Industry News
Phylogica IPO closes oversubscribed
Perth-based functional proteomics company Phylogica has closed its IPO after raising $5 million through the sale of 25 million shares at $0.20. [ + ]
UK scientists to probe need for monkey research
British scientists are to take the world's first hard look at whether monkeys should continue to be used in biological and medical research. [ + ]
Alchemia to put anti-cancer drug through clinical paces
Alchemia (ASX:ACL) has confirmed it expects to take its first drug candidate, ACL16907, into clinical trials in the first half of 2006. [ + ]
First biosciences company lists in Singapore
Dutch company LMA International has become the first biosciences company to list on Singapore's stock exchange, raising S$248 million (AUD$194 million) through the an initial public offering by its Singapore unit, LMA International. [ + ]
GBS invests in US-based biotech
Australian biotech venture capitalists GBS Venture Partners has invested in US-based therapeutic antibody company KaloBios Pharmaceuticals as part of a US$20 million series B financing round. [ + ]
Domantis in licence deal with Tanox
UK biotech Domantis -- in which Sydney firm Peptech (ASX:PTD) is a 36 per cent investee -- has licensed the rights to domain antibodies for a specific but undisclosed autoimmune target to US biotech Tanox, best known for its asthma biological Xolair. [ + ]
Benitec licenses technology to French transgenic rat firm
Benitec (ASX:BLT) has granted a worldwide, non-exclusive commercial licence to French company genOway to develop transgenic rodents with Benitec's proprietary DNA-directed RNA-inferference technology (ddRNAi). [ + ]
In brief: Recell, Avexa, CBio, Eqitx
Clinical Cell Culture (C3, ASX:CCE) has received CE Mark approval from European certification authority and notified body SGS for its Recell medical device, clearing the way for first sales of the product to plastic and cosmetic surgeons. [ + ]
Tissue Therapies' Vitro-Gro heals burns without scarring
Brisbane's Tissue Therapies (ASX:TIS) announced today that trials of its Vitro-Gro wound-healing technology at the Royal Children's Hospital show it not only accelerates the healing of serious burns, but leaves no scarring. [ + ]
ES cell research opponents cheer Griffith research
Opponents of embryonic stem cell research have leaped to congratulate Griffith University scientists, who yesterday announced details of research in which differentiated cells were successfully grown from adult stem cells. [ + ]
Griffith team grows adult stem cells
A research team led by Prof Alan Mackay-Sim of Griffith University has successfully grown nerve, heart, liver, kidney and muscle cells from adult stem cells harvested from the olfactory mucosa. [ + ]
States reject Howard's request for longer stem cell ban
State premiers have apparent rebuffed Prime Minister John Howard's request for a 12-month extension to the current restriction on creating new embryonic stem cell lines, which is due to expire on April 5. [ + ]
Science media centre planned for Adelaide
At the suggestion of eminent UK neuroscience researcher Baroness Susan Greenfield, the South Australian Government is establishing an Australian Science Media Centre (AusSMC) in Adelaide to serve as a national portal for the media to obtain expert advice on science subjects. [ + ]
Antisense presses on with asthma therapeutic
Melbourne's Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) is pressing ahead with development of its ATL1102 inhalant inflammation inhibitor for asthma, despite voluntarily suspending research into the drug's potential as a therapy for multiple sclerosis early this month. [ + ]
In brief: Ventracor granted patents; Pentrys trial completes recruiting
The US Patent and Trademark Office has granted Ventracor (ASX:VCR) and the company's research partners at the University of Technology Sydney a patent over the control system used in its VentrAssist heart device. [ + ]
