Sydney researcher discovers new piece in cancer puzzle
01 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillA molecular geneticist working on cancer at Westmead Hospital's Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) has made a chance discovery that throws new light on the mechanisms that immortalise cancer cells.
Proteome Systems downsizes Boston facility, banks milestone payment
01 April, 2005 by Renate KrelleFour months into an 18-month collaboration with the US-based High Q Foundation, Sydney's Proteome Systems (ASX:PXL) is to bank US$300,000 of a possible US$3 million in milestone payments, having successfully zeroed in on a small number of candidate biomarkers for the inherited neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease.
Melbourne team in arthritis find
31 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillA Melbourne research team has dead-heated with US giant Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in the race to identify the elusive enzyme that destroys cartilage in inflammatory arthritis, but has been beaten to the IP punch by the big Boston-based pharma.
Solbec psoriasis trial disappoints
30 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillPreliminary data from Solbec Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:SBP) Phase I/IIa clinical trial of its anti-psoriasis developmental drug Coramsine have confirmed that it is safe and well tolerated, but have not indicated any superiority to existing commercial treatments for psoriasis.
Alchemia to put anti-cancer drug through clinical paces
23 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleAlchemia (ASX:ACL) has confirmed it expects to take its first drug candidate, ACL16907, into clinical trials in the first half of 2006.
Interview: Charting a course towards a cure
22 March, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonJoe Sambrook tells Susan Williamson about the opportunities and challenges in understanding, treating and, ultimately, preventing breast cancer.
Lorne Cancer: Architecture and oncology
22 March, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonSusan Williamson discovers why the theme of tissue architecture is so prominent at this year's Lorne Cancer conference.
In brief: Ventracor granted patents; Pentrys trial completes recruiting
18 March, 2005 by Staff WritersThe US Patent and Trademark Office has granted Ventracor (ASX:VCR) and the company's research partners at the University of Technology Sydney a patent over the control system used in its VentrAssist heart device.
FDA places clinical hold on Tysabri's drug class
17 March, 2005 by Staff WritersGlaxoSmithKline said US regulators had halted clinical trials on multiple sclerosis drugs in the same class as recently withdrawn treatment Tysabri, including its experimental product '699.
Psiron's cancer therapy passes first clinical tests
16 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillSydney virotherapy developer Psiron (ASX:PSX) reported this week that two end-stage melanoma patients have shown no adverse effects from the first human test its of its oncolytic virus therapy,
Researchers use gene-profiling to predict metastasis
16 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillMolecular oncologist Dr Kent Hunter, of the Laboratory of Population Genetics at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, told the recent Lorne Genome Conference that it may soon be possible to predict a patient's risk of developing metastatic cancer based on their individual gene-expression profiles.
Firestone looking for improvement at AustCancer
14 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleAustCancer (ASX:ACU) shares have clawed back some of their recent losses since the company announced last Wednesday it has appointed US biotech executive Len Firestone as CEO. And although Firestone's recent experience would seem to make him something of a merger-specialist, he insists that he was not recruited to catalyse a merger.
Pacmab raises funding, tackles multiple myeloma
11 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillSydney monoclonal antibody therapeutics developer PacMab - which this week raised AUD$700,000 in equity funding -- is in the late stages of clinical pre-testing of a humanised monoclonal antibodies that binds to an antigen expressed exclusively by multiple myeloma cells.
Methylation tests herald new cancer diagnostics and treatments
09 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillEighteen years ago CSIRO biochemist Dr Robin Holliday first advanced the radical idea that that perfectly normal genes inactivated by hypermethylation played a role in the onset of cancer. Today, specific, sensitive tests for methylation are being developed which could play a role in early detection of cancer.
Novogen fast-tracks ovarian cancer study
08 March, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerNovogen (ASX:NRT) subsidiary Marshall Edwards (NSDQ:MSHL; MSE-AIM:MSH) has outlined its plans for Phase IIb and Phase III studies of its anti-cancer drug phenoxodiol for treatment of recurrent, chemo-refractory ovarian cancer, which received fast-track status from the FDA late last year.
