Interview with John Robson, CEO & Managing Director
1. Tell us a little about your company and your vision for biotechnology in New Zealand.
We have a very clear vision at BioOra: it’s all about access to novel, personalised therapies. Right now, New Zealanders have very limited choices, and only a few can seek these treatments overseas. We don’t think that’s fair.
We are not a traditional manufacturing company, nor a pure research organisation. We are a modern healthcare provider building the complete end-to-end supply chain for cell and gene therapies in New Zealand. We are starting with a novel third-generation CAR-T therapy, Atla-Cel (atlacabtagene autoleucel), developed with the Malaghan Institute for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Our goal is to build sovereign capability here at home, that is the ability to manufacture and release these complex living medicines in New Zealand. Over time, we aim to bring multiple treatments for different cancers. We are proud members of BioTechNZ because we believe in growing New Zealand’s national capabilities in engineered biology, from benchtop science right through to hospital delivery, including facilities, training, and education.
2. Can you share a recent success, breakthrough, or milestone your organisation is proud of?
There have been many highlights this year; reaching the halfway mark in our clinical trial, growing past 60 employees, and achieving multiple successful patient releases. But the milestones that resonate most strongly with our core mission of accessibility are these three:
First, Atla-Cel is a therapy with potential across multiple B-cell malignancies, and we are on a clear path toward public availability in New Zealand.
Second, we are expanding Atla-Cel from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma into paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) through our partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. This will provide access for children in both New Zealand and Australia.
Third, we are establishing operations in Queensland to build sovereign cell therapy delivery capability in Australia.
We already have plans numbered four, five, and six, but those are for 2028 and beyond!
3. What excites you most about being part of New Zealand’s biotech community?
We are the little country that could. From rockets to CAR-T, New Zealand is setting global benchmarks and redefining what is possible. We have no choice but to innovate and move fast and we recognise that if we don’t do it ourselves, no one else will do it for us.
We are a long way from the rest of the world, so we solve our problems the best way we know how: with the classic No. 8 wire mentality, wrapped in deep science and relentless innovation.
4. How has being part of BioTechNZ supported your journey or opened new opportunities?
BioTechNZ serves as both an advocacy group and a catalyst for strategic thinking. We have been involved for several years and have benefited greatly from their work on legislation changes, driving better outcomes for adjacent policy such as the Gene Technology Bill, and connecting us with the wider engineered biology ecosystem across New Zealand.
The Life Sciences Conference has been particularly valuable for engaging with other Kiwi firms and understanding the full breadth of our national capabilities.
5. What advice would you give to aspiring biotech professionals or students keen to enter the industry or your company?
Biotech roles are not limited to the lab. While a solid understanding of science is essential, modern biotech equally needs engineers, mathematicians, AI specialists, project managers, and many other disciplines alongside biologists and chemists.
It takes a multidisciplinary team to deliver a single dose of a CAR-T product. Modern healthcare is no longer just about tablets, these are living therapies and there are countless adjacent roles that support and strengthen New Zealand’s biotech capabilities. Careers in this sector are varied, fast-growing, and grounded in science, with enormous opportunities for young professionals.
6. What impact do you hope your work will have for people, the environment, or the global community?
We are working to make cell and gene therapies not just available in New Zealand, but genuinely accessible. Our goal is simple: every patient who could benefit from CAR-T should be able to access CAR-T whether in oncology or other areas.
This means driving the price down to sustainable levels and ensuring widespread availability across both public and private hospital systems. We envision a future where a cancer diagnosis can lead directly to a curative therapy, and the long, difficult journey through chemotherapy and radiotherapy becomes far less necessary.
We are starting in New Zealand, but we have already expanded into Australia and the United States. BioOra is a global business, and we expect to impact thousands of lives in the years ahead.
www.bioora.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/bioora
