WA's Colltech goes for IPO on the sheep's back
16 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerWestern Australian company CollTech is aiming to raise up to AUD$5 million in its IPO to build a collagen extraction and purification facility, based on its novel and proprietary method for extracting the protein from sheep skins.
Why apomixis is genetic gold
16 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillThey seek it here, they seek it there, but it remains hidden in the genetic thickets of flowering and seed development. A place in history awaits its finder.
Arnotts crumbles in face of anti-GM action
15 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillLeading Australasian biscuit manufacturer Arnotts has reacted to the threat of a consumer demonstration against its products in New Zealand by renewing its commitment to avoid the use of GM ingredients.
Chemeq earns new patents, readies for Feb production
12 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillPerth-based pharmaceutical company Chemeq (ASX:CMQ) has announced that patents on its polymeric molecules to control microbial diseases in livestock have been approved in the US, Europe, Eurasia and China.
TGR wins dairy research grant
12 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerAdelaide company TGR Biosciences has received a grant from the Gardiner Foundation to look for bioactives in milk.
Gradipore raises $2.7m
11 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerGradipore (ASX: GDP) has raised AUD$2.7 million in a placement of six million shares at $0.45 to institutional investors.
Benitec, CSIRO, QDPI resolve gene-silencing dispute
09 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillThe big legal guns have fallen silent, and Queensland biotechnology company Benitec (ASX:BLT), CSIRO and Queensland's Department of Primary Industries have shaken hands on a landmark agreement that will allow CSIRO and Benitec to pursue their commercialisation of the revolutionary gene-silencing tool known as DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi).
UK firm Vernalis testing Monash painkiller
09 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillNew British biotech company Vernalis expects to complete Phase I clinical trials of a powerful new painkiller discovered by Monash University scientists by the middle of next year.
CogState aims to raise $5.5m at IPO
08 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerThe latest company to jump on the IPO bandwagon is CogState, which filed its prospectus with the ASX mid-last week.
FEATURE: Clinical trials on trial
05 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerClinical trial activity in Australia is booming, reports Melissa Trudinger -- but can the system cope?
Clinical trials: Building synergies
05 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerSpearheading clinical trials in Victoria is Cancer Trials Australia, a consortium involving four hospitals -- including Austin Health, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Western Hospital -- as well as the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.
Scientists refute aspects of UK Farm Scale GM study
05 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillA group of leading international agricultural and food scientists says increased food production by GM herbicide-tolerant crops could actually benefit the environment and enhance biodiversity in Britain and Europe by allowing unused farmland to rededicated as conservation reserves.
Novogen subsidiary raises US$10m
04 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMarshall Edwards, the US subsidiary of Novogen (ASX:NRT), has raised US$10.1 million through the exercise of expiring warrants by shareholders.
Florigene to be sold to Suntory as Nufarm exits biotech
04 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerAustralian biotechnology pioneer Florigene, a subsidiary of Australian agricultural company Nufarm, is being sold off to long-time joint venture partner Suntory.
'Open-source biology' stance earns international honour
03 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillMaverick molecular geneticist Richard Jefferson is in New York this week to accept a prestigious Scientific American award as one of the magazine's 50 Global Technology Leaders of 2003.
