Industry News
Prima could net $20m in deal with Canada's Biomira
Commercialisation proceeds apace at Prima Biomed, which today announced an agreement with Canadian cancer vaccine specialist Biomira. [ + ]
Promics completes psoriasis pilot study
Brisbane-based biotechnology company Promics has completed a pilot study examining the safety of its lead anti-inflammatory drug PMX 53 as a topical treatment for psoriasis. [ + ]
Metabolic to advance cone shell venom drug
Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) expects to be able to submit an application for a Phase I clinical trial of its marine cone shell venom-derived pain drug ACV1 by the end of the year, after pre-clinical data demonstrated the activity of the drug against neuropathic pain. [ + ]
Researchers develop new cattle embryo screening methods
Scientists at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development are developing methods to screen cloned cattle embryos to identify embryos that show signs of abnormal imprinting -- a process that can lead to overgrown foetuses, placental problems and related disorders. [ + ]
Engine Device Helps Emissions Reduction
A UK company has developed a device that enables vehicle engines to run at optimum conditions for fuel economy and emissions reduction, helping the environment worldwide. As well as that, the car’s performance is significantly improved.
[ + ]Perth's latest animal health offering names chairman
Perth-based Stirling Products (ASX:STI) -- which debuted on the stock exchange last month via a backdoor listing -- has appointed London-based pharmacologist Prof Clive Page as non-executive chairman. [ + ]
Proteome Systems, Shimadzu team up in US push
Japanese instruments specialist Shimadzu Scientific and the US arm of Australia's Proteome Systems will tighten their US collaboration, announcing today that they have agreed to team up on the application support of their jointly-developed proteomics products, Xcise and Chip. [ + ]
Eyes on China as untapped biotech partner for Aust
China has the potential to be a lucrative market for biotechnology, with opportunities in biopharmaceuticals, agricultural biotechnology and industrial biotechnology applications, according to speakers at this morning's BioMelbourne Network breakfast. [ + ]
'Quickie' tests for bird flu outbreaks
In an effort to protect Australia from an outbreak of avian influenza, CSIRO Livestock Industries and the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (AB-CRC) are developing 'quickie' diagnostic tests for the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.
[ + ]Report underlines researchers' fears on gene patents
Public sector researchers and healthcare experts are concerned that gene patents will stifle research and cause problems affecting cost and access to genetic tests, according to a new discussion paper on gene patents released by the Australian Law Reform Commission. [ + ]
The $13m spray-on drug deal
A company, created after researchers in the Monash University's pharmacy faculty invented a method for delivering drugs through the skin, has secured a multimillion dollar deal to develop its drug delivery system for treating female sexual dysfunction and menopause.
[ + ]Benitec, Promega launch new RNAi products
Brisbane-based gene technology company Benitec (ASX:BLT) today launched the first commercial gene-silencing vectors to emerge from its global licensing agreement signed with the US-based Promega Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin, in April last year. [ + ]
R&D grant to speed pathology technology on its way
Everyone's favourite nightmare -- that they will be falsely diagnosed with a terrible disease because of a mix-up in blood or tissue samples -- is the target of Brisbane-based Ai Scientific's pathology specimen processing technology, which last week received a $3.33 million R&D Start grant from the federal government. [ + ]
Psivida subsidiary signs US development deal
PsiMedica, the UK-based subsidiary of Australian nanotechnology company Psivida (ASX:PSD), has signed a materials transfer agreement with US nanotech company NanoHorizons. [ + ]
Avastin approval is great news for biotech, say pundits
Last week's thumbs-up by the US Food and Drug Administration for Genentech's anti-angiogenesis drug Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer has widespread implications both for cancer therapy and biotechnology in general, according to industry observers. [ + ]