Inside Jumar: A Big Month for Biotech Startups in Australia

February has been an exciting month at Jumar, Australia’s first and only biotech incubator colocated with leading biopharmaceutical company, CSL. Here's a look into what's been happening across our community:

Big wins from Jumar resident biotech startups

🎉 Arovella Therapeutics has officially become a clinical‑stage company, with the FDA accepting its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for ALA‑101, a next-generation "off-the-shelf" CAR-iNKT cell therapy that targets CD19+ B cell lymphomas and leukaemias.

The IND validates ALA‑101’s preclinical package, manufacturing process and clinical development plan, and provides a roadmap for future CAR‑iNKT products such as ALA‑105 in gastric and pancreatic cancers.


🧬 Nutromics published a study in Nature Biotechnology, demonstrating that their Australian-developed lab-on-a-patch works in humans. This rigorously peer-reviewed paper marks the first time a drug has been measured in real time in humans using a clinically feasible, commercially viable approach.

And this is just the beginning: Nutromics’ platform technology has the potential to monitor not only drugs but also a wide range of clinically relevant proteins, metabolites, and hormones. This capability could expand continuous monitoring beyond glucose, across hospitals, community settings, and pharmaceutical trials.


🚀 Out of 1,600+ applications, CheckGen was selected to join Startmate, Australia’s largest startup accelerator. CheckGen is developing a device that measures skin biomarkers, enabling clinics to track treatment outcomes over time and deliver personalised recommendations based on biology, not appearance. 

Jumar events continue to bring together Australia’s biotech ecosystem

🎤 Jumar ASX Masterclass
This month, we ran an ASX Masterclass, providing attendees with an honest discussion on what it takes to list a biotech company on the ASX. Key takeaways included:

• Leading a listed ASX biotech requires public accountability, with significant time spent on reporting, investor engagement, and decision-making with market visibility in mind.
• Public markets increase visibility and funding options over time but may limit access to venture capital and certain grants.
• The Australian fund manager universe is largely made up of generalist investors. Pitches should focus less on scientific detail and more on total addressable market, peak sales, and potential long-term partners or acquirers.

🌏 Building international partnerships
This month, Jumar co-hosted an event with MedTech Actuator focused on helping biotech startups navigate international partnerships. A key takeaway? A big population doesn’t automatically mean a big opportunity.

For startups considering taking their innovations overseas, here are a few important considerations:

• Be realistic with sales and uptake. Market size alone doesn’t guarantee adoption.
• Engage strong clinical advisors and KOLs. Having expert support nearby can make a huge difference.
• Proximity to manufacturers matters. Being close to production partners is often more valuable than expected.

🗓️ The first BioForum of 2026
BioMelbourne Network's first BioForum of 2026 took place at Jumar, bringing together leaders to share rare, practical insights on navigating global biotech innovation and commercialisation.

Headlining the event was Prof. Ian Meredith AM, one of Australia’s most influential medtech and commercialisation experts. With decades of global executive experience, Prof. Meredith shared what truly distinguishes world-class innovators. His insights on global competitiveness, clinical impact, and strategic leadership offered invaluable guidance for founders and emerging biotech startups looking to scale internationally.

Expanding global connections remain a key focus

Jumar continues to host visiting delegations and international programs, creating opportunities for local founders to build global connections.

🇳🇱 The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency hosted a life sciences dinner and roundtable at Jumar, giving residents a unique window into Europe’s biotech and medtech ecosystem. Attendees gained insights into regulatory navigation in the Netherlands and explored opportunities across Dutch Life Sciences & Health hubs for startups looking to expand internationally.

🇺🇸 Curie.Bio visited Jumar from the US to host a seminar and founder fireside chat featuring their portfolio company and Jumar resident, Daniel Scott, CEO of Alkira Bio. A standout insight from the Curie.Bio team? The key is connecting the dots from a simple idea all the way to a viable drug. If that pathway isn’t clear, it’s unlikely to succeed. But when the potential is visible, that’s where the magic happens. Curie.Bio look for the seeds that can grow into something meaningful, there’s no stage too early or too late. For biotech startups, this means even early-stage ideas have real potential if you can map the path forward.

Welcoming the leaders shaping biotech

This month, Jumar had the pleasure of connecting with some of the industry’s leading voices. Stephen Pitt, CSL VP & Head of Search, visited for a tour, giving us the opportunity to showcase our facilities and programs to senior leadership from one of our founding partners, CSL. We also had Professor Nick Opie, Founding Director of Synchron, deliver a keynote at one of our events, sharing insights on the realities of building Synchron and navigating the complexities of international partnerships.

What a start to 2026! Big things are happening at Jumar, and we can't wait to see what March brings for our community and the wider Australian biotech ecosystem.

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