Industry News
Bionomics ends MS collaboration with Merck Serono
Bionomics (ASX:BNO) will cease collaborating with Merck Serono to develop autoimmune disorder treatments, and seek alternate partners for its Kv1.3 program. [ + ]
What the Raising the Bar research exemption means for biotech
The research exemption in the new Raising the Bar bill allows experimentation on patented processes, but the line between what is permitted and what is infringing a patent is not yet fully clear. [ + ]
PIC reports to Ministers on treatment of similar biologics
The Pharmaceuticals Industry Council (PIC), with members AusBiotech, Medicines Australia and the GMiA, has reported to the Federal Government on the preferred treatment of follow-on biologics for reimbursement. [ + ]
ResMed launches sleep apnoea device in US
ResMed (ASX:RMD) has brought Narval CC, an alternative treatment to PAP therapy for snoring and sleep apnoea, to the US market. [ + ]
Opinion: The brutal truth about innovation in Australia
Dr Rowan Gilmore, CEO of the Australian Institute for Commercialisation, wonders whether Australian government and business are truly hungry enough to drive innovation in this country. [ + ]
Using the cane toad’s poison against itself
An effective new weapon in the fight against the spread of cane toads has been developed by the University of Sydney, in collaboration with the University of Queensland. [ + ]
CSL gets orphan drug status for haemophilia-B treatment
CSL's (ASX:CSL) plasma protein unit, CSL Behring, has received US FDA orphan drug designation for a haemophilia-B treatment, rIX-FP. [ + ]
NIH puts $4.5m into superbug killers
The Monash Institute of Phermaceutical Sciences has received a $4.48 million grant from the US National Institutes of Health to develop new antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. [ + ]
Non-invasive genetic test for Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome highly accurate
Current screening strategies for Down syndrome, caused by foetal trisomy 21 (T21), and Edwards syndrome, caused by foetal trisomy 18 (T18), have false positive rates of 2 to 3%, and false negative rates of 5% or higher. Now an international, multicentre cohort study finds that a genetic test to screen for trisomy 21 or 18 from a maternal blood sample is almost 100% accurate. [ + ]
Genetic Code is completed with the ‘Proteomic Code’ and ‘Nucleic Acid Assisted Protein Folding’
A major development has begun in the molecular biology and biotechnology industry, with the discovery of the ‘Proteomic Code’ and ‘Nucleic Acid Chaperons’. A US patent has recently been granted for biotechnological application of the Proteomic Code for design and ‘to Obtain Oligo-peptides Oligo-peptides with High Affinity to Query Proteins’. [ + ]
Science projects to inspire Australians thanks to government grant
Australians will be able to take part in hands-on local science activities thanks to a $5 million grant from the Gillard government for Inspiring Australia projects across the country. [ + ]
BioTek receives European patent for microplate washer technology
BioTek has announced receipt of European Patent EP 2 093 572 B1, covering the ultrasonic cleaning and maintenance feature used in the company’s microplate washers. Known as Ultrasonic Advantage, this cleaning technology is incorporated into most of BioTek’s microplate washers. [ + ]
Universal Biosensors to get $1.5m from Siemens
Universal Biosensors (ASX:UBI) has achieved the first of six milestones under its coagulation testing collaboration with Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. [ + ]
ImpediMed wins “Life Changing Technology” award
ImpediMed Limited (ASX:IPD) has been recognised for making “the biggest difference on an individual while addressing the greatest medical need” for its bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology. [ + ]
Pharmaxis debuts Bronchitol in EU
Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) has officially launched its Bronchitol spray in the UK and Germany, and presented more trial data showing its efficacy. [ + ]