Author: Team
MTPConnect reports strong growth in Australia’s Medtech sector
MTPConnect – the Medical Technology, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical (MTP) Industry Growth Centre – has released new medtech specific metrics displaying that jobs supported by the medtech sector increased by 59% to 17,700 from 2015 to 2016, and that the sector boasted 1,046 companies in 2016. The new data, sourced by MTPConnect from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), highlights the progress the local MTP sector has made to maintain and extend its world-class standing in recent years.
MTPConnect has released the updated suite of metrics, building on those reported in its Sector Competiveness Plan, to provide a benchmark for the ongoing measurement and tracking of the performance of the Australian MTP sector, including medtech breakdowns. The Federal Government has identified the MTP sector as one of six priority areas where Australia could lead the world, and MTPConnect exists to help the local sector seize more commercialisation opportunities and accelerate its rate of growth.
Medtech Metrics Snapshot
· 1,046 industry companies in medtech in 2016
· 17,700 medtech industry employees in 2016
· $1.9 billion medtech industry gross value added in 2016
· $1.5 billion medical instruments and appliances exports in 2016
· 159 device clinical trials started in 2015
· 108 medtech patents submitted by sector participants in 2016
Jobs in the Australian medtech sector are at the highest level since 2011, with 17,700 industry jobs supported in 2016, showing growth of 6,600 industry employees since 2015. Medtech industry gross value added has increased steadily to $1.9 billion in 2016 from $1.6 billion in 2010, and device clinical trials were at 159 in 2015, up by 81% from 2010. Furthermore, manufacturing exports are on the rise, with strong growth in medical instruments and appliances reaching $1.5 billion in 2016. The combined MTP sector is the 10th largest export by value in Australia, maintaining its position in the top ten.
Sue MacLeman, Managing Director and CEO of MTPConnect, said the new data demonstrates that the Australian MTP sector is already starting to drive increasing growth in Australia.
“We’re delighted to share new data that reveals the immense positive impact the MTP, and medtech sub-sector specifically, make to Australia’s healthcare and economic future. The broader MTP sector continues to be a significant contributor to the Australian economy, creating new jobs and increasing GVA. This growth is set to continue, especially with steady growth in medical instrument and appliance exports.
“The Medical Research Future Fund and Biomedical Translation Fund will result in significant increases in grants, co-investment funds and capital equity from 2017, with c. $250 million in funds already allocated. Our work on the BioMedTech Horizons fund has clearly demonstrated the immense number of outstanding innovations in the sector, reinforcing the bright future ahead for Australia.
“It is an honour to work with such an important and mobilised sector that has seized opportunities to collaboratively and creatively address national sector gaps and constraints. We look forward to driving further discussion and focus in the sector on priority areas shaping the future in which Australia can excel, such as precision medicine, 3D printing and digital health evolution.”
MTPConnect sits at the nexus of the sector, driving collaboration, acting as an independent voice for change and funding big, bold ideas to accelerate growth and drive greater commercialisation opportunities. The updated metrics build on the significant work that has been undertaken by MTPConnect since 2016.
GO Purple for Epilepsy Awareness
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In Australia alone approximately 250,000 people live with epilepsy and one in 25 people will have epilepsy at some point in their life.
Ask Leah Bohm what it’s like to have a family member with epilepsy but luckily for her medical technology has provided a life changing opportunity. Last year Leah spoke to a room full of politicians to tell her story. The power and authenticity of her story left everyone with no doubt, medical technology can change lives for the better.
Global advances in medical technology over the past 20 years have resulted in a 56% reduction in hospital stays, 25% decline in disability rates and increased life expectancy of approximately 3.2 years.
Technology allows patients to hear, to walk, to see, to live or to have a quality of life that they otherwise would not have. The gradual innovation over the years has seen some critical devices develop from technologies that were lifesaving but their design and functional restrictions limited patients’ quality of life to technologies that now save lives and provide a high quality of life for patients.
