Country for PR: United States
Contributor: PR Newswire New York
Thursday, July 15 2021 - 12:16
AsiaNet
Johnson & Johnson Innovation announces extension of innovation partnering office at Monash University in collaboration with Victorian State Government to accelerate the life-sciences hub
MELBOURNE, Vic., Australia, July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/--

- Victorian State Government extends financing of JJIPO@Monash for an 
  additional two years

- Extension will further boost Victorian hub for researchers and early-stage
  companies to connect with industry experts and deliver novel healthcare 
  solutions

Johnson & Johnson Innovation announced today the extension of the Johnson & 
Johnson Innovation Partnering Office at Monash University's Clayton Campus in 
Melbourne (JJIPO@Monash) in collaboration with the Victorian State Government. 

Logo - 
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/701852/Johnson_and_Johnson_Innovation_Logo.jpg

This joint initiative between Johnson & Johnson Innovation, the Victorian 
Government and Monash University will be extended for approximately two years 
through June 30, 2023. The agreement will allow JJIPO@Monash to continue 
connecting with the Victorian innovation ecosystem, nurturing and accelerating 
innovative research, new product development and commercialisation for a global 
market, as well as boost local job creation in Victoria. 

"Our collaboration with Monash University represents Johnson & Johnson 
Innovation's ongoing commitment to foster diverse healthcare ecosystems across 
Australia. This extension will further help connect life-science innovators in 
Victoria to accelerate their healthcare solutions across the globe," said Stacy 
Feld, Regional Head, Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, West North America, 
Australia & New Zealand. 

Since 2012, Johnson & Johnson Innovation has played an active role in 
establishing connections with key stakeholders in the Australia life-science 
ecosystem, including academia, government and venture capitalists, to enable 
public-private collaboration and support early-stage entrepreneurs and academic 
researchers. JJIPO@Monash was originally launched in 2018 to provide crucial 
support to researchers and companies in the Victorian life-science sector as 
part of the Government's commitment to the medical technologies and 
pharmaceuticals sector – one of eight priority growth sectors. The 
public-private partnership between Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Monash 
University and the Victorian Government is one of only three such offices 
located across the world. 

"Victoria has one of the world's largest life science clusters composed of 
medical technologies (medtech), biotechnologies and pharmaceutical industries. 
It's home to a vibrant commercial sector, key R&D infrastructure and advanced 
manufacturing expertise making it a highly sought-after destination by global 
healthcare companies," said Jaala Pulford, Minister for Innovation, Parliament 
of Victoria. "This is why we are delighted to extend our joint agreement with 
Johnson & Johnson Innovation to maintain the partnering office at Monash." 

"This contract extension demonstrates the valuable work that is taking place at 
JJIPO@Monash," said Kathy Connell, Senior Director, Early Innovation 
Partnering, Australia & New Zealand, Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd. "Several high 
impact Victorian healthcare collaborations have been signed since our launch, 
including those novel medical technologies and treatments for neurodegenerative 
and autoimmune conditions, and solutions for significant unmet needs in global 
public health including maternal mortality and infectious diseases."

Since its inception in 2018, JJIPO@Monash has provided a platform for major 
life-science collaboration in Victoria to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem 
and enable future impact, including:

 - St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research (SVI)'s multi-year 
   research collaboration 
   (https://www.svi.edu.au/news/new_collaboration_for_alzheimers_research/ ) 
   with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to develop and potentially 
   commercialise small molecule modulators of microglial function and 
   inflammation for Alzheimer's disease treatment

 - Monash University to support the development 
  ( 
https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/monash-university-receives-funding-from-janssen-in-global-health-to-help-save-mothers-lives 
 ) 
   of an inhaled form of oxytocin as a life-saving therapy to prevent and 
   manage postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of 
   Medial Research (WEHI)'s collaborative research team ( 
   
https://www.wehi.edu.au/news/collaboration-johnson-johnson-innovation-jumpstart-search-new-malaria-drugs 
 ) 
   to further develop potential antimalarial drugs from chemical compounds in 
   the Janssen Jump-stARter Molecular Library (a collection of 80,000+ drug-
   like compounds designed to fast track the discovery of new medicines) – 
   both collaborations with Janssen Pharmaceutical NV, one of the Janssen 
   Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson

 - Monash University's multi-year research collaboration
   ( 
https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/monash-university-announces-research-collaboration-with-janssen-to-tackle-coeliac-disease 
 ) 
   with Janssen Biotech, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of 
   Johnson & Johnson, to advance the understanding of the immune mechanisms 
   underpinning Coeliac Disease and inform the development of new methods of 
   diagnosis and treatment

 - QuickFire Challenge (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcLbD5GfqI0 ) 
   competition, jointly sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC and the 
   Victorian State Government, provided an opportunity to showcase and 
   promote Victoria's medical device innovation ecosystem resulting in three 
   awardees who have secured a total combined aggregate of over $15.6M in 
   follow on investment since 2018

 - MedTech Actuator's partnership with Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC to 
   bring mentorship opportunities and generate local investment for health 
   technology startups in Victoria and development and delivery of the 
   Johnson & Johnson-Monash Postgraduate Diversity and Inclusion internship 
   programs for 2019 and 2020

