Industry News
Laboratories designed to inspire
The term 'Cathedrals of the Future' has been coined for the world's most impressive biotechnology complexes which are designed to provide a stimulating working environment for the best scientific minds. The road to discovery needs every assistance it can get to facilitate research and attract top researchers.
[ + ]WA forum looks to the future of agbiotech
The Western Australian branch of industry association AusBiotech has held a forum to examine the issues facing agricultural biotechnology in the state, and the challenges that must be faced if it is to move forward. [ + ]
NeuroDiscovery closes IPO
Perth-based neurology-focused biotech company NeuroDiscovery (ASX:NDL) has closed its $1.5 million IPO and completed its acquisition of UK-based NeuroSolutions. [ + ]
EG Capital tips market upswing
In the wake of its annual Australian Biotechnology Expo, held earlier this week in Sydney, EG Capital executive director Alison Coutts is optimistic that the Australian biotech sector is on the way back up. [ + ]
Dental expert wins $50,000 Victoria Prize
Dental scientist Prof Eric Reynolds has won the $50,000 Victoria Prize. [ + ]
Failed Allergan agreement hits Peplin's bottom line
Brisbane-based cancer therapeutic developer Peplin's (ASX:PEP) revenues dropped to AUD$3.4 million in the 2004/05 financial year, down substantially from $6.3 million in the previous year, due to the termination in October 2004 of a collaboration and license agreement with US company Allergan for the company's topical skin cancer drug PEP005. [ + ]
Tysabri news boosts Antisense
Reports that a potential blockbuster drug for multiple sclerosis, Tysabri, could be back on shelves later this year appear to have given a boost to Melbourne company Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP), which is also developing an MS drug. [ + ]
Polartechnics EGM to proceed despite Opara's request to postpone
A Polartechnics (ASX:PLT) extraordinary general meeting (EGM) requisitioned by the company's former interim chairman Richard Opara will be held in Sydney this Friday, despite the company receiving a letter from him on August 8 proposing to postpone the meeting. [ + ]
Relenza order report leaves Biota mystified
Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has backed as "accurate" a newspaper report that Germany has placed an order of more than AUD$100 million for Relenza, the anti-flu drug developed by Biota and commercialised by GlaxoSmithKline. [ + ]
NeuroSearch halts Alzheimer's drug plan
Danish biotech firm NeuroSearch has decided not to start clinical development of drugs aimed at treating Alzheimer's disease. [ + ]
C3 raises $10m
Perth-based Clinical Cell Culture (C3, ASX:CCE) has placed 28.6 million new fully paid ordinary shares worth AUD$10 million with Australian institutional and sophisticated investors. [ + ]
Bioinformatics peak body committee elected
Bioinformatics Australia, Australia's peak body for bioinformatics, hosted by industry organisation AusBiotech, has announced its newly elected committee. [ + ]
Aussies asked to apply for UK biotech trade mission
A trade mission to World Life Sciences Week being held in London this October is taking applications from Australian biotech companies. [ + ]
Cervical cancer vaccine pioneer wins leadership prize
Prof Ian Frazer, whose research on a vaccine for a leading cause of cervical cancer is being developed by CSL and Merck & Co, has won the inaugural 2005 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. [ + ]
NZ's AgVax acquired by Dutch firm Intervet
New Zealand-based animal vaccine specialist AgVax Developments has been taken over by Intervet, a business unit of Dutch healthcare giant Akzo Nobel. [ + ]