For Leah, her eight year old son has been living with an aggressive form of epilepsy since just before his 1st birthday. Over the years, his neurologist prescribed him drug after drug after drug, full of side effects, desperately trying to offer some relief. His condition was so bad, that Leah felt she barely knew her son. When he wasn’t seizing throughout the day, sometimes over 300 seizures in a day, he was recovering from the aftereffects. Her son has spent at least two Christmases, an Easter and a Mother’s Day, plus a myriad of other days in hospital from the effects of his epilepsy. Most often injuries sustained from atonic episodes, where the patient suddenly loses consciousness and can fall to the ground if standing.
Eventually the neurologist suggested he be provided with a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy.
For Leah, a miracle occurred on April 24th, 2014, six months after her son’s implant was activated, he had his first seizure free day. Since then he’s been seizure fee, this has allowed her to finally meet her son, hidden for so many years by his condition. But more importantly it has given her son a future, one she never thought he would have.
Each story I hear is so uniquely powerful, and serves as a reminder of the importance of continued innovation to society and patients everywhere.
Australia has an excellent health system that makes possible some of the most up-to-date medical procedures for people like Leah’s son. We are a fortunate country that provides universal health care to all that enables wonderful patient outcomes.
I look forward during March on behalf of the medical technology industry to help raise awareness of epilepsy and Go Purple. At the end of the day everything the medical device industry does and seeks to do has patients as the core focus.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_zigzag][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”1585″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ian Burgess is the CEO of the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
NSW Minister for Women Pays Tribute to Women in MedTech
This year the theme – press for progress – is a live issue globally and something the MedTech industry is actively pursuing.
The MTAA and the MedTech industry are leading the debate to promote the benefits of gender diversity in the workplace. Just last month the Workplace Gender Equality Agency recognised Baxter Healthcare, Becton Dickinson and Johnson & Johnson as leaders in workplace gender equality.
Speaking at the event, Minister Davies said the NSW Government was building a health system the people of NSW need and, as a result, creating exciting work opportunities for women in STEM.
“As a government, we are absolutely committed to encouraging more women to join the medical technology sector, and leadership from MTAA is vital to achieving real change,” Ms Davies said.
MTAA CEO, Ian Burgess, said the industry was pleased to see the healthcare sector has the highest proportion of women in senior leadership roles across any industry with 70.3 per cent, but also indicated there was more work to be done.
“Which is why later this year MTAA will be releasing a White Paper on practices to further promote gender diversity in the MedTech industry.
“We thank the Minister for coming to speak to us and we look forward to seeing the recipients of the 2018 Premier’s Award for Women of the Year,” Mr Burgess said.
What does an ideal model for VBHC in Australia look like?
How can we have a healthier Australia?
Catheter Ablation Saves Life: Time to Act
The industry body said calls made last year by Hearts4Heart, the peak patient group for AF that released a White Paper in Parliament House calling for an end to the political wrangling that leaves thousands of Australians languishing on public hospital waitlists for this lifechanging treatment.
Currently privately insured patients are generally not eligible for this treatment because the Prostheses List (PL) does not require reimbursement of non-implantable devices by private health insurers.
The MTAA called on the private health insurance industry to support this life saving and cost-effective treatment to be listed on the PL.
In October last year, MTAA signed a four-year Agreement with the Commonwealth that will deliver $1.1 billion in benefit reductions paid by private health insurers for medical devices. One of the key reforms in the Agreement is to review ways of listing non-implantable medical devices like catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.
The industry believes the PL has not kept pace with advances in medical technology resulting in devices like catheter ablation not being eligible for listing because they are not permanently implanted in the body.
AF is a major public health issue affecting around 460,000 Australians, with up to 30% remaining undiagnosed. Further, it is also associated with a 5 to 7-fold increase in the risk of stroke and a 3-fold increase in the risk of heart failure.[1]
Today, AF is considered a major cause of stroke in Australia (6,000 strokes annually), heart failure and hospitalisation (more than 60,000 hospitalisations annually), with direct annual healthcare costs of approximately $1.63 billion.[2]
Ian Burgess, Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Technology Association of Australia said:
“This report supports our calls for non-implantable devices like catheter ablation being fast-tracked to the Prostheses List.
