Industry News
ES Cell to supply stem cell lines to US govt
Melbourne's ES Cell International will supply embryonic stem cells to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) - the first company outside the United States to enter such an arrangement with the biomedical powerhouse. [ + ]
Lawyers push for new agency to keep up with science
The Australian Law Reform Commission may recommend the Howard government create an Australian equivalent of the UK Human Genetics Commission. [ + ]
Positive result for MicroMedical heart device
Manufacturing has begun on the final version of MicroMedical Industries' VentrAssist artificial heart device. [ + ]
State funding for six NSW start-ups
Six early-stage biotechnology companies will share $649,000 in NSW government grants to assist in taking their biomedical technologies through to commercialisation. [ + ]
Investment company seeks to invest $50 million in biotech
Australian Technology Innovations Fund (ATIF), a Brisbane-based private investment company, is seeking to invest $50 million in biotechnology projects and companies. [ + ]
Ethical thumbs-up for Metabolic obesity drug trial
Metabolic Pharmaceuticals has gained ethics approval to begin testing its oral obesity drug in patients. [ + ]
Circadian to invest in memory, brain research
Circadian Technologies will invest almost $450,000 over the next 18 months in two new projects, the development company announced today. [ + ]
Progen scores half-million manufacturing deal
US biotech Lipid Sciences has signed a $500,000 manufacturing pact with Progen Industries, boosting Progen's already-thriving contract drug manufacturing arm. [ + ]
Peptech expects to cash in on Abbott drug approval
A rheumatoid arthritis treatment developed by Sydney biotech Peptech could become the first of its monoclonal antibodies to hit the market, if drug giant Abbott Laboratories wins approval to market the drug Adalimumab in the US and Europe. [ + ]
Qld government moves to shore up R&D framework
Queensland's Cabinet has kicked off a sweeping effort to set in place a long-term R&D framework in place for emerging industries. [ + ]
Vita Life goes after former MD
Vita Life Sciences is seeking recompense from its former managing director over what it says was a costly breach of agreement. [ + ]
Chairman, board members resign from Peptech
The three newest members of the board of Sydney biotech Peptech have resigned, after shareholders threatened to call an extraordinary general meeting to have them removed. [ + ]
Prototype detector could identify anthrax quickly
A prototype handheld detector under development at Sandria National Laboratories in the US can identify the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) of anthrax in less than five minutes.
[ + ]Nelson appoints science journo as advisor
The Federal Health Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, has appointed researcher turned science writer Dr Thomas Barlow as his science advisor. [ + ]
Catholics pledge $50K to adult stem cell research
Sydney's Catholic Archbishop, Dr George Pell, has promised to contribute $50,000 toward adult stem cell research, on condition that the NSW and Federal governments commit "significant money" to the research. [ + ]
