Industry News
Ventracor: device gets new application, third patient dies
Sydney-based Ventracor (ASX:VCR) sent investors into a small spin today, announcing the broadening of its VentrAssist artificial heart Pilot Trial to include heart failure patients on transplant waiting lists. [ + ]
Another patent for Psivida's portolio
Perth nano-biotech company Psivida (ASX:PSD) continues to add new patents to its bulging BioSilicon portfolio, and investors aren’t complaining. [ + ]
CBio gears up for Phase II trials of autoimmune drug
Queensland biotech CBio presented its Phase I clinical trial results at the World Congress of Immunology in Montreal last week, and is raising capital and readying itself for Phase II trials. [ + ]
British biotech Bone to list on ASX
With the close of its placement expected on 3 August, British biotech company Bone is well on its way to a backdoor listing on the Australian Stock Exchange through former WA property management company Revenir (ASX: REV). [ + ]
Cygenics secures second NIH contract
CyGenics (ASX: CYN) subsidiary Cytomatrix has secured a second year-long NIH contract worth US$272,000 for further development of its T cell technology. [ + ]
Californian company licenses Ludwig research
Californian therapeutic antibody developer KalosBios Pharmaceuticals has joined the long list of international companies picking the fruits of Australian medical research. [ + ]
Up to his own devices: Alan Finkel on life after Axon
Ask Alan Finkel what he would do differently if he started another company, and he’s quick to reply. “I wouldn’t start another company overseas,” he says. [ + ]
Death does not always signal the end of life
Biochemistry PhD student David Carter is examining cadaver breakdown and soil biology to provide answers to life's toughest question; what happens to us after we die?
[ + ]Fear of scientific advances a challenge: Shine
Grasping the opportunities provided by advances in medical science, rather than succumbing to fears about the challenges involved, is the key to the biology revolution, the vice-president of the Australian Academy of Sciences Prof John Shine told the National Press Club this week. [ + ]
Setback for rabbit control plan
Plans to use a genetically modified myxoma virus to depopulate Australia’s rabbit-ravaged landscapes of the continent’s worst mammalian pest have suffered a setback. [ + ]
Aussies to spearhead eucalyptus genome project
Scientists from around the world have agreed to collaborate on sequencing the complete eucalyptus genome, and formed the International Eucalyptus Genome Consortium at a meeting held in Hobart last week. [ + ]
Amrad shareholders stock up
Some of Amrad's larger shareholders are boosting their holdings in the Melbourne company (ASX:AML), as long-time Japanese investor Chugai divests itself of its 10 per cent stake in the company. [ + ]
Good Start for local businesses
Life science companies - from start-ups to listed biotechs - featured highly in the latest round of Commonwealth R&D Start funding, it was revealed yesterday. [ + ]
QIMR, Tissue Therapies make cell supply deal
Researchers at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) have struck a formal deal with recently-listed Tissue Therapies (ASX:TIS) to boost the yield and quality of dendritic cells for their cancer vaccine using the company's cellular growth enhancer VitroGro. [ + ]
Proteome Systems boss critical of 'speculative' report
Proteome Systems CEO Keith Williams has described as "highly speculative" a media report this morning which suggested his company might be valued only at AUD$100 million when it lists on the ASX this year, rather than the $300 million valuation it had hoped for. [ + ]
