Industry News
Garvan spin-off to trial monoclonal targets
G2 Therapies, a recent spin-off company from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, will be launching into clinical trials of monoclonal targets to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer after raising $3.3 million in a first-round venture capital funding. [ + ]
Genetic Technologies in licensing deal with Sequenom
Melbourne based biotech company Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) expects to turn a profit this year after securing its first license agreement with a US-based company for use of GTG's non-coding patents for genomic mapping and intron sequence analysis. [ + ]
Acrux teams with Pharmacia to explore transdermal tech
Melbourne start-up company Acrux has signed an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pharmacia to explore the use of Acrux's proprietary transdermal drug delivery technology for Pharmacia's drugs. [ + ]
Y chromosome under attack
An ANU scientist, working with the University of Newcastle, has confirmed that the male Y chromosome is under attack and will eventually self-destruct.
[ + ]EU leaders give biotech go ahead
EU leaders gave full backing to the European Commission life sciences and biotechnology strategy at the recent Barcelona Summit.
[ + ]Physics in desperate situation
Professor Tony Thomas, chair of the Australian Academy of Science's national committee for physics, believes that physics teaching and research in Australia are in a desperate situation.
[ + ]Compromise on stem cell research framework
Australia's state and territory leaders have agreed on a national framework to back limited embryonic stem cell research. [ + ]
Prana moves forward on Alzheimer's treatment
A treatment for Alzheimer's Disease is one step closer after the successful completion of a Phase II clinical trial by Prana Biotechnology for its drug PBT-1 (Iodochlorhydroxyquin). [ + ]
Gene tech test for soil heath
Scientists at CSIRO are developing a method for using genetic technologies to determine the health of soil. [ + ]
Patents shouldn't apply to gene sequences: Affymetrix
US company Affymetrix has told a government panel that patents should not be applied to gene sequences. [ + ]
Global patent tests would cut IP costs
Patent examinations should be standardised across the world to make appropriate intellectual property protection more affordable. [ + ]
It's not just heaven that's missing an angel
There is a major lack of angel investment in the biotech industry in Australia, according to investment groups such as Tinshed and Rothschild Bioscience. [ + ]
Salinity solution sought
The salinity problem plaguing farmers in the Murray-Darling Basin and other dry land regions around Australia is not going to improve unless private investors help out, according to experts who will meet in NSW state Parliament on Monday April 8. [ + ]
Rice sequence sparks controversy
Rice's genome has been sequenced and is the first complete cereal plant sequence to be publicly released. [ + ]
Positive outlook for biotech in latest Deloittes index
The latest Deloitte index of companies on the Australian Stock Exchange's Healthcare and Biotechnology Index has painted a picture of increasing investor confidence in smaller stocks. [ + ]
