UQ team links vitamin D deficiency with schizophrenia, MS
06 February, 2006 by Graeme O'NeillScientists at the University of Queensland have linked maternal vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy to abnormal foetal brain development and an increased the risk of behavioural problems, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis (MS) later in life.
CyGenics joins international cancer collaboration
03 February, 2006 by Helen SchullerCell therapy company CyGenics (ASX:CYN) will be part of a new international collaborative effort to develop new treatments of cancer using the novel approach of developing and mobilising immune cells outside the human body.
Prima publishes cancer trial results, outlines road ahead
02 February, 2006 by Helen SchullerPrima Biomed's (ASX:PRR) results from a phase I clinical trial of its CancerVac MFP technology for advanced adenocarcinoma have been accepted and published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
Giaconda touts results for H. Pylori, Crohn's disease
31 January, 2006 by Helen SchullerSydney-based Giaconda (ASX:GIA) has reported positive results from phase II trials of two of its compounds, Heliconda for Helicobacter pylori infection and Myoconda for Crohn's disease.
Benitec delays HIV/AIDS drug IND filing
31 January, 2006 by Ruth BeranGene therapy company Benitec's (ASX:BLT) shares fell on news that the US FDA investigational new drug (IND) filing for its HIV/AIDS therapeutic will be delayed.
Zenyth licence to boost antibody targets
30 January, 2006 by Graeme O'NeillZenyth Therapeutics (ASX:ZTL), formerly Amrad, has taken a licence from Massachusetts-based Dyax Corp, to use the US company's proprietary phage display libraries to develop antibody therapeutics for inflammation and cancer.
Tissue Therapies to repeat animal trial
27 January, 2006 by Helen SchullerBrisbane biotech Tissue Therapies (ASX:TIS) will repeat an animal trial designed to gather data to optimise its wound treatment VitroGro for human clinical trials following independent review of the results.
Ian Frazer named Australian of the Year
26 January, 2006 by Staff WritersProf Ian Frazer, inventor of the world's first cancer vaccine, Gardasil, has been named Australian of the Year.
Apollo completes phase Ib psoriasis trial data collection
24 January, 2006 by Helen SchullerSydney-based biopharma Apollo Life Sciences (ASX:AOP) said no significant adverse side-effects were detected in a phase Ib trial of its topical psoriasis cream, developed from human-expressed protein.
BioPharmica touts new cancer target
18 January, 2006 by Graeme O'NeillNewly listed Perth meditech BioPharmica (ASX:BPH) has taken the wraps off a new tumour-suppressor gene candidate that shows high promise as a therapeutic and diagnostic target for many cancers, as well as in AIDS and the brain disorder Huntington's disease.
ChemGenex signs new deal with German Merck
17 January, 2006 by Helen SchullerMelbourne and California-based ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CXS, Nasdaq:CXSP)) has signed a new three-year alliance agreement with industry partner Merck KGaA, of Germany, to provide preclinical support in the fields of diabetes, insulin resistance and complications.
NSW researchers in depression gene find
17 January, 2006 by Graeme O'NeillWinston Churchill called it his 'black dog'. Abraham Lincoln suffered from bipolar disorder, as did German composer Robert Schumann, and Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. And a slew of poets including Alfred Lord Tennyson, William Blake, Edgar Allan Poe, Lord Byron and Sylvia Plath lived with manic depression.
Proteome Systems touts Huntington's biomarker find
13 January, 2006 by Ruth BeranSix months from completing an 18-month collaboration with the US-based High Q Foundation, Sydney's Proteome Systems (ASX:PXL) has statistically validated some of the multiple biomarkers for the inherited neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease which it identified in an earlier smaller study.
Starpharma HIV drug gets on FDA fast track
09 January, 2006 by Ruth BeranThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 'fast track' status to Melbourne drug developer Starpharma's (ASX:SPL) VivaGel.
Enlisting microbicides in the fight against HIV/AIDS
16 December, 2005 by Sir Gustav NossalSir Gustav Nossal writes that Australian scientists are at the vanguard of developing what could be the most effective weapons in the battle against one of the deadliest of diseases.
