Brain loss isn't always disease culprit
30 January, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerNot all forms of dementia are the same, and researchers are starting to learn what distinguishes different forms of neurodegenerative dementias from each other. But one major problem remains -- most of the distinguishing pathological features of the diseases, such as protein accumulation and cell loss, can only be seen post mortem.
Solbec plans psoriasis treatment trial
29 January, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillPerth drug discovery company Solbec Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SBP) has set out plans to trial its promising anti-cancer compound SBP002 as a treatment for the chronic skin disorder psoriasis this year.
Sirtex warms to cancer therapy
28 January, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillResearchers with Sydney meditech company Sirtex Medical (ASX:SRX) have decided to continue development of a radical new therapy that would destroy liver cancers with focused heat, after its researchers reported encouraging progress in solving technical problems involved in scaling up the technique from animals to humans.
Public to get another say on xenotransplantation
16 January, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillThe National Health and Medical Research Council has kicked off a second round of public comment on its draft guidelines for xenotransplantation research, and will run a series of community consultation meetings in capital cities in February.
Patch vaccines may increase autoimmune disease risk
15 January, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerAustralian researchers have shown in a mouse model that a bacterial toxin used as an immune-stimulating agent in some vaccines may increase the risk of developing autoimmune disease, where the immune system reacts against the body's own proteins.
pSivida to focus on cancer diagnostics
09 January, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPerth-based nanotechnology company pSivida (ASX: PSD) has selected cancer diagnostics as the first target area for its in vivo immunodiagnostic system.
Obesity start-up Adipogen wins VC funding boost
07 January, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane biomedical company Adipogen has received a new injection of venture capital to pursue a novel therapy for obesity that would involve blocking the proliferation of fat-storage cells, or adipocytes.
Meditech secures deal with Danish firm
19 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMeditech Research (ASX:MTR) has ended the year with the achievement of a major milestone, entering into an agreement with Danish biotechnology company Novozymes.
Cytopia claims positive results from anti-cancer trials
17 December, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMedica Holdings (ASX:MCA) subsidiary Cytopia says it is firmly on the path to clinical trials with its anti-cancer molecule, after getting positive results from animal studies.
Prana Alzheimer's drug confirms therapeutic promise
16 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillA Phase II clinical study under way in Melbourne has confirmed the promise of metal-chelating agents for treating -- and perhaps even preventing -- the devastating neurogenerative disorder Alzheimer's disease.
Bionomics signs with US ally
15 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillAdelaide biotechnology company Bionomics (ASX:BNO, US OTC:BMICY) has found a friendly American bloodhound to help it track down new genes involved in epilepsy -- the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
NIH awards Melbourne researcher US$1.7m
01 December, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne University epilepsy investigator Dr Steve Petrou has received a prestigious National Institutes of Health grant to study what happens in the brain of a transgenic mouse that exhibits human-like epileptic seizures.
Monash, Schering buddy up to research male disorders
27 November, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillMonash University and big German pharmaceutical company Schering AG have announced a collaborative research and licensing agreement to develop new therapies for prostate disease, male infertility, and new male contraceptives.
WEHI opens Bundoora Biotechnology Centre
18 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerAustralia's oldest medical research institution, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, has made a major move into the biotechnology arena with the opening of its AUD$27.5 million Biotechnology Centre.
Polartechnics in US distribution deal
14 November, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerSydney-based devices company Polartechnics (ASX:PLT) has signed a heads of agreement with US company Open Systems Imaging (OSI) to market and sell its melanoma detection and monitoring system SolarScan in the US.
