Shining the spotlight on local medicine manufacturing with MMIC
In September 2022, Tim Pallas, the Victorian Government Treasurer, met scientists from Monash’s Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre (MMIC), an initiative dedicated to strengthening sovereign medicines manufacturing capabilities.
MMIC scientist working on the intranasal heparin spray.
Scientists from MMIC showcased two of the Centre’s development projects for the Treasurer. The first was a unique inhaled oxytocin product designed to prevent and treat postpartum haemorrhage. The second, which has attracted $4.2 million from the state government, was an intranasal heparin spray that aims to reduce the clinical impact on individuals infected with COVID, and lower the risk of transmission. Both are scheduled to start clinical trials.
Established in 2017, MMIC was part of a joint initiative between the Victorian State Government and Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS) to provide opportunities for innovation in medicine formulation, product development and industrialisation. In 2021, it received funding via an $8.58 million investment from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF), allowing the scale-up of medicine manufacturing capability and support for clinical trials and the growth of exports and jobs.
The team at MMIC is led by Director Professor Michelle McIntosh and will soon join the Monash Technology Precinct at the University’s Clayton campus.
Professor Michelle McIntosh said that the expansion of MMIC to Clayton will deliver far-reaching benefits to the Victorian community.
“This investment from the state government will enhance research commercialisation opportunities and enable our team of dedicated pharmaceutical scientists to continue to drive forward the end-to-end development of medicines such as inhaled oxytocin and intranasal heparin, with the aim to address urgent unmet medical needs.”
At the same time, the MMIC Clayton node will support the creation of future industries and jobs, accelerate the attraction of international investment, and build access to global supply chains.
