Problem description:
Is the biopharmaceutical industry in Australia developed?
Analysis:
Biopharmaceuticals in Australia are very developed ... this technology ranks first in the world. Last year's Nobel Prize in Medicine was taken away by a doctor who graduated from Melbourne University. Victoria is the best place to study medicine abroad!
Biotechnology, also known as life science, is an industry that will bring prosperity to the economy, health care and environment in Victoria, Australia. Victoria supports the research and commercial development of biotechnology and hopes to make it one of Victoria's leading industries in the global knowledge economy.
Victoria is currently the largest biotechnology industry center in the Asia-Pacific region. Biotechnology companies 103, accounting for 40% of the total in Australia and 45% of the total number of researchers. 40% of the research funds of Australian National Institute of Health Care are invested in Victoria, and the total market value of listed companies reaches A $654.38+000 billion. In 2004, the sales revenue of biotechnology companies was A $4.6 billion, making it a veritable biotechnology capital of Australia.
I. Development of Biotechnology in Victoria
Victoria's leading research fields in biotechnology are: colonies that protect the bone marrow of cancer patients from high-dose chemotherapy; IVF technology; Study on Relaxin, a Hormone Causing Fertility: Cardiovascular; Diabetes; Nanotechnology to prevent AIDS.
Victoria currently has world-class research centers in four fields: stem cells, genetics, immunology and agriculture.
1, World Stem Cell Research Center
Because it is considered that it can treat many diseases, stem cell research has developed rapidly all over the world. Monash University, located in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, is one of the largest bases for stem cell research and regeneration science in the world. There are famous institutions and companies in this field, such as Australian Stem Cell Center, Stem Cell Technology Company, monash Immune and Stem Cell Laboratory, Novo Immune Company, etc.
Australian Stem Cell Research Center (ASCC) is a national research institution headquartered in Melbourne, and its researchers come from major research institutions in China. The center will establish an Australian stem cell bank, store and distribute new Australian embryonic stem cell lines for international partners, and store embryonic stem cell lines from overseas.
Monash Immune and Stem Cell Laboratory (MISCL) is a world-class stem cell research center, focusing on embryonic stem cell research, mainly used for the repair and regeneration of blood, pancreas, respiratory and kidney diseases. The center is world-famous in immunity, stem cells and tissue repair. It works closely with the Australian Stem Cell Center and other institutions in chromosome, evolutionary science, regeneration, immunity and transplantation medicine.
Stem Cell Technology Company (SCS) is an international company, which has cooperative relations with monash University, Australian Stem Cell Center, Edinburgh University and research institutions in Kobe, Japan. Since 1994, the company has been engaged in stem cell research, mainly to cultivate, distinguish, select and purify mouse and human embryonic stem cells for screening in genetics, pathology and toxicology.
CyGenics is engaged in the research and commercial development of products, services, applications and technologies related to adult stem cells. It is headquartered in Melbourne and has branches in the United States and Singapore.
Norwood is mainly engaged in the research and development of immune system recovery, thymus regeneration and improvement of bone marrow function.
2. Kangaroo chromosome opens the life code
The chromosomes of marsupials can help us better understand the genetic program of human beings. Researchers in Melbourne are studying the three-dimensional accelerator image of kangaroo, which is only one step away from uncovering the secret of human bone development. Understanding the unique lactation, reproduction and embryo of kangaroo family will bring high commercial value, including: 1) improving the quantity and quality of dairy products, 2) raising livestock, 3) human fertility, and 4) understanding embryo development to help treat premature infants.
3. Immunization
Melbourne has a long-standing reputation in immune research, and has made a series of achievements, including the birth of the first frozen embryo developed by Carl Wood and Monash IVF; Walter and Donald of Eliza Institute of Medicine (WEHI) discovered the colony factor that helps cancer patients recover from chemotherapy. MacFarlane bernat has done a lot of work for human transplantation; The Federal Serum Laboratory (CLS) has developed smallpox, diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.
