Industry News
Singapore's Cordlife sets up CyGenics, plans Australian capital raising
Singapore-based Cordlife has created a holding company, CyGenics, which will be based in Melbourne, and revealed plans to raise up to $20 million in funding. [ + ]
Queensland's Xenome files IND for painkiller
Xenome -- 25 per cent owned by Medica Holdings (ASX:MCA) -- has filed an investigational new drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration for its Xen2174 cancer painkiller, which is derived from cone shell venom. [ + ]
Biotechs, big pharma benefit as first P3 grants awarded
The federal government has today ladled out just under 60 per cent of the funding for its five-year $150 million Pharmaceutical Partnerships Program -- known as P3 -- giving 11 pharmaceutical and biotech companies a cash boost to fund drug development. [ + ]
WA's BioPharmica readies for float
Perth-based investment company Grandbridge (ASX:GBA) is preparing to list its biotechnology business BioPharmica on the ASX. [ + ]
Prize for Australian scientist
The highest global ecology award, the Japan Prize, has been presented to Australian marine scientist Dr Keith Sainsbury recently.
[ + ]Bacterial parasite shows potential in disease control
The recently completed Wolbachia pipientis gene sequence is paving the way to understanding this parasite's interaction with its insect hosts. [ + ]
Pharmaxis says study points to larger market for lung drug
Sydney-based Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) believes the market for its Aridol lung function test has the potential to double, after a pilot Swiss study gave Aridol the stamp of approval for predicting patients' response to steroids used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [ + ]
Proteome Systems to assist in Huntington's research
A US foundation that sponsors research into Huntington's disease has turned to Sydney proteomics company Proteome Systems to search for prognostic markers and targets for drugs to treat the fatal neurodegenerative disorder. [ + ]
Select Vaccines aiming to raise $1.8m
Select Vaccines (ASX:SLT) is planning to raise up to AUD$1.8 million in a private placement to support its R&D programs. [ + ]
Meditech says Phase II trial shows early promise
Meditech (ASX:MTR) will enrol an additional 12 patients in its Phase II trial, following promising early results from its HyCAMP treatment for advanced colorectal cancer patients at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. [ + ]
Long journey, but Living Cell Technologies finally nears market
Cell therapy company Living Cell Technologies (LCT) is planning to list on the ASX in the next few months, after completing a rights issue which will provide it with AUD$4.8 million cash and the ability to upgrade from its current listing on the Newcastle Stock Exchange (NSX:LCT). [ + ]
Folds in brain could predict intelligence
A study by Melbourne scientists has provided the first direct evidence that differences in the way the surface of the human brain is folded could be an indication of how smart a person is.
[ + ]Optiscan breaks silence with new clinical results
Melbourne-based Optiscan Imaging (ASX:OIL) has emerged from a quiet patch with the first results from a series of clinical studies using its flexible endomicroscopes. [ + ]
Stem Cell Sciences relocates to Scotland
Some tartan-clad angels -- and a need to be closer to European customers -- are behind a decision by Melbourne-born company Stem Cell Sciences to relocate its headquarters to Edinburgh. [ + ]
Biotech industry faces major challenges
Australia must compete against ferocious international competition in biotechnology research and development by "reducing fragmentation and building critical mass," the University of Sydney's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) told the National Press Club in Canberra recently.
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