Industry News
Lorne Protein report: Tagging proteases
A US researcher has described to the Lorne Protein Conference a powerful new technique for 'tagging' protease enzymes in living cells, illuminating potential new drug targets for parasitic diseases like malaria, and metastatic cancers. [ + ]
GroPep back in the black after $3.1m turnaround
Adelaide company GroPep (ASX:GRO) has posted a AUD$227,000 profit for the half year ending 31 December, 2003, representing a $3.1 million turnaround on the company's $2.9 million loss during the period. [ + ]
EpiTan boosted by drug delivery trial results
Tanning drug developer EpiTan (ASX:EPT) has announced better than expected efficacy in its Phase II trial to evaluate the delivery of its Melanotan drug via an implant. [ + ]
Hydrogen energy fuels interest
Researchers seeking ways to produce, use and store environmentally-friendly hydrogen energy are seeking $50m from industry, government and university sectors to establish a Hydrogen Energy Cooperative Research Centre later this year.
[ + ]Novogen presents phenoxodiol Phase II trial results
Preliminary Phase II trial results of Novogen's anti-cancer drug phenoxodiol have been presented at a US gynaecologic oncology conference, the company (ASX: NRT, Nasdaq: NVGN) said today. [ + ]
Lorne Protein report: beating anthrax
Molecular geneticist John Collier has devised a potentially perfect counter-measure to the bioterrorist's current weapon of choice -- the deadly anthrax bacterium. [ + ]
BioDiem receives key US patent
Newly listed biotechnology company BioDiem (ASX: BDM) has received a Notice of Allowance from the US Patent Office for a key patent covering its synthetic peptide for retinal eye disease, BDM-E. The patent will automatically be granted after a period of public exposure. [ + ]
Biotech assesses implications of trade deal
While the proposed Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the United States is likely to have an impact on the biotechnology industry here, it's not yet clear exactly how that will shake out. [ + ]
Colltech closes IPO early, oversubscribed
Western Australian collagen purification company Colltech has closed its initial public offering a week early and oversubscribed. [ + ]
Heart device firm attracts $2m in VC funding
VentureAxess Capital, a VC group with offices in Sydney and Perth, is to invest AUD$2 million over the next 12 months into Heart Assist Technologies, a medical device company that had its origins in the now defunct CRC for Cardiac Technology. [ + ]
Metabolic cheered by patent indication
Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has received indication from the US Patent Office that a key patent covering the company's AOD904 obesity drug will be granted, giving the company a patent monopoly until September 2018. [ + ]
US giant LabCorp signs up for GTG license
Melbourne company Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) has added another large US company to its tally, with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings -- otherwise known as LabCorp -- becoming the latest to license the company's non-coding DNA mapping and analysis patents. [ + ]
Vaccine firm names new CEO
Canberra vaccine developer Vaxine has appointed Ted Stapinski, a 20-year veteran of Australia's space industry, as its new CEO. [ + ]
We're on track, says Pharmaxis boss at first half-year
Recently floated Pharmaxis has filed its first half-year results, and according to CEO Alan Robertson, the company's performance is right on track with its predictions in last year's prospectus. [ + ]
Bird flu bigger worry than SARS, says expert
A Queensland University microbiologist who led the World Health Organisation's response to last year's SARS outbreak says he is much more concerned about the potential of the new strain of avian influenza sweeping Asian poultry farms to cause a human influenza pandemic. [ + ]