A medical manufacturing facility formerly run by COVID vaccine producer Pfizer has received a $2 million state government cash injection to expand Western Australia’s pharmaceutical capabilities.
The Bentley pharmaceutical facility purchased by Bridgewest Perth Pharma in 2023 and now operating under the name NovaCina will use the grant to buy a new production line for eye droppers, and a new packaging line.
NovaCina manufactures oncology drugs and sterile injectables, which are exported to about 65 countries.
NovaCina president Brett Alderson said the firm was probing new ways to deliver drugs and improve stability.
“It is very unlikely that if you've been to an Australian hospital you haven't used some of our medicines … things like antiseptics, antibiotics,” he said.
“We are looking at different technologies for the delivery of injectable medicines, and these are things like prefilled syringes that are easy to use in the hospital setting.
“We are incredibly grateful for what Pfizer has done for us in the past, we still manufacture products for Pfizer from this site, and we are looking for that to continue.”
Mr Alderson said high-tech equipment, tight regulations and trust made Australia competitive with low-cost overseas manufacturers.
NovaCina employs about 400 staff and expects to add an additional 70 roles through its expansion.
Speaking on a visit to NovaCina’s facility on Monday, Premier Roger Cook said investing in NovaCina’s expansion improved WA’s advanced manufacturing capability.
“As we found out during COVID, Australia is at the end of the international supply chains, WA is at the end of the national supply chains,” he said.
“That is why having these sort of facilities is important because you actually have some sovereign medical health and manufacturing capacity.
“The saline solutions that were being manufactured here were used throughout COVID-19 as part of the mRNA vaccine program.”
The facility’s grant was funded under the state government’s Investment Attraction Fund.
