Arthron arthritis candidate a stayer
11 November, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne biotechnology company Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) is chuffed with an intriguing result reported by its subsidiary Arthron from trials of its experimental rheumatoid arthritis drugs in mice.
Spooner replaced as Ventracor CEO
11 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerFormer Sirtex Medical CEO Dr Colin Sutton has today taken over as chief of artificial heart company Ventracor (ASX:VCR), replacing Michael Spooner.
Alchemia launches $21m IPO
10 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerBrisbane-based carbohydrates company Alchemia is the latest company to seek listing on the ASX, announcing a AUD$21 million IPO to take place before Christmas.
Vision Bio takes aim at US market
07 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne-based research instrument developer Vision BioSystems is gearing up to launch its Bond-X immunohistochemistry system in the US before the end of the year.
Heart monitor firm USCOM launches $16m IPO
07 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerDevices company USCOM is seeking to raise AUD$16 million in an IPO to raise funds to commercialise its heart monitor.
Cochlear hooks up with continence control company
07 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerA University of Melbourne spin-off and pioneering bionic ear company Cochlear have joined forces to develop a treatment for severe incontinence.
Biota hot on the trail of cold cure
07 November, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne drug design company Biota Holdings is preparing to sign up a partner to develop its new lead compound to quell the so-called 'common' cold.
Metabolic launches Phase IIb trial
06 November, 2003 by Iain ScottMelbourne-based Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has commenced what it says is the largest clinical trial ever undertaken by an Australian biotech, a Phase IIb trial of its obesity drug, AOD9604.
Iliad hires cancer specialist, ramps up discovery
06 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne-based Iliad Chemicals has appointed former Cerylid Biosciences scientist Dr Gino Vairo as head of drug discovery and development as it ramps up its efforts to identify a lead candidate.
WA's Grain Biotech's eyes up a vintage wheat crop
06 November, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillFirst there was golden rice, a genetically modified variant of the world's number two cereal, designed to prevent blindness and ill health in an estimated 400 million malnourished people in Asia and Africa, whose monotonous diet of rice leaves them vulnerable to blindness and ill health. Now Western Australian company Grain Biotech Australia has engineered an experimental wheat, the world's number one cereal crop, that could help by keeping over-nourished Westerners in the pink of health.
New chief named for CSIRO Plant Industry
06 November, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillDr Jeremy Burdon is to succeed Dr Jim Peacock as chief of CSIRO Plant Industry, the organisation's chief executive, Dr Geoff Garrett, announced today.
Cryptome debuts on ASX
06 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerCryptome Pharmaceuticals, the first in a series of Australian biotechs scheduled to float in the next few months, made its debut on the ASX today with a starting price of AUD$0.25 and a market capitalisation of $12.6 million, after raising $6.6 million in its IPO.
Xenome nets $3.2m grant
05 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerQueensland company Xenome has received a AUD$3.2 million R&D Start grant from the Federal government to accelerate the development of its lead chronic pain drug, Xen2174 into early clinical trials.
New proteomics technology applied to plasma work
04 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerResearchers at the Joint Proteomics Laboratory (JPSL) at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research are using a new proteomics technology to remove common high-abundance proteins from plasma before analysis.
Weevil overcome, but GM pea project shelved
03 November, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillCSIRO Plant Industry in Canberra has wound up a decade-long project to develop a genetically modified field pea resistant to the destructive pea weevil, because poultry and pigs fed on the GM pea dropped about 10 per cent in productivity.
