CSL is a leading global biotechnology company with a wide-ranging portfolio of lifesaving medicines and R&D projects including therapeutics for autoimmune diseases. CSL and its three businesses – CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor – provides lifesaving products to patients in more than 100 countries and employs more than 32,000 people worldwide.
Gaining a deeper understanding of the drug development process
A REDI Fellowship enabled CSL to embed Dr Harley within CSL’s Global Research Innovation function that is led by Dr Marthe D’Ombrain. During his Fellowship, Dr Harley spent time with both the Australian and Swiss-based Research Innovation teams and worked closely with CSL’s Immunology Research Therapeutic Area Lead. Dr Harley’s placement in CSL’s Swiss R&D site enabled him to develop a greater understanding of European academic research institutes and biotechs developing early-stage therapeutics; how European incubators and seed investors support the creation and growth of start-ups; and the different approaches being applied by large pharmaceutical companies in Europe in partnering with academia and biotechs to accelerate the delivery of drugs to patients.
Dr Harley’s project with CSL provided opportunities for him to connect with CSL experts in drug development across research functions including target validation, antibody discovery and engineering, translational research, assay development and pharmacology. This enabled him to build a network within CSL, while gaining a deeper understanding of the drug development process and the key data needed to translate therapeutic programs towards clinical trials.
The REDI Fellowship offered Dr Harley the opportunity to better understand what research questions need to be answered to give researchers the best chance to partner with CSL and other leading biotechs. He gained experience in the various pathways and operational structures concerning research translation and commercialisation in Europe, which highlighted the subtle differences between European practices and those typically observed in Australian academic technology transfer offices.
Using new-found skills to deliver reviews of more than 100 novel therapeutics
Dr Harley used his new-found skills in drug evaluation to deliver reviews of more than 100 novel therapeutics for the Immunology Therapeutic area, as well as developing capabilities in influencing investment decision-making.
Dr Harley also leveraged new skills in data analysis and business development to establish multiple new relationships with top-tier European academic institutes for CSL to explore. It is envisaged these relationships will enable CSL to grow its access to high-quality early-stage therapeutic collaborations to build out its preclinical pipeline.
Pictured: Dr Samuel Harley, at the back second from left, with CSL’s Research External Innovation team in Melbourne.
CSL’s Director, Research Innovation Europe, Dr Nathan Lawless, said during his tenure with the Research Innovation – Europe team in Switzerland, Dr Harley significantly contributed to the development and execution of CSL’s Research Innovation strategy in Europe.
“As a direct result of his work, we have expanded CSL’s access to new collaboration opportunities in new European geographies and are establishing relationships with top-tier academic institutes undertaking cutting-edge research aligned with CSL’s therapeutic areas of interest,” Dr Lawless said.
REDI Fellowship provided unprecedented opportunities for Dr Harley
The REDI Fellowship experience paved the way for and gave Dr Harley the confidence to create a new business, FlameTree Biotech Consulting, designed to support Australian academic research institutes and biotechs.
Dr Harley said a key barrier to translation of government-funded medical research into new drugs through commercialisation has been a lack of professionals skilled in early-stage drug development and commercialisation in Australia.
“The REDI Fellowship provided me with unprecedented opportunities to connect with a network of CSL’s most experienced drug development experts from whom I have gained a deep understanding of how to develop new drugs, what makes a drug an attractive in-licensing and acquisition opportunity, and how to pitch drug development partnership opportunities to large pharmaceutical companies.
“The skills and knowledge acquired during my REDI Fellowship have enabled me to establish a unique consulting firm that specialises in supporting Australian biotechs and academic institutions to accelerate their drug development programs and establish partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies and will ultimately contribute to strengthening the Australian MTP sector’s capabilities in research translation and commercialisation,” Dr Harley said.