GroPep debt-free by the end of 2002, company chairman says
22 November, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerAdelaide-based biotech company GroPep pre-empted the complaints of its shareholders at its annual general meeting yesterday, with chairman Richard England noting at the beginning of his speech that the year was the worst in the company's history.
Green light for EpiTan IIb trial
21 November, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerEpiTan has received approval from the ethics committee at the Royal Adelaide Hospital to conduct part of its phase IIb clinical trial there for its melanin-producing drug Melanotan.
Flinders Bio to expand business
21 November, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerFlinders University spin-off Flinders Bioremediation is continuing to expand its business operations despite the recent loss of founder and managing director Dr Nick McClure, who passed away in September.
Starpharma nets third US dendrimer patent
21 November, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerStarpharma has been granted a third broad US patent for its dendrimer technology, covering applications for anti-microbial and anti-parasitic compositions.
Biotech stripped raw
20 November, 2002 by Graeme O'NeillListen carefully and one can almost hear new biotechnology companies sprouting from Australia's bioscience research landscape.
Changes on Metabolic board
20 November, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerProf Peter Darvall has resigned from his board position at Melbourne drug discovery company Metabolic Pharmaceuticals due to his commitments as vice-chancellor of Monash University.
Metabolic begins fourth trial of obesity drug
18 November, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne-based Metabolic Pharmaceuticals has begun a Phase IIA clinical trial for its obesity drug AOD9604 to investigate safety of daily dosing in preparation for the Phase IIB weight reduction study scheduled for next year.
The jungle telegraph: how plants communicate
18 November, 2002 by Graeme O'NeillHow does a soybean plant's leaves communicate with its roots, hidden beneath the ground?
Big money for protein study
15 November, 2002 by Pete YoungA protein involved in the detection of the most lethal form of DNA damage and which is also linked with a rare genetic disorder has attracted the largest single slice of the NHMRC's latest project funding round for Queensland.
Global rice research meets up in Canberra
15 November, 2002 by Graeme O'NeillWith its long hours of sunlight, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of NSW produces the highest yields of any rice-growing region in the world, but the water-hungry crop requires around 20 megalitres of water to produce a tonne of rice. CSIRO Plant Industry molecular geneticist Dr Liz Dennis believes new rice varieties bred for cold tolerance could reduce that figure by 30 per cent, yielding substantial savings for the Murray-Darling system's over-extended water reserves.
Chemeq moves into human pharma
15 November, 2002 by Matt BergerWestern Australian company Chemeq has signed an agreement with renowned University of Western Australia researcher Prof Barry Marshall to investigate the use of its CHEMEQ polymeric antimicrobial to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori.
BresaGen to launch new manufacturing service
15 November, 2002 by Graeme O'NeillAdelaide's BresaGen Ltd is about to launch its new ProtEcol service to manufacture recombinant proteins and peptide therapeutics for client biotech companies in Australia and overseas.
Alchemia patents tipped to aid fundraising
14 November, 2002 by Pete YoungCarbohydrate-based drug design and manufacture company Alchemia has secured two key patents on its technology platform that should aid its efforts to tie off a multimillion dollar fundraising exercise.
New pact brings in funds for Ambri
14 November, 2002 by Pete YoungBiosensor company Ambri will receive an injection of up to $15.7 million under an equity and technology licensing pact with Dow Corning Corp and diversified US biotech Genencor International.
OGTR calls time out on GM crop applications
13 November, 2002 by Melissa TrudingerThe Gene Technology Regulator, Dr Sue Meek, has decided to "stop the clock" on two applications for commercial release of genetically modified canola while she waits for updated information on technology stewardship, crop management strategies and supply chain management.
