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.
India opens the door to partners
20 December, 2005 by Iain ScottKiran Mazumdar-Shaw told AusBiotech 2005 about opportunities for Australian biotech to work with India.
Grain Biotech harvests first salt-resistant wheat crop
19 December, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillPerth agbiotech company Grain Biotech Australia harvested its first trial crop of genetically modified, salt-tolerant wheat this month, grown in salt-affected farmland near Corrigin, in Western Australia.
Australian government to stockpile Relenza
19 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranThe Commonwealth government has confirmed that it will add 1.8 million courses of Relenza to the National Medical Stockpile in preparation for a possible influenza pandemic.
GroPep completes final malaria vaccine milestone
19 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranAdelaide-based biotech GroPep (ASX:GRO) has completed the manufacture of two vaccine antigens for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI).
Pharmaxis touts progress in cystic fibrosis study
19 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranSydney-based drug developer Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS, Nasdaq:PXSL) has begun the dosing phase of its phase II clinical trial in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Novogen winds up probe into proxy votes
19 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranCancer drug developer Novogen (ASX:NRT, NASDAQ:NVGN) has concluded its investigation into the reasons why there was an overwhelming majority of proxies against the company's remuneration report.
Agenix CEO Home resigns
16 December, 2005 by Ruth BeranDonald Home has resigned as CEO and managing director of Brisbane-based Agenix (ASX:AGX, NASDAQ:OTC:AGXLY) after four and a half years with the company.
