HeartWare gets Austrian thumbs-up
11 January, 2006 by Helen SchullerArtificial heart firm HeartWare (ASX:HTW) has been granted its first regulatory approval to commence human implants of the HVAD left ventricular assist device from the Austrian Ministry of Health.
GroPep goes into phase I infertility trial
10 January, 2006 by Helen SchullerGroPep (ASX:GRO) has begun to recruit healthy women volunteers into a phase I trial of its infertility drug PV903, targeted to treat recurrent miscarriages caused by an abnormal immune response to the foetus.
Bio-Layer in new US development deal
10 January, 2006 by Helen SchullerBrisbane based Bio-Layer, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SSH Medical (ASX:SSH), has entered into a development and marketing agreement with a US-based life sciences company for the use of its surface coating product Mix&Go.
Epitan reveals milestones for $10m VC funding
09 January, 2006 by Ruth BeranMelbourne-based Epitan (ASX:EPT, ADR:EPTNY, XETRA:UR9) has entered into a funding agreement with international specialist fund Absolute Capital Management (ACM) to raise AUD$10 million over the next 18 months.
Psiron's Cavatak recevies FDA orphan drug designation
21 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranSydney oncology therapy developer Psiron (ASX:PSX) has received orphan drug designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead oncolytic virus Cavatak (coxsackievirus A21) for the treatment of stage II, stage III and stage IV melanoma.
Cryptome, HealthLinx formalise merger plans
21 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranThe merger between Melbourne-based companies Cryptome Pharmaceuticals (ASC:CRP) and diagnostics developer HealthLinx has been formalised, following the firms entering a non-binding terms sheet in November.
C3 surprised by TGA thumbs-down for ReCell
21 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranTissue engineering specialist Clinical Cell Culture's (ASX:CCE, C3) share price dropped by nearly 30 per cent today on news that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) intends to reject approval for its ReCell product in Australia.
Big grants in Santa's sack for Solbec, BioDiem, Mesoblast
21 December, 2005 by Helen SchullerAustralian biotech firms are celebrating Christmas early, unwrapping multi-million dollar AusIndustry Commercial Ready grants from the federal government in the lead-up to the holiday season.
ASX gets hip to Portland float
21 December, 2005 by Helen SchullerHip replacement specialist Portland Orthopaedics (ASX:PLD) has listed on the ASX today at AUD$0.28, three cents above its issue price of $0.25.
Call for longer drug patent life
21 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranThe pharmaceutical industry should fight a major battle to prolong patent protection and encourage real innovation and discovery, a leading pharmacologist told a Melbourne audience last week.
Rockeby bets on bird flu tests for turnaround
20 December, 2005 by Staff WritersASX-listed, Singapore-based Rockeby Biomed (ASX:RBY) has said it might break even in the year ending June 2007, thanks to its new bird flu test kits.
Avastra founder resigns as MD
20 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranFive years after founding Sydney-based biomaterials company Avastra (ASX:AVS), managing director Paul Ralph has resigned.
Epichem nets European funding for anti-parasite technology
20 December, 2005 by Helen SchullerEpichem, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PharmAust (ASX:PAA), along with Murdoch University and Monash University's Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, have been offered up to AUD$480,000 from the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDI).
Big pharma's partnering plans
20 December, 2005 by Iain ScottPfizer's Peter Corr told the AusBiotech 2005 conference that big pharma and biotech are part of a delicate ecosystem -- and both have key roles to play.
'Without partners, you are dead'
20 December, 2005 by Iain ScottUS venture capitalist Osagie Imasogie told AusBiotech 2005 that biotech companies need to get aggressive when it comes to finding opportunities.
