Vitex Pharmaceuticals industry partnership
Industry Partner
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Vitex Pharmaceuticals
UTS Partners
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Precincts and Partnerships Unit
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Graduate School of Health
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Faculty of Science
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Climate Change Cluster (C3)
Project Dates
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2022–ongoing
UN SDGs
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12. Responsible Consumption and Production
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3. Good Health and Well Being
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8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Posted on 14 Jan 2025
- 4-minute read
Addressing STEM workforce challenges through a multifaceted collaboration.
Vitex Pharmaceuticals and UTS are collaborating on a range of workforce sustainability initiatives and research projects. Together we’re innovating production techniques and reducing the skills gap in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Key takeaways
- Vitex and UTS are enhancing Australia’s manufacturing capability while developing a more skilled and diverse workforce.
- The organisations previously partnered to develop four microcredentials to upskill workers in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- 60% of Vitex’s last graduate intake were from UTS.
- Research collaborations include projects to derive omega 3 oils from algae and the development of advanced drug delivery systems for traditional medicines.
Vitex Pharmaceuticals is a global leader in the manufacture of complementary medicine products. Delivering Australian-made pharmaceuticals to the world, the company provides sovereign manufacturing capabilities and local employment.
Key to enhancing this capability, according to Vitex’s CEO, Dr Aniss Chami, is addressing the STEM workforce challenges in the industry.
We need to reduce the skills gap in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
This is why Vitex is partnering with UTS.
Engaging with UTS enables Vitex to provide a valuable production perspective to teaching and learning, ensuring pharmaceutical, manufacturing and science students are skilled in the latest techniques and industry-ready when they graduate.
They can also identify up-and-coming talent, gain access to research expertise and cutting-edge technologies, and test emerging product development opportunities.
This partnership… will elevate research in biotechnology and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Vitex and UTS are currently collaborating on several fronts, from talent sourcing to research and development to workforce sustainability initiatives.
Collaborating to address STEM workforce challenges in manufacturing
The partnership between Vitex and UTS builds on the success of previous collaborations, chief among them the New Education and Training Model (NETM).
Created by the Western Sydney Parkland Authority, the NETM was introduced to help people in Western Sydney develop skills needed by local industries and employers in the region.
To support people to upskill in pharmaceutical manufacturing and allied industries, UTS and Vitex co-designed four microcredentials:
- Practical Foundations of Biology
- Practical Foundations of Microbiology
- Practical Foundations of Organic Chemistry
- Practical Foundations of Inorganic Chemistry.
Dr Chami says the microcredentials introduce people to real-life problems that occur in industry and give them “the skills and tools they need to solve them – critically and appropriately”.
“What NETM is achieving for all of us,” he says, “is finally seeing the training of individuals through the perspective of industry.”
Through NETM, and the myriad of microcredentials available to candidates, we are building a golden benchmark for the entire workforce.
The success of the NETM led to the establishment of the Industry Skills Accelerator, which continues to offer the microcredentials developed by UTS and Vitex.
Supporting the manufacturing talent of tomorrow
Vitex and UTS are continuing to focus on industry sustainability and workforce development through teaching and learning collaborations.
Vitex is currently supporting UTS students in their industrial research project subjects, with Dr Aniss becoming an Honorary Affiliate of the Pharmacy discipline within the Graduate School of Health.
This association is ensuring pharmacy and manufacturing students are industry-ready, reducing the gap between what they learn at university and what they need in the workplace.
By building a highly skilled workforce, this kind of industry-focused education creates a talent pipeline for Vitex and the wider manufacturing sector.
It also places them in a prime position to identify upcoming talent.
“Vitex is pleased to be able to offer the top students of UTS job opportunities in the vibrant pharmaceutical manufacturing industry,” says Dr Chami.
60% of Vitex’s last graduate intake were UTS students or alumni.
With a number of UTS students starting their journey with Vitex while still studying, the relationship is promoting practical and critical skills development, while also giving students access to the company’s cutting-edge facilities.
“The partnership allows UTS students to gain industry experience and knowledge,” says Professor Parfitt.
Collaborating to source therapeutic ingredients from algae
Collaborating with UTS also provides Vitex with access to research expertise and emerging biotechnologies, allowing the company to explore innovative manufacturing opportunities.
These include a project examining the production of omega 3 oils from novel natural sources – namely, algae.
A naturally occurring fatty acid, omega 3 is typically derived from fish. When fish-derived omega 3 is added to pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, people such as pregnant women and vegetarians may not be able to use them.
But omega 3 also occurs in some strains of algae.
Working in collaboration with the UTS Climate Change Cluster (C3), Vitex has been growing different strains of algae and testing their viability for producing purified vegan omega 3 oils.
This research has the potential to deliver real benefits for Vitex. If the process is successful, the company will reduce its reliance on animal-derived and synthetic sources. This makes the production of omega 3 more sustainable, developing therapeutic-grade ingredients from circular bio-economies.
There are also benefits for Vitex’s clients: leading pharmaceutical and nutraceutical brands.
“To introduce a novel and Australian-grown therapeutic ingredient” can be a unique selling point, says Dr Chami, “for products sold in markets that appreciate Australian provenance.”
For the wider Australian industry, there’s the matter of sovereign growth capacity. Sourcing omega 3 from algae greatly increases the industry’s ability to grow and produce these ingredients in Australia.
This will reduce our dependence as a country on imported ingredients.
Elevating biotechnology and pharmaceutical research
Another project Vitex has invested in is an innovative research initiative looking into novel delivery methods for traditional medicines.
Led by Dr Kamal Dua (Kam), the project is using advanced techniques to make traditional medicines more targeted and effective. These include innovative drug delivery systems for medicines such as berberine, which, according to Dr Dua, “are not water soluble and don’t easily get absorbed in the gut”.
One delivery method being tested by Dr Dua’s team for these medicines is liquid crystalline nanoparticles. These encapsulate berberine in a tiny soluble and biodegradable polymer that bypasses the digestive system to deliver the dose directly into the lungs.
To date, the results have been promising.
“Our collaboration with Kam and his team has already significantly benefitted our company,” says Dr Aniss Chami.
“Firstly, Kam is heavily involved in the research of ingredients that we commonly use in our medicines. We have been working together to commercialise those ingredients into high-therapeutic finished products.”
“Kam has also created a cutting-edge training module that is helping up-skill our employees in just two months – much faster than the traditional three-year degree process.”
Dr Chami says the complementary medicine industry is booming and has great potential, with Dr Dua helping them stay ahead of the game.
Collaborations like these demonstrate how the Vitex-UTS partnership is giving the company a competitive edge.
Vitex Pharmaceuticals
Australia’s leading contract manufacturer of vitamins, minerals and natural supplements, Vitex is a global leader in the production of pharmaceuticals and complementary medicines.