An Interview with Experts on the Australia and United States Global Partnership Advantage
As we gear up for this year’s Biotech Showcase, held in conjunction with the industry-leading JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, we had the opportunity to sit down with Tanya van der Wall, Country Managing Director at Commercial Eyes, and Rich Daniels, Managing Director at Halloran Consulting Group. Together, they shared insights into their dynamic global partnership under the umbrella of their parent company, ProductLife Group.
Meet Tanya and Rich at Booth 15, Biotech Showcase, January 13-15, Hilton Union Square, Grand Ballroom.
Q: Let’s dive straight into the exciting opportunities in Australia’s clinical development ecosystem. Can you share why Australia has become such a key destination for early-stage companies?
Tanya: Absolutely. Australia has a unique draw, especially for early-stage companies. One of the biggest attractions is the R&D tax incentive—eligible companies can get back up to 43.5% of their research and development expenses. For small startups, this is a game changer. It extends their runway, saves costs, and allows them to focus resources on development.
Rich: Beyond financial incentives, Australia offers a diverse patient population, which is ideal for recruitment. The ecosystem allows for quicker trial completions thanks to streamlined ethics approvals and regulatory processes. Importantly, the data generated here is highly translatable to major markets like the US and Europe.
Q: How does this ecosystem cater to both small startups and larger pharmaceutical companies?
Tanya: For startups, Australia provides a great entry point. Many companies begin with early-phase trials here, leveraging the rebate and local expertise. For larger companies, the attraction lies in the ability to conduct more advanced phase II or III trials. Australia’s infrastructure and highly regarded investigators supports these stages effectively, and its regulatory environment ensures high-quality, globally accepted data.
Q: How are they navigating the global markets after starting in Australia?
Tanya: Companies are looking to use Australia as a springboard. While they may start trials here, their sights are set on broader markets like the US and Europe. That is where integrated services become critical supporting them from trial design through to commercialization and market access. That is a KEY offering our partnership between Commercial Eyes and Halloran Consulting Group, both companies of ProductLifeGroup.
Q: Tell me more about the role of partnerships in this global journey?
Rich: Partnerships are vital. A company’s ability to navigate seamlessly within Australia as well as from Australia to other global markets depends on having an integrated development plan from the outset. That means designing trials that meet regulatory and reimbursement requirements for multiple markets. This is where global-local expertise comes into play—combining deep local knowledge with a scalable global approach.
Q: Sounds like there is an importance of designing for market access early in the process; what advice can you offer our readers?
Tanya: It is crucial. If you do not align your trial design with market access requirements early, you risk limiting the patient population or the product’s value later. By considering end points that both regulators and payers accept, you ensure your product is not only approvable but also commercially viable.
Q: How is your team addressing gaps, such as pharmacovigilance for clinical trials?
Tanya: Pharmacovigilance in clinical trials is a significant area of focus for us. It is a service gap in Australia that we are actively addressing with our strong internal capabilities. By providing wraparound services, including regulatory strategy and market access support, we aim to offer seamless support across the clinical development lifecycle through commercialization.
Q: How would you summarize the unique advantage of starting in Australia?
Rich: In working for US based companies where I have conducted clinical trials, managed teams, and worked within the development ecosystem in Australia, I would say it offers a local feel with global capabilities. It is a destination that enables companies to save costs, recruit diverse populations, and generate high-quality data. But it is not just a stop—it is a launchpad for global success.
Tanya: Exactly. Australia’s ecosystem is built for efficiency and high-quality research and innovation. From early-phase trials to commercialization, it is about creating a seamless pathway for companies to navigate global markets effectively.
Australia is carving a niche as a clinical development hub, offering unmatched opportunities for companies of all sizes.
Australia’s clinical development ecosystem stands out for its financial incentives, diverse patient recruitment capabilities, and globally accepted regulatory framework. With the right partnerships and strategic planning, companies can leverage these advantages to achieve success on a global scale. Whether you are a startup looking to extend your runway or a larger pharma company aiming for efficient global trials, partnering with Commercial Eyes and Halloran Consulting Group offers a compelling proposition.
About Our Contributors
Rich Daniels, Managing Director, Halloran Consulting Group, has over 30 years of experience spanning the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. He is an accomplished executive recognized for leadership and achievement across start-up ventures, mid-size companies, and Fortune 500 organizations. His expertise extends throughout all phases of product development, leading products, and cross-functional programs from initial concept through to commercialization. He has experience in developing strategies, portfolio management, project planning, managing, and integrating global functions, and leading large transformation initiatives. Learn more about Rich: https://hallorancg.com/team/rich-daniels
Tanya van der Wall, Country Managing Director, Commercial Eyes leads a talented and diverse team of over 100 consultants to ensure the ongoing delivery of high-quality services and outcomes for clients and partners in Australia, the JAPAC region and globally.
With over 20 years industry experience in boutique law firms and management consultancies, Tanya has developed expertise in strategic analysis and problem solving and has a depth of experience in complex regulatory environments including healthcare. For the past 10 years since joining Commercial Eyes, Tanya has advised hundreds of manufacturers and sponsors, from small and medium enterprises to large global companies. She understands the regulatory, reimbursement and commercial challenges facing innovators and competitors and is passionate about enabling companies to bring their life saving and life changing treatments to market, for the benefit of all patients. Learn more about Tanya: https://commercialeyes.com.au/team-member/tanya-van-der-wall/
About Commercial Eyes
Commercial Eyes a Product Life Group Company, is a leading healthcare and life sciences consulting firm, specializing in pre and post registration commercialization services, comprising amongst others Market and Patient Access, Regulatory and Product Development, Quality and Compliance, Patient Safety & Risk Management (PS), Medical Information (MI) and Sponsorship Services. Commercial Eyes is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with a strong presence in New Zealand and supporting clients in the broader JAPAC region. The company is known as one of the largest providers of commercialization services to the Pharma and MedTech sector delivering high quality, customer-focused results in the regulated therapeutics and healthcare industry for over 23 years. With an experienced team of over 100 consultants, the company has supported more than 900 clients representing the full spectrum of health technology companies from emerging biopharma/biotech and small to medium enterprises to global multinationals. For more information, visit https://commercialeyes.com.au/