Australia is stepping up to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance, as Pfizer Australia announces a major upgrade to its manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Victoria.

Pfizer has invested AU$150 million to offer advanced pharmaceutical production facilities in Australia for new antimicrobial treatments aiming to help address rising levels of antimicrobial resistance, considered one of the biggest threats to global health.

Natalie Hutchins MP, Victorian Minister for Jobs and Industry visited the site to mark the milestone installation of key technology known as lyophilisers and witness the site’s highly specialised capabilities, including productivity enhancements, such as the use of robotics.

Investment in the Melbourne site has included the construction of a new separate facility that hosts two newly installed freeze-drying machines known as lyophilisers, which are used in the antimicrobial manufacturing process. The site has also been selected for a trial of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology designed to support key site processes.

The site upgrades are on track to complete installation work and be operational by mid-2025, with commercial manufacture commencing in 2026.

Medicines currently manufactured at the Melbourne site – which include those for treatment of cancer as well as antimicrobials, anaesthetics, anti-inflammatory and other medicines – are exported to more than 60 countries worldwide and treat up to 15 million patients each year.