“The medical device sector has played its part in reducing healthcare costs by helping to deliver the lowest private health insurance premium increase in 17 years.
“But the current Prostheses List while successful in supporting choice and containing costs has not been updated to reflect advances in technology and models of care.
“The Prostheses List is a benefit to private health insurance members that ensures no out of pocket costs for medical devices.
“We believe access to a full range of medical technology is the most valuable component of a private health insurance policy and enables the medical device industry to do what it does best – assist patients lead healthier and more productive lives.”
[1] Ball J, Thompson DR, Ski CF et al. Estimating the current and future prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the Australian adult population. Med J Aust 2015; 202:32–35. Kirchhof P, Benussi S, Kotecha D, et al. 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. Eur Heart J 2016; 37: 2893–62. [2] PricewaterhouseCoopers. Update: The economic cost of atrial fibrillation in Australia. 2017.
MTPConnect-led delegation showcases Australian medtech on the international stage
The conference provided an opportunity to showcase Australia’s capabilities, connect on business development and innovative technologies, and network with policymakers, business executives and industry leaders, resulting in numerous leads.
The largest international delegation at the conference included companies, research organisations and industry, showcasing Australia’s outstanding innovative medical technology companies, building invaluable inroads into international markets, and providing a strong, united presence for the Australian sector via the Australian Pavilion and Australian delegate booklet. Led by MTPConnect’s General Manager of Stakeholder Engagement Dr Alfredo Martinez-Coll and Director of Major Projects Elizabeth Stares, the impressive Australian delegation included the likes of CSIRO, Analytica Medical, Life Whisperer Diagnostics, TechInSA and the Graeme Clark Institute from The University of Melbourne.
The MTPConnect Australian Pavilion provided delegates with a space to easily engage with international audiences at the conference through meetings, presentations, with a majority saying that the delegation drove their decision to attend, particularly for SMEs. Delegates said that a booklet with profiles on each delegate and a sector infographic was instrumental in catching the attention of and facilitating productive engagement with co-delegates and attendees, and provided a united front that presented Australia’s strong standing internationally.
Judy Halliday from TechInSA had great things to say about the delegation.
“The MTPConnect delegation was well planned, opened doors to key contacts and potential partners, and provided a visible and vibrant ‘shopfront’ for Australia,” Ms Halliday commented.
MTPConnect hosted a 45-minute “Why Australia?” panel session, inviting CSIRO and Austrade to present to the international audience highlighting Australia’s thriving medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical ecosystem, generous incentive programs, strong credentials in medical devices and diagnostic development and strong clinical trials sector to drive interest and investment in the Australian delegates and wider market.
Andrew Brockway of IQVIA (formerly QuintilesIMS) explained that the delegation helped to increase the profile of Australia’s presence in medtech.
“MTPConnect helped to facilitate meeting with new potential customers, as well as introduction to other Australian colleagues in the medtech space,” Mr Brockway said.
“Being part of an Australian delegation certainly helped to provide additional credibility and helped to increase the profile of members of the delegation.”
As well as attending the full program of events as part of the conference, the Australian delegation also took part in a tailored agenda of exclusive events including a tour of the Boston Scientific CRM manufacturing site, and presentations from the Medical Device Innovation Consortia, Hogan Lovells attorneys, and Medical Alley on topics to learn from and assist in entering the US market. MTPConnect also organised a breakfast hosted by Edward Black of Reimbursement Strategies LLC on reimbursement and market entry in the US, EU, as well as commercialisation and product development resources, which was extremely well received by delegates.
