Medical manufacturing boost to create local jobs

• Former Pfizer site to expand into major medical manufacturing facility
• $2 million Cook Government grant through the Investment Attraction Fund
• Facility upgrade to create more local jobs in pharmaceutical manufacturing

Global pharmaceutical company Bridgewest is set to transform the former Pfizer owned facility in Bentley to manufacture more medical products, following a $2 million investment from the Cook Government.

The facility – which operates under the name NovaCina – manufactures oncology drugs and sterile injectable hospital essentials across nine production lines, exporting products to almost 100 countries around the world.

Bridgewest Perth Pharma purchased the facility from Pfizer in 2023, securing more than 400 local jobs.

The Cook Government is delivering a $2 million grant to the facility through the Investment Attraction Fund, which will support a significant expansion at the facility to locally manufacture more medical products.

Upgrades will include a new automated blow, fill and seal line to make products such as eye droppers, and a new design packaging line.

The improvements will also facilitate onshore commercialisation of Australian intellectual property, replacing importation needs, and drive new innovation and commercial opportunities.

The expansion is set to create almost 70 new local jobs, and employ 31 contractors during construction.

WA's burgeoning life sciences sector has more than doubled in the past five years, with more than 244 companies employing nearly 24,000 Western Australians, and is a key focus of the Cook Government's plan to diversify the WA economy.

The Investment Attraction Fund was established to encourage new investment in the State, create local jobs and diversify the WA economy, with more than $148 million allocated to 40 job-creating projects across the State so far.

For more information on the Investment Attraction Fund, visit www.investandtrade.wa.gov.au/opportunities/investment-attraction-fund.

Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:

"Medical manufacturing presents an important opportunity for WA – helping to diversify our economy and create local jobs, while contributing to the global need for quality medical products.

"World renowned companies such as Bridgewest understand that WA provides a unique market for investment, and that our Government is working hard to secure these opportunities for local WA jobs.

"The NovaCina facility is a fantastic example of what the future can look like in WA – where we make more things here and play a major role in the medical sciences sector."

Comments attributed to Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:

"Western Australian innovation and investment in biotech and life sciences are bringing about immense opportunities for improved and extended lives, all around the globe.

"Our State continues to be an important player in the health and medical life sciences sector, and with the Cook Government's continued support we can maintain our momentum in solving critical healthcare issues.

"NovaCina's arrival in Perth is already having a positive impact on the local ecosystem."