Prime Range Biologics Partners with Professor Jian Li’s Team at Monash University to Advance Bovine and Ovine By-Products in Biopharmaceutical Applications

On March 28, Prime Range Biologics Limited (PRB) and the team led by Academician Li Jian of the Australian Academy of Science launched a collaborative project at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute in Melbourne. Under a previously signed research cooperation agreement, the two parties will collaborate on the development and application of fetal bovine serum and newborn calf serum in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. By fully integrating the technical breakthrough capabilities of leading international research institutions with the supply advantages of high-purity raw materials from New Zealand’s century-old agricultural and pastoral enterprises, they aim to establish an integrated industry-academia-research loop spanning from New Zealand pastures to Chinese laboratories, thereby promoting the conversion of New Zealand’s cattle and sheep by-products into high-value biological raw materials.

For a long time, the global markets for fetal bovine serum (FBS) and synthetic culture media have been largely monopolized by traditional European and American companies. China relies heavily on imports for high-end serum, with only New Zealand, Australia, Uruguay, and Brazil recognized by Chinese Customs as approved overseas sources of blood. Furthermore, the lengthy transportation chain leads to loss of bioactivity, compromising the stability of downstream products. In particular, the heavy reliance on FBS/newborn calf serum and synthetic culture media results in significant price volatility and susceptibility to geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions. Any disruption in the supply chain could severely impair the production and operations of numerous biopharmaceutical companies.

Furthermore, the high technical barriers to preparing high-purity raw materials and the difficulty in scaling up laboratory achievements further constrain the industry’s efforts to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Meanwhile, alternative raw materials, due to their crude processing techniques and lack of standardization, fail to meet the demands of high-end applications such as cell therapy. Against this backdrop, it is particularly important for PRB to explore collaborations with internationally advanced R&D institutions, represented by the Monash-Suzhou Research Institute of Science and Technology.

PRB leverages the century-old meat processing facilities of Prime Range Meats in New Zealand, granting it a distinct advantage in raw material supply. New Zealand’s pristine natural environment fosters high-quality cattle and sheep resources. PRB supplies hundreds of thousands of liters of pathogen-free bovine and ovine serum annually, boasting unparalleled global standards in raw material purity and traceability. Furthermore, thanks to the Mycoplasma bovis eradication program implemented by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, fetal bovine serum and newborn calf serum sourced from New Zealand are better suited for the culture of various fragile cell lines. These products effectively prevent mycoplasma contamination during cell culture, providing a solid and reliable foundation of raw materials for biomedical research and development.

In terms of technological breakthroughs, Professor Jian Li is a Professor at Monash University in Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Director of the Laboratory for Antimicrobial Systems Pharmacology at Monash University, and Director of the Institute for Medical Research at the Monash-Suzhou Research Institute of Science and Technology. As an international leader in colistin pharmacology, he primarily focuses on developing novel antibiotics against "superbugs." He has published 428 papers with a total of 28,001 citations, and was recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in Pharmacology and Toxicology by Web of Science® (2015–2017 and 2022). Furthermore, he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, President of the International Society of Anti-infective Pharmacology, Chair of the Pharmacology Committee of the International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. Much of the modern pharmacological data on colistin has been reported by his group, and his team was the first to propose science-based dosing recommendations for colistin. His research group also developed the first clinically scientific guidelines for the use of colistin methanesulfonate, which have been adopted by the European Medicines Agency, thereby improving clinical practice worldwide.

PRB will sidestep low-price competition from international giants, centering on the Greater China region to focus on enterprises in vaccines and gene therapy, as well as high-end biomedical laboratories. It aims to explore innovative R&D and commercialization pathways for bovine and ovine by-products in the fields of biomedicine and general health, providing the industry with high-purity, sustainable raw material solutions and driving the healthcare sector toward greater efficiency and sustainability.

While enhancing quality, New Zealand’s large-scale plasma supply reduces raw material costs. Coupled with process optimization, this ensures that PRB products are priced significantly lower than imported equivalents, further reducing overall costs. It was also revealed that PRB will establish a regional supply network centered on the Greater China region, extending to neighboring countries with high concentrations of biopharmaceutical companies. This strategy aims to shorten the supply chain cycle to meet downstream customers’ needs and support their just-in-time production requirements.

The outcomes of the collaborative R&D are expected to break the monopoly of European and American enterprises on the global markets for high-end fetal bovine serum, newborn calf serum, and synthetic culture media, thereby reshaping the global supply chain for biological raw materials.

Academician Li Jian of Monash University, Mr. Gong Nan, Executive Director of Prime Range Biologics, and CEO Mr. Josef Geisser jointly attended the project launch ceremony.

AboutPrime Range Biologics Limited

Prime Range Biologics Limited (PRB) is a biotechnology company at the forefront of the biopharmaceutical industry, specializing in the development and production of high-quality biological raw materials and laboratory consumables. Leveraging the New Zealand-based Prime Range Meats processing plant, established in 1914, PRB supplies hundreds of thousands of liters of pathogen-free bovine and ovine serum annually, with its purity and traceability ranking among the best globally. The company is committed to providing stable and reliable raw material supplies for global biopharmaceutical research and development through stringent regulatory compliance and innovative technological solutions.

AboutMonashSuzhouAcademy of Science and Technology

Monash Suzhou Research Institute of Science and Technology is a non-profit overseas R&D institution directly affiliated with Monash University, established in collaboration with the support of the Suzhou Industrial Park Administrative Committee. The Institute aims to leverage Monash University’s world-class international talent and research teams, strengthen cooperation between Monash University, Southeast University, and various levels of Chinese government, universities, research institutes, and industry, and conduct leading-edge innovative research in engineering and technology as well as cultivate internationally innovative talents.

The Research Institute focuses on the frontiers of international science and technology, aligning with local needs to integrate knowledge innovation, technological innovation, and regional innovation. Leveraging Monash University’s strengths in key research areas, the Institute conducts strategic and forward-looking applied research in relevant fields. Currently, the Institute comprises six research centers, covering cutting-edge domains such as advanced computing for science and engineering, advanced materials and manufacturing, smart cities, life (medical/biological) sciences, energy and environment, and China-Australia sustainable development.