A Coolum biomed company is primed for significant long-term growth with several groundbreaking clinical trials under way and major expansion plans in the works.A Coolum Beach biomed company is aiming to crack open multibillion-dollar markets with several groundbreaking clinical trials including for the treatment of insomnia.Servatus is poised for major expansion with several clinical trials under way and plans for a new manufacturing facility in the pipeline.

A Coolum biomed company is primed for significant long-term growth with several groundbreaking clinical trials under way and major expansion plans in the works.A Coolum Beach biomed company is aiming to crack open multibillion-dollar markets with several groundbreaking clinical trials including for the treatment of insomnia.Servatus is poised for major expansion with several clinical trials under way and plans for a new manufacturing facility in the pipeline.Meanwhile, IBS-C is being done a the PA Hospital in Brisbane and has finished phase 1. Insomnia at the Prince Charles Hospital sleep clinic, Brisbane and RA are phase 1/2 trials, IBD is being done at Brigham Women’s Hospital in Boston and PA Hospital Brisbane.The business aims to develop over the counter prescription and non-prescription drugs from them which have global market values between $492m for IBS-C to more than $38bn for rheumatoid arthritis.The trials come as the company plans to build a new production site later in the year which would enable them to increase output by four times their current rate.[caption id="attachment_12142" align="alignright" width="415"]

L-R: Robert Skelton MP - Member for Nicklin, Dr Wayne Finlayson and Hon Cameron Dick[/caption]Servatus partnered with a multinational pharmaceutical organisation to fund the upcoming state-of-the-art facility where both companies will make their products.Servatus CEO Dr Wayne Finlayson said this year marked a giant step forward for the company’s future expansion.“We are coming to the culmination of our clinical trials, meaning we have to start targeting global markets and partnerships,” Dr Finlayson said.“In all these clinical trials we need funding as well, so we need to keep up with our competitors overseas mainly in the US and Europe who work in these areas.“We are also very close to switching on our production systems completely with the Australian Biotherapeutics project which will provide significant revenue for us.”Servatus was co-founded by Mr Finlayson in 2012 and has experienced a sharp rise in growth over the past couple of years.The Coolum company was awarded a $922,000 federal government grant in May, 2020 as part of a joint venture with biotechnology research company Australian Biotherapeutics to acquire advanced manufacturing technology to boost productivity for the national market.The business started its most recent trial for insomnia in March at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney with 50 patients and will commence a sixth trial for another condition in June.Along with therapeutics, Servatus also produces general consumer medications which target bloating and constipation among other health issues.The company went from two staff in 2012 to about eight by 2016 and now has a team of more than 35.In late-April this year, the company appointed Dr Uwe Buecheler from pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim as a board member who will play a key role in driving Servatus’ international expansion plans.Dr Finlayson said they were looking at a licensing model and partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies for the distribution of their drugs.He said they are also considering listing on the ASX further down the track.“We’re trying to develop safe and effective treatments for these conditions, but from a commercial point of view we’d like to partner with bigger pharmaceutical companies,” Dr Finlayson said“In three to five years we’d be hoping to be near completion of clinical trials and can see us doubling in size by that time, we could have up to 100 staff then.” Servatus' current facility in Coolum Beach established in 2020.The business started its most recent trial for insomnia in March at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney with 50 patients and will commence a sixth trial for another condition in June.Along with therapeutics, Servatus also produces general consumer medications which target bloating and constipation among other health issues.The company went from two staff in 2012 to about eight by 2016 and now has a team of more than 35.In late-April this year, the company appointed Dr Uwe Buecheler from pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim as a board member who will play a key role in driving Servatus’ international expansion plans.Dr Finlayson said they were looking at a licensing model and partnerships with multinational pharmaceutical companies for the distribution of their drugs.He said they are also considering listing on the ASX further down the track.“We’re trying to develop safe and effective treatments for these conditions, but from a commercial point of view we’d like to partner with bigger pharmaceutical companies,” Dr Finlayson said“In three to five years we’d be hoping to be near completion of clinical trials and can see us doubling in size by that time, we could have up to 100 staff then.”

Servatus at a glance

Category: BiopharmaceuticalsBusiness registration date: 2012Suburb: Coolum BeachHow many employees: 35-38Good to know:

• Servatus produces therapeutics for select autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and dermatologic conditions
• The business conducts its laboratory work and manufacturing on the Sunshine Coast
• They recently appointed Dr Uwe Buecheler as a board member who has worked with German pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim and has helped develop five of the world's top 20 biopharmaceuticals