State government links sponsors, sites and CROs in Australia
The Victorian Clinical Trials Gateway offers a single point of entry for global companies looking to access Victoria’s universities, independent medical research institutes, clinical trial networks, biobanks and contract research organizations (CROs).
According to the government, the initiative – which responds to the growing number of trials conducted in the state – will also help local start-ups and small to medium-sized companies find support and services to attract business.
Global companies are increasingly outsourcing their early phase clinical trials to Melbourne for three reasons: cost-efficiency, speed, and quality, said a spokesperson from the state’s department of economic development, jobs, transport and resourcing.
“Australia offers attractive R&D tax incentives, including cash rebates,” she told us.
In 2016, Outsourcing-Pharma reported that Australia’s tax incentive program make clinical trials up to 60% more cost-effective compared to US-based trials.
Additionally, the state – which we were told is estimated to provide around a third of Australia’s clinical trial sites – is home to “key niche CROs” such as Nucleus Network, Neuroscience Trials Australia, and Cancer Trials Australia, said the spokesperson.
“Based on our expertise in treating diseases like cancer, and our large-scale infrastructure like the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, we understand that the majority of commercially sponsored cancer trials run in Australia have trial sites in Victoria,” she added.
According to the spokesperson, Victoria’s clinical trial process also “saves time and money by avoiding duplication and allowing flexibility without compromising quality.”
