Antisense raises $5 million
22 August, 2003 by Jeremy TorrDrug discovery biotech Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has added AUD$5 million to its coffers with the placement of 38.5 million new shares to the institutional and specialist investor market.
Norwood Abbey moves into Asia
22 August, 2003 by Jeremy TorrAs part of its strategy to move into the Asian region, Norwood Abbey has appointed a new commercial partner to market its range of laser assisted drug delivery products.
Vintage research benefits wine industry
21 August, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillOn a wall at CSIRO Plant Industry's Merbein laboratories, is an old photo-micrograph of a grapevine floral bud. Dr Nigel Steele Scott, head of Plant Industry's horticultural research laboratories in Glen Osmond, South Australia, says it's his favourite image -- a portent of a revolution in viticulture that is still having an enormous impact on the Australian wine industry today.
Peptech MD Kwik to resign
21 August, 2003 by Jeremy TorrPeptech is to lose its managing director Stephen Kwik in the first glimpse of what chairman Mel Bridges has dubbed a "broadening and deepening of scope" for the therapeutic peptide and protein biotech.
pSiMedica's BioSilicon to undergo tissue engineering trial
20 August, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillpSiMedica, a subsidiary of Perth-based pSivida (ASX: PSD), has signed an agreement with the UK-based McComb Foundation to evaluate its nanostructured porous silica material BioSilicon as a tissue-engineering substrate.
EpiTan answers ASX trading query
18 August, 2003 by Iain ScottMelbourne-based EpiTan's share price (ASX:EPT) has doubled since April, but that's just because of increased market awareness, the company has told the Australian Stock Exchange.
New fund aims to raise $150m for Australian biotech
18 August, 2003 by Iain ScottA new fund, spearheaded by stockbrokers Intersuisse, British VC Rothschild Bioscience Managers and Sequence Capital Group, aims to raise AUD$150 million and overseas backing for Australian biotech companies.
UK researcher's eyes opened by biotech activity down under
15 August, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerUK scientist and entrepreneur Prof Peter Shepherd is amazed at how much biotechnology activity there is in Australia.
AVI seeks orphan status for experimental SARS drug
15 August, 2003 by Staff WritersUS firm Avi BioPharma has asked US regulators to grant 'orphan' status to its experimental drug against the virus that causes SARS, a designation meant to provide seven years of marketing exclusivity for medicines.
Bionomics beefs financial team
15 August, 2003 by Jeremy TorrAdelaide-based genomics biotech Bionomics has appointed a new heavy hitter to its financial team with the signing up of ex-Faulding and ex-Mayne commercialisation expert Lee Craker as new CFO.
Expat's big plans to improve Anglo-Aussie ties
15 August, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerExpatriate Australian Dr John Sime is headed back to Australia next January, with plans to improve the links between the Australian and the British biotechnology industries.
GroPep cuts its losses to produce second-half profit
15 August, 2003 by Iain ScottAdelaide-based GroPep has continued to shuck off the disastrous after-effects of its purchase of Biotech Australia by posting a second-half profit for 2002-03.
BresaGen announces major restructure plans
14 August, 2003 by Iain ScottBresaGen (ASX:BGN) intends to spin off its protein pharmaceuticals business and headquarter it in the US, as part of a major restructure.
Shotgun weddings leading to useful new hybrids
14 August, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillYou're a plant geneticist, and you want to extend the range of the world's most important human food crop, rice (Oryza sativa) into cooler regions of the world.
Polartechnics eyes US capital market
14 August, 2003 by Jeremy TorrCapitalising on the successful release of its innovative Pap smear diagnostic into the European market, Polartechnics has dipped a toe into the US investment scene with the appointment of a New York investment banker as strategic advisor.