The main institutions engaged in immune research are:
Walter and Eliza Institute of Medicine (WEHI) are mainly engaged in cancer (leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer), autoimmune diseases (juvenile diabetes complicated with aging and rheumatoid arthritis) and infectious diseases (malaria, leishmaniasis and influenza).
Macfarlane Bur is the largest infectious disease research institution in Australia, mainly engaged in the research of virus infections such as AIDS, hepatitis and measles. It combines laboratory research with the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public projects.
Peter mccallum is the world's leading cancer research center, focusing on cell and molecular biology, cancer immunity, cancer genes, stem cells and genetics.
CSL, etc. 16 A company with international influence is engaged in immune research and development.
4. Agriculture
Victoria agriculture plays an important role in Australia, where 23% of agricultural products and 30% of food are produced, and agricultural biotechnology is highly developed. Victoria Department of Agriculture has 800 researchers, including Australian Animal Health Laboratory, Australian Food Science and many other scientific research institutions. The main research situation is as follows:
Dairy products: 250,000 kinds of bovine genes urgently need new bioactive compounds; The main milk-producing genes were identified. Genes for designing molecular marker analysis to improve excellent livestock breeding;
Aquaculture: Marker Helper Gene for Increasing Yield: Application of DNA Detection Technology in Abalone Culture.
Cereals and oilseeds: use the antifreeze protein gene family of Antarctic grass to improve the strength of crops and pastures.
Second, the favorable conditions for the development of biotechnology in Victoria
The vigorous development of biotechnology industry in Victoria mainly depends on the following favorable factors:
1, * * * strongly supported. The federal government, state government and Melbourne city government all attach great importance to the biotechnology industry and inject a lot of money. 1In May 1999, Victoria * * * announced a five-year plan, investing 3 10/00000 Australian dollars to update and expand scientific and technological infrastructure and promote scientific and technological innovation. It is estimated that by the end of 2005, the actual investment in Victoria will reach 500 million Australian dollars. 200 1 Victoria * * * announced the strategic development plan of biotechnology in Victoria, and determined that Victoria will become one of the five largest biotechnology centers in the world by 20 10 (the others are San Diego, Cambridge, San Francisco and Boston).
2. The research and development of biotechnology has a solid foundation and high standards. Victoria has a long history of research and development, and many researchers enjoy international reputation in the fields of science and medicine, including many Nobel Prize winners (two more people in Australia won the Nobel Prize in Medicine this year). There are 22 non-profit medical research institutes and 9 universities in Victoria, and the proportion of doctoral students trained exceeds that of the United States, Japan and Britain. There are 7 teaching hospitals, 19 agricultural research institute.
3. The research cost is relatively low. Australia has a stable political society, a transparent and sound legal and financial system, and highly protected intellectual property rights. Standard & Poor's credit rating of Victoria is AAA, and it is generally believed that the research cost of Victoria is 50%-75% of that of the United States.
Three. limit
Capital plays a key role in the development of biotechnology industry. Although Australia has great advantages in research and development, it also faces the problems of small market and difficult financing.
1, small market. Australia has a small population and a small market, which limits the development of enterprises. Due to the large American market, strong national strength and many venture capital funds, some large companies turn to the American market for listing. However, the drug regulatory system (FDA) in the United States is different from that in Australia (TGA). For Australian enterprises, there are still problems such as adapting to the environment and finding suitable partners, which often increase operating costs and are not conducive to enterprise development.
2. Financing is difficult. Biotechnology industry is an industry with high investment, long cycle and high risk. It is generally believed that a new drug will cost at least 1- 1 billion dollars and take 50- 10 years. On the one hand, due to the narrow market, domestic venture capital funds are generally reluctant to invest huge sums of money. On the other hand, although some companies turn to the United States and other places to seek funds, American venture funds dare not blindly enter because they lack sufficient understanding of Australian companies.