Industry News
Attention all Biotechs: Deadline for submissions to second Senate Gene Patent Inquiry Feb’ 25, 2011
AusBiotech and Medicines Australia (MA) are urging all biotech and life sciences companies likely to be affected by proposed amendments to patenting legislation, as it relates to genes and other biological materials, to hurry up and make their submissions to the second senate Inquiry before the deadline of February 25, 2011. [ + ]
Australian Phenomics Network to launch microRNA screening platform
The Australian Phenomics Network (APN) is set to launch a new microRNA screening platform that will encompass all known microRNAs currently identified in the human genome. [ + ]
Thermo Fisher Scientific signs definitive agreement to acquire Lomb Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific has signed a definitive agreement to acquire laboratory chemicals, consumables and instruments provider Lomb Scientific.
[ + ]Market report: Biotechs up for fourth week in a row
The S&P/ASX 200 Heathcare Index close in the black for the fourth week in a row today, partly buoyed by a strong come back from the wider market, which snapped its losing streak. [ + ]
Arsenic-eating bacteria open door to exotic alien life
Researchers said during a press conference today that they found a strange microbe in Mono Lake in northern California. [ + ]
Thermo Fisher to acquire Lomb Scientific
Thermo Fisher continues to expand into the Australia-New Zealand market through the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Lomb Scientific. [ + ]
Deakin Uni opens bionanotechnology centre in India
Deakin University and The Energy and Resources Institute of India (TERI) have partnered to open a new bionanotechnology Research Centre in Delhi. [ + ]
Independent MPs support boost for R&D
Businesses will get more support for research and development under legislation passed by the House of Representatives.
[ + ]New standard for describing marker genes
An international community of scientists, the Genomic Standards Consortium, has published a new standard for describing marker genes.
[ + ]Prof Frank Fenner passes
The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr, issued a statement about the passing of Professor Frank Fenner.
[ + ]E.T. phone home, from Japan
Extraterrestrial asteroid particles have been discovered in the sample catcher on board the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa.
[ + ]Government to review role played by IP in private sector / PFRO collaborations
The Advisory Council of Intellectual Property (ACIP) is calling for submissions from Australian companies which have collaborated with publicly-funded research organisations (PFROs) as part of a review as to whether intellectual property (IP) rights such as patents and trademarks are a help or a hindrance. [ + ]
Feature: Puzzling prions
Prions, which cause diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), are mysterious things. Andrew Hill’s research into how they spread might lead to new diagnostics and treatments. [ + ]
Market report: Biotechs up for third week in a row
The S&P/ASX 200 Heathcare Index closed in the black on Friday for the third week in a row, as the wider market slipped for the second week in a row. [ + ]
Avexa to discuss HIV drug with FDA
Beleaguered Australian HIV drug developer Avexa announced this week that it has booked time with the FDA to discuss opportunities for its ATC (apricitibane) program. [ + ]
