iNova supports UNSW Drug Development Programs

02 March 2011
 iNova Pharmaceuticals has generously donated to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in support of its postgraduate Pharmaceutical Medicine and Drug Development Programs.

The financial support, made to the Student Travel Fund, will assist students from around the country to cover costs associated with travelling to campus for tutorials. The timely support comes as UNSW welcomes 37 new candidates in the programs to a weekend orientation school.

The programs are largely taken as distance education and include qualifications at Certificate, Diploma and Masters levels. They are designed for individuals who wish to pursue careers relevant to the development and safe use of medicines.

For Uyen Luu-Heiskanen, Drug Development Program graduate and iNova’s Senior Regulatory Affairs Associate , the course “opened doors” in transitioning from food manufacturing to strategic regulatory affairs at the company.

“The course was invaluable, both for the technical knowledge I gained to the practical help it gave me in performing various regulatory functions. These include growth projects involving both in-licensed therapies and new formulations iNova has developed through to compliance activities such as drug safety monitoring,” Ms Luu-Heiskanen said.

Fellow iNova colleague and UNSW graduate Brett Robinson, said a highlight of the course was that it has helped him forge a solid regulatory career within an Australian based pharmaceutical company that oversees operations in multiple countries and works with a network of partners to register products so they can be available to a broader global community.

Not bad for an individual who in recent years came from a non-medical background and has now built considerable expertise preparing registration dossiers and liaising with external parties to provide necessary input for marketing approvals.

iNova CEO, Andrew Howden, explained: “We are delighted to support the UNSW Drug Development programs, particularly since this aligns with a core company value which is to encourage and nurture our people’s professional development in delivering valued therapies to patients and consumers.”

Ric Day, UNSW Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, and Director of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, said: “Public and private sector partnerships, which bring together experts from many disciplines, are important to furthering health education and research. These are interrelated and the basis for evidence based improvements in clinical practice and the quality use of medicines, which ultimately leads to improved patient health outcomes.”

Dr John Langlands, UNSW Senior Lecturer and Program Coordinator said: “Developing and progressing new drug therapies and delivery forms through multiple stages to registration approval requires collaborative relationships among various experts residing in academia, industry, the health professions and Government. These are highly skilled professionals contributing to a ‘knowledge nation’ in helping ensure best practice medicine.”

For further information contact: Athena Kolivos 0412 857 698

iNova Pharmaceuticals:
iNova Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Limited is an Australian owned and operated pharmaceutical company that is corporate headquarters for iNova Pharmaceuticals (“iNova”) operations across Australia, New Zealand, the Asia-Pacific and Southern Africa. Exporting to over 20 countries, iNova has leading consumer healthcare and prescription product brands with a current portfolio of in-licensed, acquired and in-house developed drugs mainly in respiratory health, weight management, pain management, allergy, sexual health, dermatology and cardiology.

Further information is available at www.inovapharma.com

University of New South Wales (UNSW) Drug Development Programs:

The UNSW Drug Development post graduate programs, which include Certificate, Diploma and Master of Medical Science courses, are designed for individuals who wish to pursue careers relevant to the development and safe use of medicines. Career opportunities exist in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, government and in research institutions such as universities. Health care professionals interested in drug development and improving the use of existing medicines will also find the programs of value. An extensive range of subjects is available, which enables candidates to specialise in particular areas such as the discovery of new medicines, clinical trials, preclinical studies, drug safety, regulatory affairs, medical department administration, market development and post-marketing activities.

Further information is available at http://drugdev.med.unsw.edu.au/

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