Avastin spurs Genentech to forecast profit growth
15 March, 2004 by Staff WritersSan Francisco-based Genentech says it expects annual earnings growth of 20 per cent for the next seven years on strong sales of cancer drugs, including the new medicine Avastin, and treatments for auto-immune disorders.
Metabolic to advance cone shell venom drug
10 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerMetabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) expects to be able to submit an application for a Phase I clinical trial of its marine cone shell venom-derived pain drug ACV1 by the end of the year, after pre-clinical data demonstrated the activity of the drug against neuropathic pain.
Researchers develop new cattle embryo screening methods
10 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerScientists at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development are developing methods to screen cloned cattle embryos to identify embryos that show signs of abnormal imprinting -- a process that can lead to overgrown foetuses, placental problems and related disorders.
Perth's latest animal health offering names chairman
09 March, 2004 by Renate KrellePerth-based Stirling Products (ASX:STI) -- which debuted on the stock exchange last month via a backdoor listing -- has appointed London-based pharmacologist Prof Clive Page as non-executive chairman.
Proteome Systems, Shimadzu team up in US push
09 March, 2004 by Renate KrelleJapanese instruments specialist Shimadzu Scientific and the US arm of Australia's Proteome Systems will tighten their US collaboration, announcing today that they have agreed to team up on the application support of their jointly-developed proteomics products, Xcise and Chip.
Benitec, Promega launch new RNAi products
05 March, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane-based gene technology company Benitec (ASX:BLT) today launched the first commercial gene-silencing vectors to emerge from its global licensing agreement signed with the US-based Promega Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin, in April last year.
R&D grant to speed pathology technology on its way
05 March, 2004 by Renate KrelleEveryone's favourite nightmare -- that they will be falsely diagnosed with a terrible disease because of a mix-up in blood or tissue samples -- is the target of Brisbane-based Ai Scientific's pathology specimen processing technology, which last week received a $3.33 million R&D Start grant from the federal government.
Psivida subsidiary signs US development deal
04 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPsiMedica, the UK-based subsidiary of Australian nanotechnology company Psivida (ASX:PSD), has signed a materials transfer agreement with US nanotech company NanoHorizons.
Avastin approval is great news for biotech, say pundits
04 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerLast week's thumbs-up by the US Food and Drug Administration for Genentech's anti-angiogenesis drug Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer has widespread implications both for cancer therapy and biotechnology in general, according to industry observers.
Virax booms on cancer vaccine trial news
03 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerVirax's share price has soared after the company disclosed that French biotech company Transgene recently reported promising interim results from Phase II trials of a cancer therapeutic vaccine based on the Virax's Co-X-Gene technology.
Ventracor implant not implicated in patient death
03 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerArtificial heart developer Ventracor (ASX:VCR) has reported that the fifth patient to be implanted with the company's VentrAssist device has died at the Alfred Hospital, about a month after receiving the implant.
Progen skyrockets on Genentech news
02 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerBrisbane-based Progen is riding high on the US Food and Drug Administration's approval of Genentech's anti-angiogenesis drug Avastin.
AGT and Garvan team up to target diabetes
02 March, 2004 by Renate KrelleAGT Biosciences (ASX: AGT) has expanded its stable of programs in diabetes and obesity research, signing a collaborative research agreement with Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research to identify molecules as potential therapeutics for type II diabetes.
Australia's capital territory set to ban GM crops
02 March, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillThe Australian Capital Territory, home to CSIRO's Plant Industry division, looks set to join the southern mainland states and Tasmania in imposing a moratorium on the environmental release of genetically modified crops.
Qld's Tissue Therapies aims for $3.5m IPO
01 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerQueensland University of Technology spin-off Tissue Therapies is seeking to raise AUD$3.5 million in an initial public offering of seven million shares at $0.50.
