Industry News
ResMed launches improved nasal pillow
ResMed (ASX:RMD) said the improvements made to its latest AirFit nasal pillows improve sleeping time and compliance in sleep-disordered breathing patients. [ + ]
Benitec cleared for first-in-[hu]man hep C trial
The US FDA has given Benitec Biopharma (ASX:BLT) approval to conduct a first-in-[hu]man trial of ddRNAi-based hepatitis C treatment candidate TT-034. [ + ]
Chemical imaging for cancerous tissue
Scientists have outlined a new method for analysing biological samples, such as searching for cancer, based on their chemical make-up. The process would transform medical examinations, with tests currently involving interpretation by a histology specialist and a waiting period of weeks to obtain a full result. [ + ]
Starpharma expects $4.7m R&D tax rebate
Following a positive AusIndustry decision on overseas R&D, Starpharma (ASX:SPL) expects to receive a $4.7 million rebate this financial year for development work conducted during FY13. [ + ]
Potential new target for halting cancer growth
Blocking a specific protein that drives the rapid growth of cancer cells could provide a promising strategy for treating cancers that express high levels of the transcription factor MYC. [ + ]
Understanding antibiotic-tolerant bacterial cells
Researchers from the MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection at Imperial College London have made an advance in understanding how a subset of bacterial cells escape being killed by many antibiotics. [ + ]
Sixth sense is not so special
Research conducted at the University of Melbourne has found that the presence of a sixth sense, also known as extrasensory perception (ESP), exists in some form but is nothing extraordinary. [ + ]
Collaboration on the role of microRNAs in neurodegenerative disease
Dutch biopharma InteRNA Technologies has entered into a collaborative agreement with two partners from the Neuroallianz Consortium - UCB Pharma and the Rheinish Friedrich-Wilhelms-University of Bonn - to support the investigation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in neurodegenerative diseases. [ + ]
Funding for plant energy biology and analytical separation technologies
A Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology and a Training Centre for Portable Analytical Separation Technologies are two initiatives to receive significant funding from the Australian Research Council for 2014. [ + ]
STA to distribute breast cancer test in Australia
Specialised Therapeutics Australia (STA) has clinched a deal to become the Australian distributor for Oncotype DX, a genomic test used to inform treatment strategies for breast cancer patients. [ + ]
Analytica names new director
Seasoned biotechnology executive Carl Stubbings has today commenced his tenure as non-executive director of medical device company Analytica (ASX:ALT). [ + ]
TTP Labtech acquires fluorescence lifetime technology
TTP Labtech has consolidated its position in the field of fluorescence lifetime (FLT) technology, having recently purchased assets from UK-based FLT company AssayMetrics. [ + ]
Non-invasive, risk-free screen for Down syndrome
Researchers at Curtin University have assessed the use of a new non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) technique to identify Down syndrome in foetuses. [ + ]
3D electromaterials centre to be established
The ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) has received $25 million to further develop work on smart nanomaterials by creating 3D devices with capabilities more advanced than those of their 2D counterparts. [ + ]
US EPA contracts Stemina for toxicology tests
Stemina Biomarker Discovery, a company whose cell-based tests combine stem cells and metabolomics, has been awarded a contract by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under its ToxCast initiative. [ + ]
