Western Australian GM ban becomes election issue
03 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillWestern Australia's moratorium on genetically modified crops has emerged as a potential electoral liability for state premier Geoff Gallop's ALP government, as the state approaches a cliffhanger election.
Progen aims for first-line therapy
02 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane cancer-drug developer Progen Industries (ASX:PGL, NASDAQ:PGLAF) is planning a new trial of its lead compound PI-88 in patients with metastatic melanoma - this time as an adjuvant therapy to prevent the deadly cancer progressing in newly diagnosed patients.
Norwood Immunology gets IND for bone marrow therapy
02 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne immune therapy developer Norwood Immunology Ltd (AIM:NIM) has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has granted investigational new drug (IND) approval for its first bone-marrow transplant trial in cancer patients
Starpharma and Anadis to develop biodefence antibodies
01 February, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne biotechs Starpharma (ASX:SPL, USOTC:SPHRY) and Anadis are teaming up to develop a two-pronged defence against biowarfare agents like pneumonic plague and anthrax.
Judge lays out timetable for Biota-GSK stoush
01 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerThe timetable for the legal fight between Biota (ASX: BTA) and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been agreed to by the companies' legal teams.
Acrux pushes forward
01 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerIn the four months since it listed on the ASX, Melbourne-based Acrux (ASX: ACR) has had a busy time of it. This week the company announced successful completion of its Phase I study for a transdermal spray to deliver pain drug Fentanyl to treat severe chronic pain. CEO Igor Gonda is confident that this outcome gives the company an attractive commercial opportunity.
Ferriscan receives FDA approval
28 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerInner Vision Biometrics (IVB), a subsidiary of Perth based Resonance Health (ASX: RHT) has received FDA marketing approval for its novel diagnostic test for liver iron concentrations.
Starpharma, DNT nab Dow dendrimer patents
27 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerStarpharma shares (ASX:SPL) have surged more than 8.5 per cent on heavy trading after details of the company's three way deal with Dow Chemical and Dendritic NanoTechnologies (DNT) were finally revealed this morning.
Fiona Wood, C3 co-founder, named Australian of the Year
27 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillPlastic surgeon Prof Fiona Wood, co-founder of Perth-based biotech Clinical Cell Culture (ASX:CCE), has been honoured for her role in developing a living spray-on skin to treat burns victims by being named the 2005 Australian of the Year.
Heartware closes oversubscribed
27 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleUS artificial heart firm Heartware expects to have a market capitalisation of AUD$76.42 million when it lists on the ASX on Monday, having raised US$24.95 million (AUD$32.42 million) in an oversubscribed initial public offering.
Biopharm firms scoop US VC pool
27 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleInvestment in biopharmaceutical companies by US venture capitalists increased by 20 per cent in 2004 over the previous year, a new report has shown.
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.
