There were two Winners of Consensus MedTech Awards in Edition II of the 2025 Consensus Awards, presented by The Hon Jacqui Munro, NSW Shadow Minister for Science & Technology in early December 2025.
The Awards were kindly hosted by HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS in Sydney.
WINNER
MO8, a novel oral therapy for autism spectrum disorder from Meizon Innovations
Meizon Innovations has developed MO8, a world-first therapy for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This oral therapy aims to restore normal activity in the brain’s amygdala among individuals with ASD, including those with severe or profound ASD. Currently, there are no effective treatments for ASD.
The Hon Jacqui Munro, NSW Shadow Minister for Science & Technology (left) presents a Consensus MedTech Award to the Meizon Innovations team
The amygdala is the region of the brain that controls social interaction and is reported to be hypoactive in autistic individuals. Pre-clinical studies of MO8 demonstrate that it has the potential to restore normal brain activity by promoting brain cell connections (synaptogenesis), resulting in improvements in the core behavioural deficits for ASD patients, specifically social interaction, communication difficulties and repetitive behaviours. Importantly, the indications are that MO8 will work in adults and children without changing any special talents or each person’s individual personality.
The results of Meizon Innovations’ research were published in Nature Communications in August 2024.
The development of MO8 follows two decades of research at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health by Dr Wah Chin Boon, founder of Meizon Innovations. She and her colleagues uncovered the process by which autism affects more males than females – 5 boys to 1 girl. Once the process was understood by Dr Boon and her team, she was able to screen for a molecule, MO8, which her research indicates can restore normal brain activity.
Judges Citation:
The Consensus judges felt that if clinical trials demonstrate its viability, MO8 will represent a revolutionary change in the treatment of autism. It offers the possibility of a life-changing therapy for millions of people worldwide.
The judges were impressed by the scientific research behind this Australian medical innovation and its consequent potential global impact. The judges also noted the passion and perseverance of Dr Boon and her team in their long journey towards developing MO8.
Innovation
Dr Boon and her colleagues’ innovative, ground-breaking research has pinpointed MO8 as the means to restore normal brain activity in the amygdala by promoting synaptogenesis or brain cell connections among children and adults with ASD.
Currently, there are no effective treatments for ASD, only repositioned psychotic drugs which do not address the root cause of ASD.
Whilst MO8 will not cure ASD, it offers the opportunity to greatly improve the lives of people with ASD, including non-verbal individuals, and the families and carers of those with ASD. It will enable individuals with autism to live with greater independence, improve social skills, and relive excessive grooming without impacting each individual’s personality or talents.
Also importantly, as MO8 is an oral therapy it will be non-invasive and easy to ingest, and is predicted to improve brain cell connections in a matter of weeks.
Potential
The judges were convinced that MO8 offers a well-researched approach to the treatment of ASD, with enormous potential to improve the lives of millions of people, to relieve pressure on their families and carers, and to reduce healthcare costs.
As well as these significant social and healthcare benefits, the judges noted that MO8 has other attractive features which offer enormous potential:
- Market: As a world-first, it will hold an unique position in a huge global market – there are an estimated 75 million people with ASD, according to WHO. Therapeutics for ASD are projected to be worth USD 3.44 billion by 2032. There are currently no competitors.
- Convenience: As an oral therapy it is easy to ingest, making it convenient to take, especially for children.
- Extensive: It is suitable for people across the entire autism spectrum, both children and adults.
Performance
Meizon Innovations has met all compliance and regulatory codes and standards to date, including positive engagement with the US FDA on toxicology, manufacturing and clinical trial design. The company’s use of organ-on-chip technology supports innovative compliance and leadership in toxicity evaluation, and has been acknowledged by the FDA as helping to define future regulatory norms.
Conclusion
With Phase 1 clinical trials on the horizon and a long journey ahead with the additional phases of clinical trials, the judges congratulate Dr Boon and her colleagues for their innovative research and the possibility of transforming the lives of so many people around the world.
The judges were unanimous in awarding this Consensus MedTech Award in light of MO8’s tremendous potential social impact, and the commitment and dedication of Dr Boon and her team to their research and in meeting all the regulatory hurdles that are required globally to bring a new medical product to market.
WINNER
Rapid Repair Wound Dressing from Rapair Medical Devices
The Hon Jacqui Munro, NSW Shadow Minister for Science & Technology presents Gerard Criss of Rapair Medical Devices with a Consensus MedTech Award
Innovation
The Rapid Repair Wound Dressing team observed that wound care has changed very little since ancient times, and has mainly focused on stitches, staples and glue.
They state that their product is differentiated by its ability to affect molecular properties in the healing of wounds. In clinical trials they observed that scar tissue is decreased, healing time is lessened to days instead of weeks and that there is no intrusion on the wound itself.
“It can be used to treat both humans and animals with a particular application for healing leg wounds in horses that currently can take months to heal.
The Rapid Repair Wound Dressing is a thin silicone strip containing structures that approximate physical aspects of the extracellular matrix within the dermis. When placed over a wound these structures project an electromagnetic ‘virtual scaffold’ into the wound so that the collagen and other molecules flowing into the wound can align as if the skin is still intact. This dramatically reduces healing times and produces a minimal scar.
The Rapid Repair Wound Dressing is listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods as a Class I Medical Device and is currently being trialed in clinics across Australia and New Zealand.
Uniqueness
In order to register a medical device with the TGA, FDA and other regulatory bodies, a Global Medical Device Nomenclature Code (GMDN Code) is needed to identify the type of medical device being registered.
The Rapid Repair Wound Dressing was recognised as so unique that the GMDN committee (based in Europe) had to issue a new Global Medical Device Nomenclature Code (GMDN Code) for the dressing as no similar medical device had previously been registered anywhere in the world.
