Industry News
In brief: Starpharma, Proteome Systems, Meditech, C3, Biodiem
Starpharma (ASX: SPL, USOTC:SPHRY) has appointed former Cerylid Biosciences chief executive officer Dr Jackie Fairley to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Fairley will begin her role with Starpharma toward the middle of 2005. [ + ]
Epitan plans AIM listing
Melbourne's Epitan is planning to raise up to 15 million pounds (AUD$37 million) in a flotation on London's AIM stock market. EpiTan focuses on dermatology and its main product, Melanotan, helps treat sunburn injury. [ + ]
Melbourne team in arthritis find
A Melbourne research team has dead-heated with US giant Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in the race to identify the elusive enzyme that destroys cartilage in inflammatory arthritis, but has been beaten to the IP punch by the big Boston-based pharma. [ + ]
Solbec psoriasis trial disappoints
Preliminary data from Solbec Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:SBP) Phase I/IIa clinical trial of its anti-psoriasis developmental drug Coramsine have confirmed that it is safe and well tolerated, but have not indicated any superiority to existing commercial treatments for psoriasis. [ + ]
Phylogica defies IPO blues
Perth-based functional proteomics company Phylogica (ASX: PYC) has defied recent biotech trends, with shares in the company opening today 37 per cent above their issue price of $0.20. At time of writing shares had slipped slightly and were trading at $0.25. [ + ]
Blue rose reveals true RNAi colours
The CSIRO has revealed that part of the technology used to develop the blue rose -- unveiled last year by Japanese giant Suntory and its subsidiary, Melbourne company Florigene -- was an RNAi technique developed by CSIRO for gene replacement in plants. [ + ]
Monash installs giant protein purification system
Monash University is hoping to move into the big league of international protein research after completing the world's largest installation of GE Healthcare's new parallel protein purification workstation, in readiness for first light from Victoria's new $180 million synchrotron in 2007. [ + ]
Norwood raises $5.8m in US
Norwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) has raised AUD$5.8 million (US$4.5 million) through a placement to three US institutional investors. The company may also receive a further $6 million in additional equity investment from the same investors within the next six months. [ + ]
In brief: C3, DNT, Starpharma, synchrotron
Clinical Cell Culture (C3, ASX:CCE) has received its first batch of stocking orders for its ReCell device used to treat small burns and scars from its European distributor network. [ + ]
PM backs down on stem cell research 'roadblock'
The Australian prime minister, John Howard, has dropped plans for a 12-month extension to the current restriction on creating new embryonic stem cell lines, which is due to expire on April 5, after being rebuffed by state premiers. [ + ]
Medsaic sets out to profile leukaemia
A Sydney company is hoping pathologists will be making room next to their flow cytometers for a new technology which provides doctors with a detailed profile of leukaemias and lymphomas, setting the scene for tailored treatment. [ + ]
In brief: Resonance Health; Covance
Australia's largest diagnostic imaging company, DCA Group (ASX: DVC) has agreed to launch and co-market Resonance Health's (ASX:RHT) liver diagnostic, FerriScan in Australia and potentially the UK. [ + ]
Australian genomics comes in from the cold
Australia's on-the-fence approach to large-scale sequencing and genomics projects has left it until recently on the fringes of the field, according to a leading US-based genomics researcher. [ + ]
Phylogica IPO closes oversubscribed
Perth-based functional proteomics company Phylogica has closed its IPO after raising $5 million through the sale of 25 million shares at $0.20. [ + ]
UK scientists to probe need for monkey research
British scientists are to take the world's first hard look at whether monkeys should continue to be used in biological and medical research. [ + ]
