Agenix antibody in US diagnostic test
17 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerAGEN Biomedical, a subsidiary of Brisbane-based biotech Agenix (ASX: AGX), is set to receive royalties from a newly launched test developed by US diagnostics company Biosite that uses AGEN's D-Dimer antibody.
Adjuvants: the players
17 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillSeveral Australian companies are trialling new 'natural' and synthetic adjuvants that combine potent immuno-stimulatory activity with low toxicity. Australia's biggest biotech, Melbourne's CSL (ASX:CSL), is boosting its experimental vaccines with its Iscomatrix adjuvant system, a phospholipid-cholesterol formulation containing a purified saponin extract from the bark of the South American tree Quillaja saponaria.
Adjuvant technology: a powerful brew
17 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillShakespeare's witches, in 'Macbeth', were concocting mischief, not some nostrum to ward off plague, but some of the things that imbue today's vaccines with immunogenic fizz would not have been misplaced among the eldritch ingredients in their cauldron.
Avexa cashing up for clinical trials
16 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerAmrad spin off Avexa (ASX: AVX) has raised $2.4 million in a private placement to institutions and sophisticated retail investors, and is aiming to raise up to $7.6 million more through a prospectus placement to new and existing retail and existing institutional shareholders.
Biotech VC doubled last year: report
16 February, 2005 by Renate KrelleAustralian private equity and venture capital investment in biotech was AUD$33 million in 2004, up from $16 million in 2003, according to a new report released by the Australian Venture Capital Association (AVCAL).
Cygenics contract with DOD renewed
16 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerSingapore-based Cygenics (ASX: CYN) has announced that the US Department of Defence had renewed its screening service contract with the company's US-based subsidiary Cytomatrix.
Amgen exec bemoans big pharma's shrinking pipeline
16 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillDr Glen Begley, the Australian who now heads the haematology and oncology R&D department at US biotech giant Amgen, has told a conference that the decline in new drug approvals was "alarming", and predicted major shakeouts in big pharma.
Clinical trials update: Psivida; Solbec
15 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerPsivida (ASX: PSD) has reported that the second patient cohort from its Phase IIa trial of BrachySil in inoperable primary liver cancer patients shows the product is safe and effective in prompting tumour regression.
Mesoblast takes first step towards clinical trials
15 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerNewly-listed stem cell company Mesoblast (ASX: MSB) has taken its first step toward initiating its pilot human clinical trials by appointing Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre-based company Cell Therapies to produce mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) under GMP conditions.
Abbott seeks appeal on royalties to UK's Cambridge
15 February, 2005 by Staff WritersAbbott Laboratories is seeking to appeal a British court ruling that granted Cambridge Antibody Technology a greater percentage of royalties on Abbott's arthritis drug Humira.
GM-feed banned...or is it?
14 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerAnti-GM campaigners Greenpeace have claimed a victory, saying that Australia's three top poultry producers have stopped feeding their chickens genetically modified feed, in response to a Greenpeace campaign highlighting the use of GM soy in chicken feed.
Gropep exceeds profit forecast
14 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerGroPep (ASX: GRO) has exceeded its half-year profit forecast by AUD$0.5 million and is on track to post a $3 million profit at the end of the 2004-2005 financial year.
Ausbiotech says WA govt biased against GM
11 February, 2005 by Staff WritersAustralian biotechnology's peak body, AusBiotech, has questioned the impartiality of Western Australia's agricultural minister Kim Chance in relation to GM crops, following the release of correspondence between the government and activitist GM groups.
Mayne cops FDA warning
11 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerMayne Pharma, the pharmaceuticals division of the Mayne group (ASX: MAY) has received a rap over the knuckles from the US FDA for failing to adequately report adverse events resulting from use of its drug products.
Making super-sensitive antibodies with help from camels and sharks
11 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillWhat do camels and sharks have in common? A remarkable, binary immune system that quells viruses and other infectious nasties with an efficiency that the human immune system cannot match, according to CSIRO molecular immunologist Dr Peter Hudson.
