Industry News
NSW medical device companies receive funding
The NSW government has announced $10.3 million over three years to support companies working in the medical device arena. [ + ]
Phylogica appoints new CEO
Phylogica has named Richard Hopkins as its new CEO and director, commencing immediately. [ + ]
Expression of interest invited for TGA statutory advisory committees
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from experts for various positions on a number of statutory advisory committees. These committees provide independent expert advice to the Minister for Health and to the TGA on specific scientific and technical matters, which aids the TGA’s regulatory decision-making and other regulatory processes. [ + ]
New neuroscience facility opens in Sydney
The new $54 million Neuroscience Research Australia facility has been officially opened in Sydney. [ + ]
Fossil fragments rearrange marsupial evolution
Two tiny fossils are prompting an overhaul of theories about marsupial evolution after they revealed unexpected links to South America - and possibly Africa. [ + ]
Pharmaxis gets simplified PBS listing for Bronchitol
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has agreed to tweak the PBS reimbursement criteria for Pharmaxis’s (ASX:PXS) Bronchitol in cystic fibrosis. [ + ]
Mesoblast gets $4.3m R&D Tax Incentive rebate
Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) has received a $4.3m Tax Incentive reimbursement for its FY12 Australian R&D and plans to plough the funds back into its MPC development programs. [ + ]
Phosphagenics CEO steps down
Dr Esra Ogru has stepped down as CEO of Phosphagenics. [ + ]
Academy Medal awarded to science and research advocate
Philanthropist, business leader and 2011 Australian of the Year Simon McKeon has been awarded the 2014 Academy Medal. [ + ]
Invion commences phase II clinical trial in lupus
Invion (ASX:IVX) has commenced patient enrolment in the company’s phase II clinical trial of INV103 in patients with mild systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). [ + ]
New method for coating microscopic materials
Researchers at the University of Melbourne have developed a one-step method for coating microscopic materials, such as bacterial cells, with thin films that assemble themselves. [ + ]
Sperm pass down Dad’s obesity
University of Adelaide research, published in The FASEB Journal, has shown that the sperm of obese fathers could increase the risk of both their children and their grandchildren inheriting obesity. [ + ]
TGA survey: regulation of commercial IVDs
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) invites manufacturers and sponsors of commercially produced in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDs) supplied in (or exported from) Australia to take part in a survey about the progress of the transition to the new regulatory framework for IVDs, introduced in 2010 and taking full effect on 1 July 2014. [ + ]
Alchemia chairman steps down after 10 years
Alchemia’s (ASX:ACL) long-serving chairman, Mel Bridges, has left the company, while Timothy Hughes has joined as a non-executive director. [ + ]
Starpharma names new business development VP
Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has appointed a second vice president for business development, as the company prepares to ramp-up commercial discussions for lead product VivaGel. [ + ]