 - 15 international executive visits from the Johnson & Johnson Family of 
   Companies and nearly 40 global leaders have provided mentorship to 
   Victorian entrepreneurs, investors, academics, government and engaged with 
   more than 1,700 active stakeholders across JJIPO@Monash's global network; 
   hosted approximately 30 educational training and networking events and 
   numerous international tours to connect Victorian innovators to the global 
   Johnson & Johnson Innovation network, including Johnson & Johnson 
   Innovation Centers, JLABS (in Shanghai and Washington, DC), Janssen 
   Research & Development, LLC (US), Janssen Pharmaceutical NV (Belgium), 
   Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health, Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd. 
   (including the orthopaedic business Depuy Synthes) and Johnson & Johnson 
   Vision Care, Inc. (US)

 - During the pandemic in 2020 alone, JJIPO@Monash hosted eight key virtual 
   events with internationally based Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies 
   leaders engaging over 650 stakeholders covering key strategic areas 
   including Women in STEM2D, Neuroscience, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, 
   World Without Disease Accelerator, Drug Delivery, Digital Solutions, 
   Janssen Jump-stARter Molecular Library, Surgical Vision Care and the 
   Johnson & Johnson-BARDA Blue Knight alliance program

Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Senior Vice-President (Enterprise & 
Governance), Professor Ken Sloan, said the contract extension will further 
raise Victoria's reputation as a global innovation hot spot.

"This partnership is helping to bridge the gap between academic research and 
industry application by driving cross-industry conversations, leading to 
project innovations and investment. I am excited to see what we will achieve in 
this new phase," said Professor Sloan.

JJIPO@Monash provides mentoring, training and networking with emerging 
healthcare companies and academic researchers at no financial cost to life 
science stakeholders across Victoria to help nurture the next generation of 
innovators. Commercialisation training, mentoring and networking support is 
provided to accelerate translational life science research along the path to 
commercialisation and to connect Victorian innovators with stakeholders from 
Johnson & Johnson Innovation's vast global networks. These activities are part 
of Johnson & Johnson Innovation's ongoing commitment to strengthen Victoria's 
healthcare innovation ecosystem and to accelerating the opportunity for locally 
developed technologies to receive investment dollars, to reach patients faster, 
and to realize a fair return on investment. 

The Victorian Government's renewed financial support will continue to 
strengthen the partnership. The program of activities offered through 
JJIPO@Monash will ensure Johnson & Johnson Innovation has an ongoing and active 
presence in Victoria and will continue to build a commercially viable 
bio-medtech innovation network, create sector employment and ultimately deliver 
Victorian-originated healthcare solutions to people in Australia and around the 
world.                               

About Johnson & Johnson Innovation 
Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC works across the pharmaceutical, medical 
device and consumer health sectors to accelerate early-stage, transformational 
solutions by catalyzing the best ideas, wherever they are in the world. We do 
this by harnessing our deep scientific capabilities coupled with a wide range 
of tools, including customized deal structures, company creation, incubation 
and startup services, capital investments and other innovative business models 
that aim to meet the diverse needs of entrepreneurs, scientists and emerging 
companies. Our goal is to help life science and health technology innovations 
thrive through collaboration and partnership with the global ecosystem, so that 
together we can change the trajectory of human health. Meet our passionate team 
of science and technology experts and learn how to collaborate with us at 
www.jnjinnovation.com.

About the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in Australia and New Zealand 
The Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies in Australia's product portfolio 
spans medical devices, consumer and pharmaceuticals. Johnson & Johnson Medical 
Devices (Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd) is the largest medical device 
provider in Australia. Our innovative products and solutions are used primarily 
by healthcare professionals in the fields of general and plastic surgery, 
orthopaedics, neurology, bariatric surgery, infection prevention, urology, 
gynaecology, sports medicine and cardiovascular disease. Johnson & Johnson 
Consumer Health (Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Ltd) is the largest over the 
counter supplier to retail pharmacies in Australia, serving over 4,500 
community pharmacies and is one of the top five health and beauty suppliers to 
Australian groceries. Our products are found in 7 out of every 10 Australian 
households. Janssen Australia and New Zealand (Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd) is a 
leading research-based pharmaceutical company. Our focus is on addressing and 
solving the most important unmet medical needs of our time to improve the lives 
of patients in immunology, oncology, pulmonary hypertension, neuroscience, and 
infectious diseases. In Australia, Johnson & Johnson Innovation is represented 
by Janssen Australia and New Zealand (Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd). For more 
information, visit: https://www.jnj.com.au.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the 
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 related to a new collaboration 
and product development. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these 
forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations 
of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or 
unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary 
materially from the expectations and projections of Johnson & Johnson 
Innovation LLC, Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Ltd, Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd and/or 
Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the 
potential that the expected benefits and opportunities related to the 
collaboration may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; 
challenges inherent in new product development, including the uncertainty of 
clinical success and obtaining regulatory approvals; competition, including 
technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; 
uncertainty of commercial success for new products; the ability of the company 
to successfully execute strategic plans; impact of business combinations and 
divestitures; challenges to patents; changes in behavior and spending patterns 
or financial distress of purchasers of health care products and services; and 
global health care reforms and trends toward health care cost containment. A 
further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors 
can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal 
year ended January 3, 2021, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary 
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in 
the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the 
company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 
Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on 
request from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, Johnson & 
Johnson Pacific Pty Ltd, Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd and Johnson & Johnson do not 
undertake to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new 
information or future events or developments.

SOURCE:  Johnson & Johnson Innovation 


Media Contact: Angelique Navarro
               Johnson & Johnson Innovation
               Innovation Communications Leader
               West North America, Australia & New Zealand
               anavar18@its.jnj.com
               +1-949-300-9155