Cephalon crosses Sirtex's takeover 'line in the sand'
27 May, 2003 by Jeremy TorrUS-based pharma Cephalon has pushed its share interest in drug delivery company Sirtex over the 85 per cent level, and so looks set to complete its intended takeover.
Biota inks Sankyo deal
27 May, 2003 by Jeremy TorrBiota has signed a letter of intent with Japanese pharma Sankyo to collaborate on the development of small molecule long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor (LANI) drugs.
A forest in a petri dish
26 May, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillMolecular techniques are beginning to transform the forestry industry. Victoria's Department of Primary Industries' Forest Science Centre at Creswick has developed a way of growing wood in tissue culture, that enables researchers to rapidly determine effects of manipulating genes that influence wood growth and quality in long-lived forest trees.
Agbiotech's growing pains
26 May, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillVictoria prides itself as the powerhouse of Australian biotech. But not everything is blooming in the state's biotech garden, writes Graeme O'Neill
Biomed, Victorian style: big science
26 May, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerLocals thank strong government support for helping to boost Victoria's biomedical industry, Melissa Trudinger discovers.
Amrad sells property, gets to stay on
26 May, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne firm Amrad has sold its 4.7 hectare Richmond property to RMAC, a joint venture between Macquarie Bank and R Corporation, in a deal that allows Amrad to lease back its laboratory space, and provides a cash consideration of $AUD47.5 million.
Chemeq claims first blood in battle against superbugs
23 May, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerWestern Australian biotech Chemeq is claiming an early victory against against so-called 'superbugs', or antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria.
Ernst & Young exec touts 'inevitable' biotech boom
23 May, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillThere's at least one respected member of the investment community who believes the biotech boom is around the corner. Despite the complications that have surrounded the birth of the international biotechnology industry, Leslie Platt, a biotech investment expert with the international accountancy firm Ernst and Young, is irrepressibly bullish about its future.
Test device bags top design award
20 May, 2003 by Jeremy TorrTop honours in the 2003 Australian Design Awards have been scooped by local diagnostics company NDP.
New biotech sector report presents a case for optimism
20 May, 2003 by Jeremy TorrDoomsayers repent. The assertion that the Australian biotech industry is Tech Wreck II is incorrect, according to a new study by the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Selective sheep breeding could lead to chemical-free shrink-proofing
16 May, 2003 by Susan WilliamsonWoollen jumpers may soon be shrink-proof without the use of chemicals, thanks to the finding that wool shrinkage (felting) is a heritable trait that can be manipulated through selective sheep breeding.
Budget reveals a hidden bonus for biotech
15 May, 2003 by Pete YoungA $150 million incentive scheme for companies developing new drugs might prove to be the sleeper in the May budget for young drug discovery companies.
Gradipore ups projected loss to $16m
15 May, 2003 by Iain ScottSydney separation technology specialist Gradipore has revised upwards its projected loss for the financial year, from $AUD12 million to up to $16 million.
Amrad in partnership with US firm Medarex
15 May, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerAmrad and US monoclonal antibody company Medarex have signed a licensing partnership for the R&D of fully humanised monoclonal antibodies against Amrad's asthma target interleukin-13 receptor alpha.
Cephalon increases Sirtex holding
14 May, 2003 by Jeremy TorrUS pharma Cephalon has increased its interest in delivery biotech Sirtex up to 41 per cent with the acquisition of just under 8,800,000 shares from founder Dr Bruce Gray.
