Industry News
Antisense trial results seen as favourable
Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has presented preliminary data from a Phase I clinical trial for its antisense multiple sclerosis drug ATL1102 at the Australian Neuroscience Society's annual conference last week. [ + ]
Melbourne start-up Hexima applies to test GM cotton
Melbourne plant biotechnology company Hexima has applied to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator to conduct a small field trial of transgenic cotton lines containing its novel protease-inhibitor genes. [ + ]
Brain tumour treatment on the cusp of revolution, conference hears
Brain tumours account for only two per cent of cancer deaths but they are the fourth most important type of tumour in terms of life years lost, as they disproportionately affect younger people. But according to Prof Andrew Kaye, at the University of Melbourne, the next decade will see major advances in treatments for brain tumours that could turn around the statistics and extend the lives of sufferers. [ + ]
Brain loss isn't always disease culprit
Not all forms of dementia are the same, and researchers are starting to learn what distinguishes different forms of neurodegenerative dementias from each other. But one major problem remains -- most of the distinguishing pathological features of the diseases, such as protein accumulation and cell loss, can only be seen post mortem. [ + ]
New ASX biotech reporting guidelines due in March
The Australian Stock Exchange is working with a small group of biotechnology executives, analysts and investors to develop a draft proposal for reporting results and activities, similar to those in place for the mining and exploration sectors. [ + ]
Solbec plans psoriasis treatment trial
Perth drug discovery company Solbec Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SBP) has set out plans to trial its promising anti-cancer compound SBP002 as a treatment for the chronic skin disorder psoriasis this year. [ + ]
Prion-like protein may be involved in memory
Prion-like proteins may hold the key to understanding how the brain forms lasting memories, according to the Nobel prize-winning researcher from Columbia University Prof Eric Kandel, who is in Australia for the Australian Neuroscience Society conference in Melbourne this week. [ + ]
MCRI deal with Quintiles to triple clinical trial activity
The Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne has entered into an alliance with international clinical trials organisation Quintiles to bring international paediatric clinical trials to the institute's clinical trials group. [ + ]
BioDiem lists on ASX after successful IPO
Melbourne pharmaceutical company BioDiem has listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX:BDM), cashed up with AUD$12 million to fund its research and development program. [ + ]
Sirtex warms to cancer therapy
Researchers with Sydney meditech company Sirtex Medical (ASX:SRX) have decided to continue development of a radical new therapy that would destroy liver cancers with focused heat, after its researchers reported encouraging progress in solving technical problems involved in scaling up the technique from animals to humans. [ + ]
New gene identified by Aussie researchers
Researchers from the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) Adelaide, as part of an international collaboration, have identified a gene implicated in a type of intellectual disability called Sutherland-Haan Syndrome. The syndrome was first identified by and named after Professor Grant Sutherland and Associate Professor Eric Haan, from the WCH Adelaide, South Australia.
[ + ]Gradipore touts technology's commercial potential
Sydney-based bioseparations specialist Gradipore (ASX:GDP) claims to have successfully completed proof-of-principle studies demonstrating scale-up of its Gradiflow technology to commercial levels. [ + ]
Synchrotron gets $15m for beamlines
The University of Melbourne, Monash University and the CSIRO have joined forces to provide AUD$15 million towards the initial beamlines planned for the Australian Synchrotron project, currently under construction at Monash University. [ + ]
Research, biobusiness honoured in Australia Day awards
Last week, ResMed's California-based chairman and CEO Dr Peter Farrell was in his usual stirring form at a Melbourne speech, referring to Australia as "Botswana" and the nation's flag as a "dog's breakfast". But perhaps he was just getting it all out of his system one last time -- on Monday, Farrell was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM), one of the top gongs in the annual Australia Day honours [ + ]
Micro-view opens up big picture
Technological advances designed to help scientists solve big problems by gaining a better micro-view of the world is the theme of a conference being held at Deakin University's Waterfront Campus in Geelong, from 2- 6 February.
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