Burrill fund frustrated by lack of local support
19 July, 2004 by Renate KrelleThe Burrill Australia Life Science Fund has raised AUD$150 of its planned $200 million venture capital fund in just over a year -- but more than half of it comes from overseas institutions.
Pest CRC moves to Qld as southern GM bans bite
16 July, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillQueensland's biotechnology industry is beginning to capitalise on southern discomfort over genetically modified (GM) organisms, with the Cooperative Research Centre for Pest Animal Control (CRC-PAC) shifting its research team from Gungahlin, in Canberra, to the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Queensland.
Seventh patient implanted with Ventracor artificial heart
15 July, 2004 by Renate KrelleThe seventh patient has been implanted with Ventracor's (ASX:VCR) VentrAssist left ventricular assistance device as part of the company's pilot trial at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
Biting back: QRxPharma to test 20 deadliest snake venoms
14 July, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillIn 1967, Gosford reptile expert Athol Compton suffered a shallow, grazing bite to his thumb while attempting to capture an unfamiliar, large light brown snake with a dark head in Corner Country, in far southwest Queensland.
BioDiem’s antimicrobial joins the field
14 July, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne biotechnology company BioDiem Limited (ASX:BDM) has reported promising results from the first field trial of its BDM-I antimicrobial as a poultry feed additive.
Progen begins phase II PI-88 trial in Taiwan
14 July, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane oncology drug developer Progen Industries (ASX:PGL, NASDAQ:PGLAF) today announced it has begun the fourth and largest Phase II clinical trial of its lead anti-cancer drug PI-88 in patients who have undergone surgery for primary liver cancer.
ChemGenex raises $6.2 million
14 July, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerChemGenex Pharmaceuticals (formerly AGT Biosciences; ASX: CXS) has raised AUD$6.2 million through a 15 per cent placement to existing and new shareholders at $0.48 per share, a discount of almost 15 per cent to yesterday's closing price of $0.56.
Phenomix signs collaboration deal with Genentech
13 July, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerCanberra and San Diego-based Phenomix has signed a multi-year collaboration agreement with Genentech to identify and prioritise drug target for immune disorders.
In brief: Eqitx, Stirling Products
12 July, 2004 by Iain ScottTwo Perth-based biotechs have made key executive appointments.
Industry encouraged to make use of synchrotron
12 July, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerThe head of a new advisory committee for the Australian synchrotron has urged industry to make sure it could get maximum use of the new Australian synchrotron.
Researchers push big pharma to rethink asthma treatment
12 July, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerResearchers at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in Perth are hoping to persuade big pharma to test therapeutics targeting specific inflammatory response effector molecules in young children at risk of developing persistent asthma.
GSK to wind up Biota hep C partnership
09 July, 2004 by Iain ScottDrug firm GlaxoSmithKline has told the US subsidiary of Melbourne-based Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) that it will not extend the companies' research collaboration on novel hepatitis C drugs beyond its scheduled expiry date of August 9.
BresaGen, Cythera complete merger
09 July, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerThe merger between Bresagen's US subsidiary Bresagen Inc and San Diego stem cell company Cythera has been completed.
WA researchers reveal smoke's 'phoenix factor'
09 July, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillEarly Australian settlers evocatively dubbed fire 'the red steer' -- the untamed beast that rampaged through the bush, grazing it back to bare earth. 'Red prince' might have been more appropriate, because the smoke from bushfires delivers a potent chemical kiss that rouses the sleeping seeds of many native plants -- including many of Australia's most beauteous species -- to vibrant life.
Biotech beats the All Ords, but market indigestion on the way
08 July, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerAustralia's biotechnology industry has had its best performing year since the halcyon days of the 1999-2000 tech boom, with both Intersuisse and Southern Cross Equities reporting a 24 per cent rise in their biotechnology indices to the end of the financial year, compared to the 18 per cent rise seen in the ASX's All Ordinaries Index.
