Antisense presses on with asthma therapeutic
21 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne's Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) is pressing ahead with development of its ATL1102 inhalant inflammation inhibitor for asthma, despite voluntarily suspending research into the drug's potential as a therapy for multiple sclerosis early this month.
FDA approves Amylin's diabetes drug
18 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillProf Garth Cooper, CEO of Auckland biopharma company Protemix, said he was "extremely pleased" this week at the news that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the clinical use of diabetes drug he discovered as a young PhD at Oxford in 1986-7.
Bioprospect buys into US diabetes company
17 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleQueensland company Bioprospect (ASX: BPO) has dipped deep into its pockets, paying US$530,000 for a third of private Seattle-based biotech Astrum Therapeutics, which is investigating compounds that arrest the destruction of insulin-secreting cells associated with type 1 diabetes.
Progen R&D director leaves for medical frontiers
17 March, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerProgen's vice president of R&D, Robert Don, is leaving the company to take up the "job of a lifetime" developing drugs for neglected diseases that affect developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Starpharma takes stake in start-up Dimerix
16 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillIn one of the more intriguing examples of technological cross-pollination, Melbourne dendrimer-drug drug developer Starpharma Holdings (ASX:SPL, USOTC:SPHRY) announced today it has become a foundation shareholder in a new Perth-based biotech, Dimerix Bioscience.
Sutton resigns from Polartechnics board
16 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleRichard Opara has completed step one in his plan for Sydney device company Polartechnics (ASX:PLT), installing himself as chairman today, after Ventracor CEO Colin Sutton resigned from the position, ending a three week board tussle.
Rockeby appoints Italian distributor
15 March, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerRockeby Biomed (ASX:RBY) has appointed Italian company Named as its first distributor in the European market.
Bridge program to expand
15 March, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerThe InnovationXchange's BRIDGE program is set to expand, as it moves toward the end of its one year pilot program. It plans new clusters in health, nanotechnology and medical devices, and has welcomed Resmed to its fold.
NZ-based $100m fund to breathe life into VC sector
14 March, 2005 by Iain ScottThe launch of what is being touted as a new NZ $150 million (AUD$140 million) Australasian life-science venture capital fund, has grabbed centre stage on the first day of the NZBio conference in Auckland.
Tysabri fallout hits Burrill index
14 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleThe withdrawal of Tysabri in mid-Feburary not only "gutted" both Elan and Biogen Idec, but also hit the share prices of other publicly traded biopharmaceutical firms, sending the Burrill Biotech Select Index tumbling to end February down 2 per cent.
Biotech projects win five R&D Start grants
11 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleFive biotechnology projects were amongst $19 million worth of AusIndustry R&D Start grants announced today by federal industry minister Ian Macfarlane.
DiaBTech appoints former ministerial adviser as CEO
11 March, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerRecently listed Dia-B Tech (ASX:DIA) has appointed general manager Ken Smith as CEO.
Avexa charts course for Shire drug
11 March, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerAvexa (ASX:AVX) consultant James Sawyer outlined to investors this week the company's plans for its Phase IIb clinical trial of AVX754, the HIV drug it recently acquired from UK company Shire Pharmaceuticals.
Biota gets ready to inhale
10 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne anti-viral drug developer Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has signed an agreement with American company Aerogen (NASDAQ:AEGN) to use Aerogen's Aeroneb nebuliser in clinical trials of new, long-acting anti-viral compounds for influenza developed by Biota and its Japanese partner Sankyo.
Antisense halts MS drug trial
10 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleAntisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) bowed to the inevitable today, announcing that it would halt the Phase IIa trial of its lead drug candidate for multiple sclerosis, ATL1102, following the withdrawal of Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals' Tysabri from the market. However the Melbourne company has not yet terminated the project altogether.