The delegates also noted that the ability to connect with other Australians during a “meet and greet” session prior to the conference was one of the highlights, and has resulted in a number partnering for various grant and project opportunities. With 100% of the respondents saying that the MTPConnect-led delegation was a beneficial investment, and 80% reporting that the delegation has resulted in leads, partnerships, pilot-studies and potential investments with the likes of Harvard Innovation Lab and J&J Lab, it is clear that banding together to provide a united Australian front at The MedTech Conference is a highly productive and worthwhile exercise not only for the companies and organisations in attendance, but for promotion and growth of the wider Australian sector in establishing our world-leading position.
Joelle Hawa of Swinburne University of Technology said she found the delegation beneficial and served as a great introduction.
“MTPConnect showed good leadership at the MedTech Conference by supporting and guiding the Australian representatives, as well as introducing the delegation to various aspects of US market,” Ms Hawa said.
The MTPConnect Australian delegation included:
- Analytical Medical
- Anatomics
- Artesian Invest
- Bionic Vision Australia
- Blue Curve Group
- Cenofex
- Clevertar
- Cook Medical
- CSIRO Manufacturing
- Elementary Law
- Ellex Medical
- goAct
- Graeme Clarke Institute, University of Melbourne
- Griffith Hack
- Hydrix
- ide Group
- Life Whisperer Diagnostics
- Prohab
- Mobius Medical
- Movendo
- Paul L Clark and Associates
- Bioreactor
- Prime Accounting & Business
- IQVIA (formerly Quintiles IMS)
- TechInSA
- STC Australia
World-first vaccine for highly prevalent and damaging gum disease
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By driving collaboration, Oral Health CRC is inspiring innovation as it works to improve the lives of Australians affected by Periodontitis.
As a part of the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science CRC Programme, the Oral Health CRC has been taking strides in oral disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management since its launch in 2003. Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds AO and his Melbourne-based team have opened-up avenues of research and innovation by engaging The University of Melbourne and CSL Ltd. to join them in the development of a world-first therapeutic vaccine for the gum disease Periodontitis. Identified as a chronic disease, Periodontitis destroys the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth, leading to tooth loss as well as much discomfort. Periodontal disease is also associated with diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia and certain cancers.
Over 50% of Australians over the age of 65 years have gum disease or Periodontitis1, and once it is established in the mouth, the disease is often very difficult to treat, requiring patients to submit to regular professional cleaning, ongoing antibiotic regimes, and extensive surgery.
Through Oral Health CRC’s extensive research 15 years in the making, they have developed a new and world-first vaccine. By targeting enzymes produced by the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis, to trigger an immune response it produces antibodies that neutralise the pathogen’s destructive toxins. P. gingivalis is known as a keystone pathogen. The immune response of the vaccine has the potential to distort the balance of micro-organisms in dental plaque.
Oral Health CRC has licensed the innovative technology to CSL Ltd.; which is now in the clinical trial development stage. The research group’s findings were recently published in the international Nature Vaccines Journal, which is dedicated to highlighting advancements in the field of science and vaccine development.
CEO of the Oral Health CRC, Melbourne Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds AO, said the vaccine would provide dentists with a new treatment for one of the world’s most prevalent diseases.
“Current methods of treating periodontitis are helpful, but in many cases the bacterium re-establishes in the dental plaque and the disease continues,” Laureate Professor Reynolds AO explained.
“We hold high hopes for this vaccine to improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world.”
The trials on Periodontitis’s patients could potentially begin in 2018.
Oral Health CRC’s research is aligned with MTPConnect’s 10-year Sector Competitiveness Plan (SCP) through focusing on clinical speciality or therapy areas such as inflammatory diseases. The MTPConnect SCP promotes accelerating collaboration and commercialisation by building a dynamic and supportive research culture by establishing hubs that combine institutes with research organisations and universities. MTPConnect recognises the great progress that the Oral Health CRC has made in exploring commercialisation pathways and medical research into gum disease.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
1 Retrieved from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) https://www.ada.org.au/Dental-Professionals/Australian-Dental-Health-Plan/Download-your-copy-of-the-Dental-Health-Plan/2016-17-Pre-Budget-Submission-ADA-Australian-Denta
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Watch this video to see how the vaccine works:
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