- Broome biotech facility developing synthetic bone alternative
- PearlBone is made from nacre, a waste by-product created by the pearl
- Synthetic bone can be used in orthopaedic, trauma, and reconstructive surgery
- Cook Government supports innovation to create new jobs in biotech sector
A ground-breaking idea to create synthetic bone from pearl has reached a major milestone with the launch of a world-class laboratory and manufacturing facility in Broome.
While opening the new facility, Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson said PearlBone has the potential to revolutionise the use of synthetic bone in orthopaedic, trauma, and reconstructive surgery.
PearlBone is being developed by biotech company Marine Biomedical as a low-risk alternative to the synthetic bone substitutes already in the market.
The idea evolved from research conducted at the University of Western Australia (UWA).
The product is made from nacre, a low-value waste by-product of the pearling industry that is better known as "mother of pearl".
Nacre is a natural source of calcium carbonate that contains trace elements which are beneficial in supporting bone formation.
Bone substitutes are used in a range of different surgery procedures and are part of a growing global industry worth billions of dollars each year.
Preclinical trials have shown the potential bone alternative to have great promise as a natural substitute, which could lower the recipient's risk of reaction.
Traditional synthetic bone products are derived from limestone, which can trigger adverse reactions in patients that lead to inconsistent and unpredictable bone formation.
Marine Biomedical will manufacture PearlBone at the new facility, using only locally sourced nacre from pearl shells grown in the Kimberley's pristine waters.
The new building includes a cleanroom funded by the Cook Government via a Regional Economic Development (RED) grant awarded in March 2022.
A cleanroom is a highly controlled environment where advanced filtration processes are used to remove pollutants and contaminants that may interfere with the production of medical products and equipment.
Marine Biomedical has been partially funded by the State Government's Regional Economic Development Grants program ($200,000), along with receiving support from the Kimberly Development Commission.
Marine Biomedical co-founder and director Professor Minghao Zheng has been awarded almost $500,000 through the Government's Future Health Research and Innovation Fund for a project which proposes the use of PearlBone as an adjunct to the treatment of osteomyelitis.
The company plans to submit PearlBone to both the US Food and Drug Administration and to Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration.
As stated by Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson:
"This is a very exciting project for Broome and has the potential to revolutionise the use of synthetic bone and help patients around the world.
"PearlBone is a wonderful example of science partnering with industry and an excellent example of what we are trying to foster in the research and innovation space.
"This innovation is creating new jobs in the biotech sector, diversifying the Kimberley pearl fishing industry, and bringing new skills to our State.
"Importantly, it signals to local researchers and innovators that they no longer need look outside Western Australia to bring promising ideas to fruition."
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"I'm proud the Cook Government has supported this new facility with $320,000 of funding through our Regional Economic Development Grants program.
"We are fostering regional development that is not just transformative but ground-breaking globally, and Marine Biomedical's PearlBoneTM technology is an excellent example of industry diversification, and innovative value-added production in the remote Kimberley region."
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"It is great to see such an innovative product being manufactured in the Kimberley.
"The idea of utilising a waste by-product from commercial pearling operations and repurposing it to manufacture a ground-breaking biomedical product is revolutionary.
"I am very proud to see the results of this research and development evolving into a state-of-the-art biomedical facility right here in the Kimberley, and I congratulate the team at Marine Biomedical on the launch of their new premises."
