Medicines Australia and MTAA welcome Government support for harmonisation of clinical trials

Medical News: Medicines Australia and Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) welcome the announcement from the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, during his CEDA address that he will be asking the National Cabinet to expedite “a one stop shop” for ethics approval of clinical trials in Australia.

Medicines Australia said while improvements to R&D tax incentive policy settings also remain essential, harmonisation of the arrangements surrounding clinical trials nationwide are vital if we are to increase investment in this critical area and ensure a health-led economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This reform will mean a healthier Australia along with investment in Australian jobs and economic growth.

“The medical technology industry has long advocated for national harmonisation of clinical trials and welcomes Minister Hunt’s announcement of a one-stop-shop for ethics approval,” said Ian Burgess, MTAA CEO.

“Local clinical trials provide Australian patients with early access to innovative medical devices and treatments and place Australia at the forefront of global advancements of medical technology.

“An active medical device clinical trial environment in Australia will provide local expertise to support Australian start-ups and research groups, accelerating their growth and retaining capability and expertise within Australia,” Mr Burgess said.

As governments, state and federal, consider the steps required to ensure a healthy Australia as we emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 crisis, the innovative pharmaceutical companies represented by Medicines Australia are playing their part in contributing to the global effort to develop a vaccine and improve Australia’s prospects of its being delivered to our citizens in a timely and equitable fashion.

Minister Hunt’s announcement, if adopted by National Cabinet, would enhance the attraction of Australia as a destination for clinical trials for all innovative medicines and therapies. Premiers and Chief Ministers can take action to deliver consistency within and between jurisdictions. Their action will decrease complexity and increase speed of commencement of clinical trials and encourage new trials to be initiated, generating further jobs, economic growth and social improvements.

With our general success so far regarding COVID-19, Australia is well-placed to be ‘open for business’ on clinical trials at a time when many other parts of the globe have had to halt trials due to hospitals and clinical staff being overwhelmed.

Medicines Australia and MTAA look forward to working with Minister Hunt, the Department of Health and State and Territory Governments on this important initiative.