Industry News
Patrys antibody awarded orphan drug status in US
Patrys (ASX:PAB) now has orphan drug status for antibody PAT-SM6 in multiple myeloma covering the US as well as the EU. [ + ]
Body mass may be more nurture than nature
Genes have less influence on body mass than previously thought. [ + ]
South Australia's first autoimmune blood bank
Scientists from Flinders University and SA Pathology are setting up South Australia's first autoimmune blood bank, providing a central depository for research into different autoimmune diseases. [ + ]
Preparing for the world's largest radio telescope
The international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) office has awarded contracts to prepare for the world's largest radio telescope, marking the start of the return on Australia and WA's investment in the SKA. [ + ]
Strategic agreement to help fix the body's leaky pipes
Danish biotechnology company Mirrx Therapeutics and Sydney's Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology have executed a strategic collaboration and commercialisation agreement to discover and develop therapeutic oligonucleotide drug candidates targeting vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin). [ + ]
AusBiotech signs MoU with KoreaBIO
The AusBiotech 2013 national conference culminated last week in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between AusBiotech and the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (KoreaBIO). [ + ]
AusBiotech announces new directors at AGM
AusBiotech has announced the election of two new directors to its board at its annual general meeting in Brisbane last week - Julie Phillips, CEO of BioDiem; and Dr Andrea Douglas, vice president, R&D strategy and portfolio at CSL. [ + ]
Bioniche names new CEO
Dr Michael Berendt has replaced Bioniche (ASX:BNC) founder Graeme McRae as the company's CEO. [ + ]
Giant extinct platypus discovered
The largest platypus ever found has been discovered in the Riversleigh World Heritage Area of north-western Queensland. [ + ]
New President for the Australian Academy of Science
Organic electronics researcher Professor Andrew Holmes has been elected as the next President of the Australian Academy of Science. [ + ]
Clinuvel to start new vitiligo trial
Clinuvel (ASX:CUV) is awaiting approval to commence a new phase II trial of Scenesse in vitiligo, to help confirm the positive findings of an earlier trial. [ + ]
NHMRC recognises researchers' hard work
The NHMRC has recognised a human molecular geneticist and an IVF researcher with the respective NHMRC Outstanding Contribution Award and the NHMRC Ethics Award. [ + ]
WA biotechs pick up industry and export awards
Clinical trials facility Linear Clinical Research, drug discovery CRO Epichem and sera supplier Serana have all won prizes during this year's Western Australian Industry and Export Awards. [ + ]
Delboeuf illusion causes dentists to drill bigger holes
The Delboeuf illusion is an optical illusion whereby a large context makes a small, enclosed area appear smaller than it really is. Researchers have found that this illusion is having an impact in the field of dentistry, with some dentists making larger holes in teeth than they really need to. [ + ]
New species of dolphin discovered
A team of international scientists, including Flinders University animal studies expert Dr Guido J Parra, has found evidence to suggest the recognition of at least four distinct species in the humpback dolphin family - one of which is completely new to science. [ + ]
