In an uncertain domestic environment, many American drug discovery companies are looking to find safe, reliable locations to continue their important work.
 
CEO of Australian Contract Medicinal Chemistry company, Epichem, Colin La Galia said there were several compelling reasons why USA companies should consider Australia as the best location for their next chemistry and drug development partnership.
 
“In many ways, it’s one of international science’s best-kept secrets – many companies we talk to hadn’t even considered Australian companies as international partners, before the appeal of operating here becomes apparent,” he said.
 
“But we’ve got outstanding talent, a thriving industry and a terrific legal and scientific culture – it’s time the secret gets out!”
 
Here are five major reasons international/US companies should consider Australian companies as their research partners:
 
1.    Australian companies are open for business

With coronavirus cases suppressed across the country, most Australian states are fully operational with business as close to normal as possible, placing them far ahead of many countries in the world.
 
In the State of Western Australia in particular, there has been six months of zero community transmission. That means no barriers to meeting your project milestones and an effective and efficient delivery of service.
 
2.    Australia has some of the best talent in the world

Australia has a strong and growing number of PhD-qualified personnel in its healthcare sectors.
 
Nearly half of Australian PhD holders are employed in the private and public sectors and the medical and pharmaceutical industry is ranked in the top 4 employers of graduates.
 
Around 2,500 doctorate holders are entering the public and private sectors every year and that number is growing.
 
3.    The Australian legal system has excellent IP protection protocols, designed to foster international collaboration

Protection of intellectual property is one of the most significant challenges facing any major player in drug discovery.
 
Intellectual property law in Australia is business-friendly, ‘designed to encourage innovation and protect businesses that develop original IP’, according to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission’s website.
 
Australia’s legal framework for intellectual property is specifically designed to encourage foreign investment, striking an ideal balance between freedom and protection. Australia has a robust legal system and low levels of corruption, but without the litigious environment that pervades other places around the world.
 
4.    Australians have a collaborative culture of teamwork and partnership

By any international standard, Australia has had a professional culture of collaboration and friendship throughout its history, particularly within the scientific community. Stable policymaking and a high degree of harmony between States makes establishing entities and conducting business far easier than in countries like the USA.
 
“Our international partners continually comment on the friendly, professional nature of working with Australians,” says Mr La Galia.
 
5.    We work while you sleep

One of the unexpected benefits for many international partners is the time difference, which may seem like a hurdle at first but is soon revealed to be anything but, as work on projects continues throughout the night.
 
This is especially convenient in the US, with a 12-hour time difference meaning an Australian partnership can lead to an effective 24-hour workday, boosting productivity and accelerating progress.
 
In addition, Australia’s status as an English-speaking country means collaboration with the US and the UK faces no barrier. while the country still boasts a reputation for multi-lingual capabilities to work with partners around the world.
 
The other major reason to operate in partnership with Australia, said Mr La Galia, is the balance between cost and quality.
 
“While our work is of the highest quality, pre-clinical research is extremely cost-effective to run in Australia as a result of tax incentives and the speed of approval process.”
 
“That means running research projects in Australia is significantly cheaper than many other places around the world, without any compromise on the quality of that research.”

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