Industry News
Genesis announces loss, but ample cash reserves
New Zealand genomics company Genesis Research and Development Corporation has delivered a half-year loss of $NZ5.3 million ($4.57 million), but maintained sufficient cash reserves to support planned research programs. [ + ]
BresaGen to shed nine jobs in wake of failed partnership
Adelaide-based biotechnology company BresaGen has announced nine redundancies and a hiring freeze in the wake of the failed E21R collaboration with British Biotech. [ + ]
Cerylid claims 95 per cent success rate in early screening
Genomics-based drug discovery company Cerylid Biosciences has announced that its lead anti-cancer compound successfully halted the disease in 95 per cent of human cell lines used. [ + ]
Ethics conference hears of therapeutic cloning doubts
Stem cell researcher Prof Alan Trounson would support a moratorium on therapeutic cloning, but says that research into embryonic stem cells is still necessary. [ + ]
Eiffel gains control of R&D arm
Eiffel Technologies has gained full control of its research and development arm in a move that will ensure all future revenue streams flow directly to the drug reformulation company. [ + ]
Market over-reacting to cochlear fears: analysts
A warning on meningitis risk by US cochlear implant manufacturer Advanced Bionics and the Food and Drug Administration last week took its toll on market leader Cochlear. [ + ]
New attack on antibiotic resistant bacteria
Drug discovery company, RiboTargets, in the UK, is mounting a fresh attack on bacteria that cause disease, especially on bacteria that have become resistant to the antibiotics used against them today.
[ + ]Vision Bio chief spells out strategy
Vision BioSystems' recent acquisition of British reagent company Novocastra Laboratories is part of a broader strategy to expand into the global diagnostic instruments market, according to managing director Michael Ohanessian. [ + ]
Genera names new CEO
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute spin-out Genera Biosystems has appointed a new chief executive officer to spearhead partnership opportunities in the United States. [ + ]
New report puts Victoria on top
Victoria has cemented its reputation as Australia's biotechnology and bioscience industry leader, which was initiated with the introduction of the smallpox vaccine 80 years ago, a report has found. [ + ]
Plasvacc heads for the fast-track
One of the rare biotech companies with origins in rural Australia, Plasvacc Pty Ltd, is dropping its low-key strategy and moving into fast-track expansion mode. [ + ]
Novogen subsidiary signs with NIH agency for cancer trials
Marshall Edwards Inc, a listed subsidiary of Australian pharma Novogen, has signed a cooperative agreement with a National Institutes of Health agency in the United States to examine clinical applications for its anti-cancer compound, phenoxodiol. [ + ]
Flinders teams with pharma Elan in Parkinson's research
A research team at Flinders University in South Australia is collaborating with biopharmaceutical company Elan Pharmaceuticals on a project investigating Parkinson's disease. [ + ]
Vic biotech projects net $60m in second-round grants
Victoria's government unveiled its second round of Science, Technology and Innovation Grants today, with almost $60 million being poured into mostly biotechnology projects. [ + ]
Grain Biotech walks with the giants in international tech awards
An Australian agbiotech company has been named as a finalist in this year's World Technology Awards for its excellence in wheat transformation. [ + ]