Industry News
The PM's advisers for science
A consummate politician he may be, but John Howard is no scientist. [ + ]
Feds can't ban cells
The Federal government has no constitutional power to ban embryonic stem cell research, even if it wanted to. [ + ]
Inhalix rethinks after funding crunch
Promising medical device start-up company Inhalix has reassessed its strategy and has temporarily parked the company while it reviews its future options, according to CEO Graeme Woodrow. [ + ]
Church key to Andrews' position
Kevin Andrews, the man accused of having the power to potentially scotch embryonic stem cell research in Australia, certainly can't be accused of ignorant zealotry. [ + ]
Hep C treatment targeted
The US subsidiary of homegrown drug discovery group Biota Holdings has announced plans to focus on treatments for hepatitis C virus. [ + ]
Careers outlook broadens for biotech professionals
A range of employment opportunities is opening up for fledglings of the biotechnology industry as well as for young entrepreneurial scientists returning from overseas. [ + ]
Sutherland retires to pursue biotech
Professor Grant Sutherland, one of Australia's leading geneticists, is retiring as the director of the Department of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics at the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide. [ + ]
Supercomputer launched at UQ
A $4 million SGI Origin 3000 supercomputer has been officially launched by Paul Lucas, state minister for innovation and information economy, at the University of Queensland.
[ + ]Research backs use of stem cells
Overseas research has boosted the argument for conducting stem cell research on human embryos, according to Peter Mountford, the head of Melbourne based company Stem Cell Sciences.
[ + ]Minister rules out Vic state laws on stem cells
John Thwaites, Victoria's Health Minister, has ruled out introducing his own laws to allow surplus IVF embryos to be used for stem cell research.
[ + ]Showing Australian companies to the US
A significant number of Australian and New Zealand Biotech companies will showcase their wares to business angels and venture capitalists in San Fransisco mid-year. [ + ]
Nerve drug fails in Phase II
A drug intended to reduce peripheral nerve damage in cancer patient has failed in a clinical trial. [ + ]
Bioprospecting company on the move
BioProspect is expanding its beachead in Queensland on the back of promising results from its five-month-old biota mining agreement with the State Government. [ + ]
VCs name their bioinformatic hot buttons
Venture capitalists are hungry for systems biology, data mining, and anything that targets "where the rat is in the snake," said James Sherblom, chairman and managing partner of Seaflower Ventures Inc, speaking at the biotech financing round table held on March 14 at the BioITWorld Conference and Expo in Boston. [ + ]
Metabolic in iron drug deal
Melbourne biotechnology company Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has entered into licence and research agreements with Sydney's Heart Research Institute (HRI) to develop a drug for the treatment of iron overload diseases. [ + ]