Good Start for local businesses

Life science companies - from start-ups to listed biotechs - featured highly in the latest round of Commonwealth R&D Start funding, it was revealed yesterday.

About a dozen life science-related firms netted more than AUD$15 million of the total pool of $65.15 million awarded between April 2 and June 30.

Among them were listed company Agen Biomedical, a division of listed company Agenix (ASX:AGX), which was awarded more than $1.128 million towards the continued development of its Thromboview blood clot imaging technology.

The biggest grant overall was one of almost $9.4 million to Seeley International, for its integrated climate control system.

Life science grantees included:

• Vaxine (ACT), $764,996 -- Novel, aluminium-free hepatitis B vaccine
• Biosceptre (NSW), $2,091,077 -- Broad-spectrum anti-cancer topical cream
• Zestwin (NSW), $175,000 --- Non-toxic chemical coating for sheep
• CathRX (NSW) with University of Western Sydney, $1,496,593 -- Sensing and ablation range for abnormal heart rhythms
• Agen Biomedical (Qld), $1.128,758 -- ThromboView
• Glycoz (Qld), $1,838,000 -- New carbohydrate-based antibiotic
• Genetraks (Qld), $1,015,816 -- Gene-based diagnostic test for EPM
• Hexima (Vic), $656,197 -- Insect-resistant technology in cotton
• Ultimate Medical (Vic), $264,783 -- Novel single-use medical airway device
• GBC Scientific Equipment (Vic), $1,837,555 -- New HPLC instrumentation