In brief: Chemeq; C3; Gropep; Starpharma; Meditech

Non-executive director Paul Grujic and chief financial officer Ian Purdy today resigned from West Australian biotech Chemeq (ASX: CMQ).

C3's Recell approved in Japan

Clinical Cell Culture (ASX: CCE) today announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health has approved the sale of its Recell device in Japan, the first regulatory approval for the product.

C3 has already received a AUD$350,000 upfront payment from Japanese partner JMEC for the distribution rights to Recell in Japan. The first Japanese production run and delivery is expected in the first quarter of 2005.

Gropep receives $3.4 million Start grant

Adelaide biotech Gropep (ASX:GRO) has received a federal R&D Start grant worth $3.4 million over three years.

The funding will be used in the development of Gropep's topical psoriasis therapeutic.

Starpharma's Vivagel safe

Starpharma (ASX:SPL) today released full unblinded Phase I clinical trial results confirming that its HIV-preventative Vivagel was safe and caused no adverse effects.

Meditech in Japanese collaboration

Meditech Research (ASX: MTR) is to collaborate with Professor Kazuhiko Arimori at the Miyazaki Medical College Hospital in Miyazaki, Japan, on the use of Meditech's hyaluronic acid compounds with Pfizer's irinotecan.

Professor Arimori is a world expert on the metabolism of irinotecan - one of the most widely used colorectal cancer drugs.