Industry News
EU approves Compumedics sleep system
A European window of opportunity has opened for sleep disorders device developer Compumedics, with the news it has gained EU approval to market its Somte system. [ + ]
Prima US subsidiaries score patent wins
US patents have been granted to Arthron and Cancer Vac, subsidiary companies of Australian company Prima BioMed. [ + ]
Progen's distribution arm picks up new agencies
Brisbane-based biotech Progen Industries has been appointed exclusive Australian distributor for two product ranges used by lab researchers. [ + ]
Alchemia teams with Belgian screening company
Australian company Alchemia has begun a drug discovery collaboration with Belgium's Euroscreen. [ + ]
New blow for Amrad as collaborators pull out
Two early-stage research projects will revert back to the Amrad Corporation (ASX: AML) fold after collaborators decided they no longer wished to pursue them. [ + ]
New council to advise on Australian biotech
Minister Ian Macfarlane, chair of the commonwealth biotechnology ministerial council, has announced the establishment of the Australian Biotechnology Advisory Council to advise the government on priority issues in biotechnology.
[ + ]Tools to curb meningococcal outbreaks
Outbreaks of meningococcal disease could be dramatically reduced thanks to research being conducted by the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Diagnostics based at Brisbane's Queensland University of Technology.
[ + ]Takara spins off biotech unit
Japanese liquor maker Takara Shuzo has stepped up its push to make a name for itself in the biotechnology sector by separating its bio-related activities into a new company. [ + ]
Genaissance announces initial STRENGTH findings
Researchers at Genaissance Pharmaceuticals have found "statistically significant" associations between genetic markers and certain patient responses to cholesterol-lowering drugs. Such associations, or links, could be used to develop pharmacogenomic tests that would help physicians determine the best drug for a particular patient. [ + ]
Stem cell letter to government published
An open letter to Australia's Federal, State and Territory Governments was published in The Age on Tuesday supporting adult stem cell research and advocating a ban on human embryo experimentation. [ + ]
Cochlear hearing aid approved
Listening device maker Cochlear has received approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for sale of its ESPrit 3G in Australia, after gaining approval to sell in the US market last week. [ + ]
ES Cell International teams up with PPL
Melbourne-based stem cell researcher ES Cell International has confirmed it is in talks with Scottish group PPL Therapeutics over the purchase of complementary research. [ + ]
Bristol-Myers warns high inventories to hit profit
Bristol-Myers Squibb, the top maker of cancer drugs, said on Monday that US wholesale inventories of its medicines are too high and reducing them will hurt future earnings. [ + ]
Science and innovation parliamentary committee
Science is set to feature in a new parliamentary committee, announced recently by the government.
[ + ]Victorian science heads north
Victorian scientists at the forefront of world stem cell research are planning to move part of their operation to New South Wales because research on spare IVF embryos is banned in Victoria.
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