Dollar's dive hurts R&D: Starpharma boss Jackie Fairley THE falling Australian dollar is undermining the research program of one of Australia's home-grown biotech firms, which has warned that any crackdown on 457 visas will worsen the competitiveness of Australia's budding pharmaceuticals industry. Jackie Fairley, chief executive of polymer manufacturer Starpharma, said the weaker local currency had made essential overseas R&D -- which is not eligible for government tax credits -- more expensive.