardiac output. This is deployed in emergency departments and paediatric units to quickly identify serious cardiac issues with greater accuracy than a cuff and without an invasive catheter procedure.

Uscom’s blood pressure device, BP+, provides information about the heart and vessels which can be used to detect early cardiovascular disease and improve management of hypertension. It provides more accurate measures than the traditional arm cuff.

USCOM 1A and BP+ have FDA, CE Mark and other regional approvals and are being sold through distributors. Contracts have been signed with China’s Pioneer ($7 million over five years), Deltex Medical ($2.35 million over three years) and SMT medical ($2.7 million over three years)