Novogen's drug reverses resistance
25 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillShares in Sydney drug-developer Novogen (ASX: NRT, NASDAQ:NVGN) were up 6 per cent to $5.35 today on news that experiments with its cancer-drug booster phenoxodiol had confirmed its power to restore the ability conventional cancer drugs to kill drug-resistant ovarian cancer cells in vitro.
Stakes high for Metabolic dose trial: Scollay
25 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillDr Roland Scollay, CEO-in-waiting for Melbourne biotech Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) believes a new dose-ranging trial of Metabolic's anti-obesity drug AOD9604 will confirm its promise as "a big one".
Cash in, cash out at Peptech
25 January, 2005 by Renate KrellePeptech (ASX:PTD) has declared a fully-franked dividend of AUD$0.08 per share, and announced that its UK-investee Domantis is to join a European Commission cardiovascular research project which will receive Euro 9 million (AUD$15.2 million) in funding over four years.
Local service companies benefit from clinical trials
24 January, 2005 by Renate KrellePfizer Australia has hired cryogenic storage company Cryosite (ASX:CTE) to handle storage of its clinical trial drugs in Australia, and Cryosite CEO Gordon Milliken has pointed to a growing trend for big pharma and international biotechs to outsource the storage and logistics of their newest drugs to local service providers.
Lacklustre listing for Dia-B Tech
24 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillASX debutant Dia-B Tech (ASX:DIA) suffered a poor debut today; although its shares listed at $0.27, they quickly fell below their $0.20 issue price and at time of writing were trading at $0.17.
Chemgenex raises $8m for clinical trials
24 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerChemgenex Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CXS) has raised US$6.2 million (AUD$8.2 million) in a placement to existing and new shareholders including a number of US investors.
Biosignal strikes deal with lens-manufacturer
24 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillSydney's Biosignal (ASX:BOS) and its Institute for Eye Research (IER) partner have finalised a deal with an anonymous suitor - one of the world's biggest contact lens makers - to test Biosignal's novel antibacterial coating for extended-wear lenses.
In brief: Pfizer vs Teva; Allergan; Johnson & Johnson
24 January, 2005 by Staff WritersAn appeals court has ruled against Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries in its bid to keep 180 days of exclusivity for its generic version of Pfizer's popular Zoloft antidepressant.
Epitan CEO retires
21 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerEpitan (ASX: EPT) has promoted its CFO Iain Kirkwood to CEO, replacing retiring CEO Wayne Millen.
Cryptome puzzles it out
21 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerCryptome Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CRP) is a step closer to proving the validity of its cryptomics approach to speeding up drug discovery, after animal studies of its lead antithrombotic drug CR001 produced positive results.
India's Dr Reddy's to manufacture Biosignal's furanones
20 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleSydney-based Biosignal (ASX:BOS) has engaged Custom Pharmaceutical Serivces, a business unit of Indian generics-manufacturing specialist Dr Reddy's Laboratories, to develop a large-scale manufacturing procedure for Biosignal's antibacterial furanone compounds.
Australian farmers embrace GM cotton
20 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillThe first full-scale production season for Australia's new Bollgard 2 transgenic cotton cultivars is shaping as an outstanding success, despite continuing drought in areas of NSW and southern Queensland.
Psivida closer to Nasdaq listing
20 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleNanotechnology company Psivida (ASX:PSD) is to join a small band of Australian biotechs on the US Nasdaq market, announcing today it had filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in relation to its planned listing of American Depositary Shares (ADSs).
Trials contractor to take equity in Peplin
19 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillFrench-based clinical trial contractor Cvitkovic and Associates Consultants (CAC) will take equity in Brisbane cancer-drug developer Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) and establish a 'dedicated operation' in Australia.
GroPep to profit from JRH sale
19 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerAdelaide biotech company GroPep (ASX: GRO) will profit substantially from the sale of JRH Biosciences to Sigma-Aldrich -- the company has negotiated for the transfer of its marketing, sales and distribution agreement with CSL to JRH, through the life of the agreement, which expires in 2010.
