Industry News
NZ health service takes on GTG over licence fees
On the eve of its landmark patent-infringement case against US gene-testing company Applera Corp, Melbourne-based Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) has been hit with a New Zealand challenge to its right to charge licence fees for access to its non-coding DNA patents. [ + ]
Alchemia in good shape
Alchemia (ASX:ACL) has ended the 2003-04 financial year with a $6.5 million loss, slightly less than the recorded loss for the previous period. [ + ]
GroPep posts $1m profit
GroPep (ASX:GRO) has posted a AUD$1 million profit for the 2003-2004 financial year, achieving its aim of returning to profitability after its disastrous 2002 acquisition of Sydney company Biotech Australia. [ + ]
Benitec settles another lawsuit
RNAi company Benitec (ASX:BLT) has settled its second patent infringement lawsuit in two weeks, giving US company Genscript Corporation a non-exclusive worldwide licence to manufacture and sell DNA-directed RNAi (ddRNAi) products. [ + ]
In brief: Burns joins Progen; Cryptome appoints CSO
Progen Industries (ASX: PGL, NASDAQ: PGLAF), announced today it had appointed former Bresagen chief financial officer and company secretary, Linton Burns, as CFO and company secretary. [ + ]
Amrad on track, with global ambitions
Amrad's (ASX: AML) annual results were in line with company expectations for the financial year and were an indication of the progress made in building and restructuring the management team for future growth, chairman Bob Moses said today. [ + ]
Chemeq CEO to step down
As Chemeq (ASX: CMQ) continues its efforts to raise capital through a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors, CEO and chairman Graham Melrose has announced plans to step down from the CEO role, remaining non-executive chairman. [ + ]
Bone Medical completes merger with Revenir
UK biotech company Bone Limited has completed its merger with Perth-based listed property management company Revenir (ASX: REV) after a successful capital raising of $2.5 million closed oversubscribed earlier in the month. [ + ]
Shark antibodies may lead to new diagnostic
The structure of a novel class of shark antibodies known as immunoglobulin new antibody receptors (IgNARs) isolated from wobbegong sharks (Orectolobus maculatus) has provided some clues to the evolutionary history of antibodies, and may lead to a new tool for detecting a range of human pathogens. [ + ]
Victoria Fellowship winner works on relaxin
Victoria Fellowship winner Daniel Scott will be using his prize money to spend some time at Stanford University in the US working on an inhibitor of pregnancy hormone relaxin. [ + ]
Alchemia establishes level 1 ADR program
Brisbane biotech Alchemia (ASX: ACL) has taken the first step towards a NASDAQ listing, announcing it will be establishing a Level One American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program in coming months. [ + ]
Looking for drugs amongst exotic peptides
In the realm of the proteome, it’s shape rather than size that matters. Perth-based drug-discovery biotech Phylogica believes it has just about every possible molecular contingency covered. [ + ]
Acrux to deliver a September IPO
Drug delivery company Acrux is preparing for a late September float on the Australian Stock Exchange after filing its prospectus for an AUD$30 million IPO with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission yesterday. [ + ]
Cash-poor Prima plans for agreements
Despite capital raisings and exercise of options totalling $7.3 million during the year, Prima Biomed (ASX: PRR) is down to a cash balance of $2.8 million after posting a net loss of $4.9 million for the 2003-2004 financial year. [ + ]
Ventracor posts $16m loss
Ventracor (ASX: VCR) yesterday posted an AUD$15.9 million net loss for the 2003-2004 financial year, up 70 per cent from last year's $9.4 million. [ + ]
