New trials platform brings Minister to Peter Mac
07 August 2025
The Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Danny Pearson, has visited Peter Mac to see how the new Clinical Trial Oncology Platform is supporting the development of investigational therapies for hard-to-treat cancers.
The new BioNTech clinical trial platform will provide cancer patients with easier access to the next generation of investigational treatments at Peter Mac.
BioNTech has entered into an agreement with Peter Mac to establish the platform, creating a network of key delivery partners including Austin Health, Alfred Health and Monash Health.
Peter Mac’s Executive Director Cancer Research, Professor Ricky Johnstone, said the platform is designed to streamline clinical trials through efficient data collection, planning and patient access, improving access for cancer patients to BioNTech’s innovative clinical trials.
"This platform represents a new model for staging clinical trials — one that will accelerate innovation and deliver easier access to cutting-edge therapies for patients,” Professor Johnstone said.
“This initiative is a further step towards positioning Victoria as a global leader in mRNA and other emerging-based therapeutics.
“We thank BioNTech for their partnership and acknowledge the Victorian Government’s vision,” he said.
BioNTech is working with internationally renowned principal investigators and clinical trial teams from hospitals across ustralia to offer investigational targeted treatments for lung, breast, melanoma, head and neck cancers and other common cancers – with more to come.
The platform has started its first clinical trial for an investigational breast cancer treatment at Peter Mac.
BioNTech Site Head Australia David Sparling said the trial is evaluating the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy administered in combination with chemotherapy for participants with triple-negative breast cancer.
“BioNTech is dedicated to bringing innovative treatments to patients and our agreement with the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a significant step towards achieving this goal,” he said.
“By harnessing the strength of Victoria’s life sciences sector, we aim to streamline clinical trials and expedite the development of innovative investigational treatments for people with cancer.
"Together, we are aiming to help revolutionize the standard of cancer care for thousands of patients in Australia and New Zealand.”
The Government invested $5 million to drive growth in clinical trials and enable industry-sponsored clinical trials across our state.
Minister Pearson said Labor has also invested more than $1 billion towards health and medical research over the past decade – driving growth in the sector, creating jobs and supporting incredible breakthroughs in treatment and care.
“Victoria has some of the best cancer survival outcomes globally, but there’s more to do – this new Clinical Trial Oncology Platform has the potential to deliver the next big breakthrough in cancer treatment.”
“This program is another reason why Victoria is a global leader in medical research and biotechnology as we remain at the forefront of cutting-edge innovations,” the Minister said.