The Allan Labor Government is backing a new, world-class facility in Victoria - the first in Australia accredited to manufacture a groundbreaking new cancer treatment that targets tumours with precision.
Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks today opened IDT Australia's new world-class facility, the Ehrlich Bioconjugation Centre. Based in Boronia, the centre is dedicated to the production of Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) for Research and Development (R&D), clinical, and commercial use.
Described as the "biological missile" for targeted cancer therapy, ADCs significantly improve patients' survival rates and quality of life through the highly specific delivery of potent chemotherapy agents to cancer cells.
ADCs have a substantial impact on improving survival rates in breast cancer treatment especially in metastatic, HER2positive, and triple-negative cancers. Producing them in Victoria will make it easier for Australians to access this life-saving treatment.
The global ADC market is forecast to reach US$140 billion over the next 15 years as it is expected to displace between 30 per cent to 50 per cent of the traditional chemotherapy market.
The Labor Government has supported the establishment of this new facility, helping to secure 88 highly skilled local jobs and position Victoria as a global leader in advanced cancer treatment manufacturing.
The Victorian Industry Policy identifies health technologies and medical research as a priority sector for the state to leverage our competitive advantages to drive innovation and growth.
Victoria's $21.4 billion health technologies sector is a global leader in research and manufacturing. The sector exports $3.8 billion in pharmaceuticals - accounting for more than half of Australia's pharmaceutical exports - and employs 51,785 people.
The Victorian Budget 2025/26 invests over $24 million in medical research and $150 million to launch a new Victorian Investment Fund, which will expand priority sectors and deliver additional grants for businesses and industries like IDT - while capitalising on our strengths to boost innovation and economic development.
As stated by Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing Colin Brooks
"This world-class facility puts Victoria at the forefront of groundbreaking cancer treatment innovation, saving lives and bolstering our sovereign advanced manufacturing capabilities."
"Through the Victorian Industry Policy, we're backing our medtech sector to become a global leader in research and manufacturing, attract investment and create new local jobs."
As stated by Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson
"This new facility will not only support more highly skilled jobs right in the heart of Boronia, it will save countless lives and it reinforces Victoria's position as a global leader of excellence in medical research."
As stated by Member for Bayswater Jackson Taylor
"It's fantastic to see this world-first cancer treatment being made right here in Boronia - creating local jobs and putting Knox at the cutting edge of global medical innovation."
As stated by IDT Australia CEO Paul McDonald
"We are thrilled with the support of the Victorian Government to accelerate our advanced technology in Antibody Drug Conjugates and add to the State's capabilities in this progressive technology to treat cancer patients."
"This new facility enables Victoria and Australia to progress novel ADCs from discovery to treatments that can save lives."
