Industry News
Alchemia's synthetic heparin completes pilot scale process
The first batch of Brisbane biopharma Alchemia's (ASX:ACL) synthetic heparin has completed purification -- the final stage of the pilot scale process development -- at the US facilities of the company's manufacturing partner, The Dow Chemical Company. [ + ]
National bioinformatics network gathers speed
A national bioinformatics network has been established following a $2.2 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. [ + ]
Ventracor implants 50, reaches CE Mark trial enrolment target
Artificial heart company Ventracor (ASX: VCR) has implanted its 50th VentrAssist left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and has reached the enrolment target of 30 implants in its European CE Mark trial. [ + ]
Flu chip can identify strains in hours
A novel Flu Chip, developed at the University of Colorado at Boulder, that can determine the genetic signatures of specific influenza strains from patient samples within hours may help world health officials combat coming epidemics and pandemics.
[ + ]Garvan spin-off in $137m anti-inflammatory deal
G2 Therapies, a spin-off company from Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research, has signed a licensing agreement worth up to AUD$137 million with Denmark's Novo Nordisk to develop, manufacture and commercialise new anti-inflammatory therapies based on G2's C5a receptor antibodies. [ + ]
Avexa, MNLpharma sign licence agreement
Avexa (ASX:AVX) has signed an exclusive licence agreement allowing the Melbourne-based company to develop and commercialise a number of HIV integrase inhibitors discovered from UK-based MNLpharma's Phytopure library. [ + ]
BRC branches into MS
The Brain Resource Company (ASX:BRC) is to supply its services to a Schering Israel funded Multiple Sclerosis study. [ + ]
Biotech stocks fall in January
Biotechnology stocks have continued to underperform in January -- with the Intersuisse biotechnology index sliding by 0.9 per cent. [ + ]
CSL to enter US flu market, double vaccine capacity
Biopharmaceutical company CSL (ASX:CSL) will invest AUD$80 million in plant and equipment to double capacity at its Melbourne facility to 40 million doses per season, making it one of the largest vaccine manufacturing plants in the world. [ + ]
UQ team to test therapeutic HPV vaccine
A research team at the University of Queensland, headed by Prof Ian Frazer, is said to have developed a new, therapeutic vaccine for genital warts, and is about to begin phase II trials in Australia and China. [ + ]
Liver diagnostic technology
Resonance Health's non-invasive liver diagnostic technology uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to provide a scan of the liver which is subsequently analysed to quantify iron loading using FerriScan's proprietary software. It is a novel technology easily applied to anyone with an MRI machine.
[ + ]Eqitx CEO says 'no cash flow issues'
Melbourne-based Eqitx (ASX:EQX) was asked by the ASX last week to explain its financial position following the announcement it had invested a further $500,000 to increase its equity in vaccine developer VacTX. [ + ]
Prana completes Alzheimer's phase I
Melbourne's Prana Biotechnology (ASX:PBT, Nasdaq:PRAN) has successfully completed a second phase I trial of its lead compound PBT2, under development as a therapy for Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
Over the counter, into the black
Singapore-based, ASX-listed Rockeby Biomed (ASX:RBY) has changed its focus and managing director Dr Sze Wee Tan has a positive outlook for this year. Helen Schuller reports. [ + ]
Why Chance takes no chances on GM
Western Australia's agriculture minister, Kim Chance, is taking what many are now seeing as an overly cautious stance on biotechnology. Graeme O'Neill reports. [ + ]
