Progen anti-cancer compound earns orphan drug status
04 May, 2004 by Iain ScottBrisbane-based Progen (ASX:PGL) has earned 'orphan drug' status from the US Food and Drug Administration for its much-touted PI-88 compound, for treatment of malignant melanoma.
Genetic Solutions finds partner for US, Canadian market
03 May, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane biotech Genetic Solutions is set to create a tidal wave in the international beef industry's gene pool, after licensing its GeneStar DNA markers to new US partner Bovigen Solutions.
Meditech chairman, CEO resign at AGM
30 April, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerBiotech veteran Bob Moses, the chairman of Melbourne biotech company Meditech (ASX:MTR), had harsh words yesterday for the shareholders whose lack of support for the re-election of CEO Chris Carter as a director on the board led to both he and Carter resigning their positions.
Imugene soars on vaccine trial result
30 April, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillShares in Sydney animal-health biopharma Imugene Limited (ASX:IMU) soared yesterday on news that animal trials have confirmed the efficacy of the company's new vaccine for controlling one of the international pig industry's most costly diseases.
Medica to take over subsidiary Cytopia
29 April, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane-based pooled development fund Medica Holdings (ASX:MCA) is committing body and spirit to the drug-discovery race by taking a 100 per cent shareholding in its Melbourne subsidiary Cytopia -- and adopting Cytopia's name.
BIO 2004: Better believe it -- credibility rules
29 April, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerBuilding your credibility and getting past the introductory meeting are the two goals biotech companies going to BIO should keep in mind, according to US-based biotech communications specialist Doug MacDougall.
Big pharma, CRCs can work together: AstraZeneca czar
29 April, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerThe thing AstraZeneca finds hardest about its relationship with the Cooperative Research Centre for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases is coping with incompatible timezones.
Austin spin-off XenoTrans earns Geron backing
28 April, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerUS biotechnology company Geron has taken a 25 per cent equity position in Austin Research Institute spin-off XenoTrans, in return for granting the company a non-exclusive licence to use Geron's nuclear transfer technology to produce transgenic pigs for xenotransplantation, and a share in future revenues.
Virax begins prostate cancer vaccine trial
28 April, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne immunotherapy developer Virax Holdings (ASX:VHL) has begun a pre-clinical trial of its novel candidate vaccine for late-stage prostate cancer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre.
GroPep posts fourth consecutive positive quarter
28 April, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillAdelaide biopharma GroPep (ASX:GRO) today announced its fourth consecutive quarter of positive operating and net cash flow.
CSIRO, Bayer in RNAi deal
27 April, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillInternational agbiotech company Bayer CropScience has acquired a licence from CSIRO to develop new crops using the patented RNA interference (RNAi) gene-silencing technology developed by CSIRO Plant Industry researchers.
AGT pipeline boosted in merger with US firm
27 April, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerAGT Biosciences (ASX:AGT) has merged with US company ChemGenex Therapeutics to create a genomics-driven pharmaceutical company with two products in Phase II clinical trials.
Obesity drug alters brain, says scientist
23 April, 2004 by Staff WritersA British scientist has warned that Sanofi-Synthelabo's experimental obesity drug Acomplia could alter the way people think.
Queensland's Xenome files IND for painkiller
22 April, 2004 by Renate KrelleXenome -- 25 per cent owned by Medica Holdings (ASX:MCA) -- has filed an investigational new drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration for its Xen2174 cancer painkiller, which is derived from cone shell venom.
Biotechs, big pharma benefit as first P3 grants awarded
22 April, 2004 by Renate KrelleThe federal government has today ladled out just under 60 per cent of the funding for its five-year $150 million Pharmaceutical Partnerships Program -- known as P3 -- giving 11 pharmaceutical and biotech companies a cash boost to fund drug development.
