Industry News
Alchemia, Rockeby on track for pre-Christmas float
Local biotechs Alchemia and Rockeby Biomed are set to list on the ASX next week after successfully raising $21 million and $4 million, respectively, in oversubscribed IPOs. [ + ]
NZ's Genesis spins out plant branch
Auckland-based biotech Genesis Research and Development Corporation has lopped its plant sciences branch and planted it in the market as a fully-owned but independently managed scion, AgriGenesis BioSciences. [ + ]
Funding starts to flow for stem cell projects
Almost exactly a year after the federal government named the National Stem Cell Centre (NSCC) as Australia's biotechnology centre of excellence, the first round of funding has been distributed to researchers at six institutions across Australia. [ + ]
CSL aims to develop stroke therapy
CSL (ASX:CSL), which last week became the world's largest supplier of blood plasma products after its purchase of Aventis Behring, now aims to maximise its return from those products by developing a therapy for stroke. [ + ]
New drug centre opens for business in Melbourne
The Victorian College of Pharmacy's AUD$17 million Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation has been officially opened in Parkville. [ + ]
Cytopia claims positive results from anti-cancer trials
Medica Holdings (ASX:MCA) subsidiary Cytopia says it is firmly on the path to clinical trials with its anti-cancer molecule, after getting positive results from animal studies. [ + ]
Monash spin-out Cortical seals $1m deal with Genzyme
Cortical, a spin-out from Monash University in Melbourne, has closed a deal worth up to AUD$1 million with US biotech Genzyme to collaborate on the development of oral drugs for inflammatory diseases based on Cortical's small molecule antagonists of the cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). [ + ]
Potential breakthrough for diabetes sufferers
Sufferers of type-two diabetes may soon be able to inhale rather than inject their insulin thanks to Melbourne researchers who have re-engineered the insulin molecule.
[ + ]Prana Alzheimer's drug confirms therapeutic promise
A Phase II clinical study under way in Melbourne has confirmed the promise of metal-chelating agents for treating -- and perhaps even preventing -- the devastating neurogenerative disorder Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
Medical Developments sets cracking pace at market debut
Medical Developments International (ASX:MVP) floated on the ASX on Monday at AUD$0.495 -- almost double its IPO placement price of $0.25. [ + ]
WA's Colltech goes for IPO on the sheep's back
Western Australian company CollTech is aiming to raise up to AUD$5 million in its IPO to build a collagen extraction and purification facility, based on its novel and proprietary method for extracting the protein from sheep skins. [ + ]
AusBiotech hails 'exceptional' talent in new board line-up
AusBiotech members have elected Johnson & Johnson Research managing director Susan Pond, venture capitalist Leigh Farrell and former Amrad managing director Sandra Webb as corporate directors to its board, after a tight race between nine candidates. Western Australian Biomedical Research Institute director Simon Carroll was also re-elected as an institutional director. [ + ]
Why apomixis is genetic gold
They seek it here, they seek it there, but it remains hidden in the genetic thickets of flowering and seed development. A place in history awaits its finder. [ + ]
Bionomics signs with US ally
Adelaide biotechnology company Bionomics (ASX:BNO, US OTC:BMICY) has found a friendly American bloodhound to help it track down new genes involved in epilepsy -- the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. [ + ]
Arnotts crumbles in face of anti-GM action
Leading Australasian biscuit manufacturer Arnotts has reacted to the threat of a consumer demonstration against its products in New Zealand by renewing its commitment to avoid the use of GM ingredients. [ + ]