Industry News
Bayer GM canola gets green light for commercial release
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator has given Bayer CropScience the green light to commercially release its InVigor genetically modified canola. [ + ]
Antisense psoriasis cream to undergo clincial study
Antisense Therapeutics has announced plans to conduct a pre-Phase I proof-of-concept clinical study to confirm that its antisense psoriasis treatment ATL1101 shows activity. [ + ]
Fundraising activity nets $8m for Stem Cell Sciences
Melbourne company Stem Cell Sciences has emerged from recent capital-raising activities AUD$8 million better off. [ + ]
Qld start-up Thrombostat raises $800,000 in VC, grants
Brisbane start-up company Thrombostat has attracted AUD$800,000 in venture capital and grants to develop drugs that could displace aspirin in long-term prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. [ + ]
Proteome Systems, CSIRO team up in data mining
Two of the leading forces in Australian bioinformatics are pooling their expertise to build a new generation of protein expression data mining tools. [ + ]
GM farmer warns no case for canola -- yet
NSW farmer Bruce Finney cultivates more than 7000 hectares of GM crops, including soy beans and maize, and fully supports the use of GM cotton. Ask him about GM canola, and he tells a different story. [ + ]
Gradipore to target chiral market
Hot on the heels of a new technology-exchange deal with Texas A&M University, Gradipore is to chase the chiral separation market with a product based its membrane purification technology. [ + ]
NSCC looks towards global stage
Prof Alan Trounson is stepping away from his role as CEO of the National Stem Cell Centre (NSCC) to become its Global Science Strategic Advisor, with a focus on expanding the centre's international relationships and influence. [ + ]
Ethics committees must be more professional: Hall
Ethics committees helping to oversee bio-research need to be put on a more professional footing, according a leading member of Australia’s ethics community, Prof Wayne Hall. [ + ]
Red letter day for synchrotron project
Calling today a "red letter day" for the Australian National Synchrotron project, Victorian Minister for Innovation, John Brumby, announced that Australian construction company Thiess was the successful tenderer to design and construct the building to house the 67 metre diameter machine, 30 plus beamlines, and associated laboratories, offices and technical facilities. [ + ]
New research may save millions in exploration costs
A new technique, applied to oil exploration for the first time, has the potential to save exploration companies millions of dollars in wasted effort.
[ + ]GroPep wins patent for infertility drug
GroPep's infertility drug program has received a boost recently with the issue of a patent covering the compound, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). [ + ]
Ventracor aiming for CE approval by next year
Ventracor's VentrAssist left ventricular assist device may see market approval as early as next year, according to company CEO, Michael Spooner. [ + ]
Clone sheep company to cull
Following Bayer's withdrawal from joint drug developments with Scottish cloning specialists PPL, the company's New Zealand offshoot is to cull its flock of transgenic sheep, and reduce staff numbers. [ + ]
US backs down on health IP
Strong negative reaction from local industry bodies has led to the US modifying plans to snare biotech IP by funding grants to Australian researchers. [ + ]
