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.
Amrad nets second Merck milestone payment
01 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerAmrad has received a second US$3 million milestone payment from Merck, Sharp and Dohme, bringing the total payments to the company under the terms of the agreement to $11 million to date out of a possible $112 million.
Peptech draws strength from antibodies, new and old
27 February, 2004 by Renate KrellePeptech's (ASX:PTD) recent investment in UK domain antibody specialist Domantis took centre stage at the company's annual general meeting today, despite shareholder discontent regarding an employee performance share plan.
Macfarlane pledges continued biotech support
27 February, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerThe biotechnology industry is likely to be one of the beneficiaries of the forthcoming successor to the Backing Australia's Ability program, according to federal industry minister Ian Macfarlane.
Bionomics, WEHI team on drug discovery
25 February, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillAfter announcing a $6m capital raising yesterday, Adelaide epilepsy specialist company Bionomics Limited (ASX:BNO, US OTC: BMICY) has wasted no time mounting a project to identify new drugs to treat inherited epilepsy and anxiety disorders.
Antisense moves into development with growth hormone compound
25 February, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerAntisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has advanced its acromegaly project from research to development after seeing efficacy in animal studies for its antisense compound ATL1103, which targets the growth hormone receptor.
GM deliberation leaks worry gene advisory chairman
24 February, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillThe chair of the NSW Agricultural Advisory Council on Gene Technology, Prof Tim Reeves, has expressed concern that anti-GM representatives on the council have breached its confidentiality code by claiming that the council had already decided to recommend a large-scale trial planting of genetically modified canola in NSW.
Bionomics raises $6m for drug development
24 February, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillAdelaide-based epilepsy specialist Bionomics has raised AUD$6 million in additional capital to fast-track its drug-discovery for new drugs to treat epilepsy and anxiety disorders.