Potential
The company have signed distribution deals across Asia, parts of the Middle East and Africa and are also in talks with potential partners in the US, Europe and Japan.
The founders have received recognition through several awards and grants, including from the CSIRO, and a prestigious award from NASA iTech, where they were the only Australians to make it to the top ten, and then they won.
Whilst these awards would have provided much-needed appreciation, further ongoing support and recognition would assist in helping them find more avenues of development and opportunities for markets and revenue.
The most recent award, the Inaugural Australian Made Innovation Award – Equitana 2024 also recognised the Australia-made aspect of this product.
Their challenges include developing marketing strategies to help their specific applications stand out in a crowded field.
Having further recognition and funding to develop these strategies will assist them to build on existing successes, then to reach more markets and thus increase revenue.
Additional information on Potential
“The global wound care market is worth around USD $23 Billion with an annual growth rate of around 4.5%. The US is the single largest market representing around 35% of total sales. Asia is the fastest growing markets with annual growth around 7%.
Early adopters of the Rapid Repair Wound Dressing include plastic surgeons, dermatologists and equine vets. The target markets include hospital emergency departments and operating theaters.
Domestically there are over 3,000 operating theaters and 700 Emergency Departments. In the US there are more than 38,000 operating rooms and around 5,500 emergency rooms. A specific surgical application of our dressing is reducing scars in Caesarean-Section wounds. There were around 100,000 C-Sections in Australia and over 1,000,000 C-Sections in the US in 2024.
The veterinary wound dressing has a particular application in healing leg wounds in horses. These wounds are very difficult to suture and can take months to heal.”
2024 Edition I – CONSENSUS MEDTECH AWARDS
WINNER
Safe Watch® Platform from Safe Watch Care Pty Ltd
Safe Watch have created a safe and secure wellness companion app that allows compassionate connection within a trusted care world. They aim to support 25 million people to live to their fullest through the highs, the lows, and authentic connections through the village approach to mental health care.
Safe Watch Founder Shane Muller (right) receives his Consensus MedTech Award from (centre) Senator The Hon Jonathan Duniam, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries & Forestry, and Consensus Founder Julian Day
Safe Watch® is a platform for the ‘whole of community’, where everybody collectively plays a part in addressing the mental wellness challenges in society. Mental Health is a global problem which negatively affects people regardless of age, gender, cultural background, or socio-economic standing.
According to research, about 1 in 4 people around the world are lonely. Some common effects of loneliness show up as, not feeling relationships are meaningful, feeling isolated from others, rarely feel there are people who understand them. The WHO has declared loneliness a ‘global public health concern’.
Safe Watch® allows people to connect with and build their own care worlds (AKA care communities, support groups, etc), which we call the ‘Village’. It focuses on early detection and early warning of poor mental health and allows individuals to track their personal progress related to feelings, medication, activities, etc.
Furthermore, being part of a personalised village, Safe Watch® allows sharing of insights around feelings and facilitates accountability buddies to do activities with and keeping track of adherence to medications. These insights are visible as part of a progress dashboard. Custom alerts also allow for personalised notifications.
Safe Watch® is successful in improving the effectiveness of face-to-face therapy sessions by providing the health professional with insights into the period outside of the clinical rooms, between sessions. They can gain up to date insights regarding the patient’s progress, including their feelings progress, the medication adherence, and the progress on treatment activities. With Safe Watch®, mental health professionals can now have visibility into the patient’s world outside of the consultation room to enhance their time during face-to-face sessions.
Safe Watch® is being readied for the launch into the workplace setting, with value and outcomes for both employees and management. Beyond that, Safe Watch® for youth is also on our roadmap.
Judges Citation:
In celebration of its innovative and impactful contributions to mental health care, Safe Watch is honoured with a prestigious Consensus MedTech Award. Safe Watch’s innovative mental health wellness app has the potential to redefine the landscape of self-care, providing individuals with a vital lifeline to navigate the complexities of mental well-being.
The proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”, highlights the importance of community and collaboration in child-rearing. “It takes a village” is as relevant to embracing and nurturing individuals living with mental health and wellness challenges. Safe Watch is to be congratulated for its novel Village approach.
Safe Watch’s pioneering technology represents a paradigm shift in mental health support, offering an intuitive and comprehensive platform backed by a team of mental health professionals, and aims to be a useful companion to and meet the diverse needs of all users.
Beyond its technological strengths including use of Blockchain technology to ensure that only users have access to their personal data, Safe Watch embodies a commitment to fostering a culture of compassion and support in mental health care.
Feedback:
Safe Watch has demonstrated outstanding innovation and dedication in the field of mental health and wellness app technology. The Safe Watch app’s user-centric design and comprehensive features reflect a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of mental well-being and strives to set a new standard for accessible and community aided effective self-care solutions. Moving forward, continued investment in research, user feedback, and strategic partnerships will be pivotal in further enhancing the app’s impact and reach.
Care should be taken to minimise the risk of rapid geographic expansion. To fully realise the potential of the addressable Australian market, including the Youth and Elderly markets, will take significant investment and resources. Safe Watch should ensure it has the right capital partners with capacity and capabilities to adequately service the Australian market as well as capital partners for new overseas markets.
When expanding into overseas markets differences in cultural norms, beliefs, and attitudes towards mental health will require localisation that involves more than just translating text; it will require an understanding of cultural nuances, idioms, and expressions to ensure the app’s content is relevant and relatable to users in the target culture.
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Our thanks to the Judges of the Awards.
| Hugh Gyton – Chair | Ali Shariat |
| Rosemary Gillespie | Wayne Slager |
| Selena Griffith | Glenn Stafford |
| Steve Mackay | Rainer Tietz |
| Joseph Najem |