First Sunshine Heart device implanted
09 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranDoctors at Auckland City Hospital have conducted the first long-term implant of a Sunshine Heart (ASX:SHC) C-Pulse heart device in a 56-year old New Zealand man.
IMB ploughs Xenome profit back into science commercialisation
06 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranThe University of Queensland's multi-million dollar exit from unlisted Brisbane biotech Xenome has led to the establishment of a new $750,000 proof-of-concept fund for reinvestment in commercially viable research projects at UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience.
Peptech announces profit upgrade, denies merger rumours
06 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranDespite a strong cash position of AUD$44.8 million, boosted by an interim net profit after tax of $23.9 million for the half-year ended 31 March 2005, Sydney biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD) has said it is "not actively participating in the M&A space" at the moment, and denied renewed speculation of a merger with Melbourne's Amrad (ASX:AMD).
BRC lands Glaxo contract
05 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranGlaxoSmithKline Research and Development is to buy two Brain Resource Laboratories from Sydney-based brain function databasecompiler Brain Resource Company (ASX:BRC), for operation at Quintiles' Guys Drug Research Unit in London.
Biotech stocks hit as sell-off continues
05 May, 2005 by Ruth BeranBiotechnology stocks have been hit hard in calendar 2005 with the Intersuisse biotechnology index showing a fall of 23 per cent, including a 10 per cent fall in April.
CSIRO applies for GM rice field trial
03 May, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillCSIRO Plant Industry has applied to the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) to conduct a field trial of gene-knockout rice varieties, as part of the national research organisation's contribution to the international 'Green Machine' functional genomics project.
In brief: Acrux, Meditech, Psivida
03 May, 2005 by Staff WritersMelbourne's Acrux (ASX: ACR) has Adam Watkinson as its chief scientific officer. Watkinson is currently manager of drug delivery research and project manager at UK pharmaceutical company ProStrakan .
Metabolic releases data on neuropathic pain drug
02 May, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillA preclinical trial of Metabolic Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:MBP) conotoxin peptide painkiller hints that if it makes it to the clinic, it could provide a health bonus for patients suffering chronic neuropathic pain.
APAF to launch biomarker laboratory
02 May, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonThe Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF) is gearing up to launch its new Biomarker Discovery Laboratory and is already on the verge of signing a pharmaceutical company partner for a project.
SkyePharma jumps as lung drug deal nears
29 April, 2005 by Staff WritersBritain's SkyePharma is close to a deal on one of its lung drugs that could be worth US$160 million, the drug delivery firm has claimed, boosting its shares as it posted a narrower loss for 2004.
New QA program gives test results more certainty
28 April, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonA new program and online database developed in Victoria will offer laboratories all over the world a much better chance of avoiding false positives and false negatives when screening blood for viruses, particularly HIV and Hepatitis C.
Allergan profit falls as Botox sales slump
28 April, 2005 by Staff WritersDrugmaker Allergan said quarterly net earnings fell slightly, and sales of Botox missed analyst forecasts, sending shares down 2 per cent.
In brief: Cytopia, Visiomed
27 April, 2005 by Staff WritersCytopia (ASX:CYT) has received ethics approval to begin a Phase I clinical trial of its anti-cancer drug CYT997 at at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The trial will be conducted in association with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research and Q-Pharm. Cytopia chief scientific officer Andrew Wilks said that the 30-patient trial would be a non-blinded, dose escalation study in patients with various cancers and could take between nine and twelve months.
Bresagen attempts to broaden shareholder base
27 April, 2005 by Renate KrelleHaving struck out in an attempt to broaden its shareholder base through a rights issue last month, Bresagen (ASX:BGN) will be asking shareholders to expand the range of investors who can subscribe to its back-up convertible note facility.
Peplin pre-clinical results published
26 April, 2005 by Renate KrelleBrisbane biotech Peplin (ASX:PEP) was celebrating some good news today, announcing that the pre-clinical results of the action of its lead anti-cancer compound PEP005 against leukaemia have been published in Blood, the journal of the American Society of Hematology.
