The 100th Episode of the MTPConnect Podcast Shares Inflazome Success Story
14 April 2021
Pictured (L-R): head of the Inflammasome Laboratory Professor Kate Schroder, MTPConnect Director of Media and Communications Caroline Duell and Director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) Professor Ian Henderson, in the MTPConnect podcast studio.
To celebrate the release of the 100th episode of the MTPConnect podcast, we created a two-part special to highlight the story behind Queensland start-up Inflazome, the scientists behind the discovery and the Roche deal that will hopefully commercialise new treatments for inflammation-related diseases.
MTPConnect’s Director of Media and Communications Caroline Duell chats with the co-inventor of the IP behind Inflazome, Professor Kate Schroder who is head of the Inflammasome Laboratory and Director of the Centre for Inflammation and Disease Research at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB). Joining the discussion is Professor Ian Henderson, the Director of the IMB.
The episode explores the story behind the milestone research discovery that could lead to a treatment for conditions like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, Motor Neurone Disease – even asthma. The innovation was developed out of the UQ, in partnership with Trinity College in Dublin. And the start-up company spawned by the research – Inflazome - was recently acquired by Roche in a deal worth $620 million, with additional contingent milestone payments, making it one of Australia’s largest biotech deals.
“2020 didn’t have a lot of highs but that was definitely one of them,” says Professor Schroder.
“Roche buying the company is just amazing because Roche have the money, the clout, the expertise – they’ve got everything lined up to make this a huge success,” she tells the podcast. “They can take this all the way to the clinic now which a start-up company could never do.”
Listen in to the double episode to find out more about Inflazome’s start-up journey and the team of scientists from around the world who together are giving patients new hope through their research discoveries. We also find out more about the work of the IMB, its focus on commercialisation and the importance of training researchers to work in industry.
As we mark this successful Australian biotech milestone, we’re also celebrating the MTPConnect podcast series which first landed in early 2019.
It’s a podcast of the medtech, biotech and pharma sector, by the sector, for the sector. Each week, we bring you stories of achievement and progress in our work to improve health outcomes for patients and translate and commercialise our research. Co-hosts Caroline Duell, Shannan Osrin and Stuart Dignam have brought you inside other major developments ranging from developing COVID-19 innovations with Starpharma's CEO Dr Jackie Fairley and Ellume Heath Founder and CEO Dr Sean Parsons to launching Australia’s first network to fight antimicrobial resistance.
The whole team at MTPConnect are also involved in various ways with the delivery of our podcast series which is a team effort.
So thanks for listening! And we look forward to bringing you more inspirational stories! Subscribe to the MTPConnect Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.