CSL sells JRH division for US$370m
19 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerCSL (ASX: CSL) has sold its JRH Biosciences cell culture reagents division to US company Sigma-Aldrich for US$370 million (about AUD$492 million) in cash.
Avexa in-licenses Shire HIV drug
18 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne drug developer Avexa (ASX:AVX) has taken the bold step of in-licensing a promising late-stage developmental drug for HIV/AIDS from international specialty pharmaceutical company Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, seeking to create a strong revenue stream to fund its growth.
ASX claims guidelines already having impact
18 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleDraft guidelines are already having an impact on the way biotechnology companies communicate, according to the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX).
Novogen settles isoflavone suit, banks royalties
18 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerBiopharma company Novogen (ASX: NRT) has settled a patent infringement suit with giant US health food supplements retailer GNC. The lawsuit, which was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, alleged that certain menopause products sold under the GNC brand infringed Novogen's red clover isoflavone patents.
In brief: Imugene; Cryptome
17 January, 2005 by Staff WritersImugene (ASX: IMU) has been granted patent protection for its Receptor Mimic Technology (RMT) in the United States.
APAF, Qiagen team on $1m proteomics project
17 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillThe Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, headquartered at Sydney's Macquarie University, is to team up with global life science supplier Qiagen in a AUD$1m research project to develop more efficient ways of removing high-abundance proteins from serum samples.
Metabolic's Belyea happy to focus on science
14 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerMetabolic Pharmaceuticals' CEO Chris Belyea is looking forward to stepping down from the hot seat and focusing on the science and technology aspects of biotechnology.
Visiomed blows hot
13 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillShares in Visionmed (ASX:VSG) rose 1.3 cents to 4.4 cents today, before relaxing to 4.3 cents, on news that the Perth medical-device company is gearing up to market and distribute its Funhaler asthma spacer device for children in the US.
Virax raises $3.25 million
13 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleVirax (ASX:VHL) has secured $3.25 million of the $4 million it was aiming to raise through a non-renounceable share purchase plan.
Narhex float loses ground
12 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleShares in Sydney anti-viral drug developer Narhex Life Sciences' (ASX:NLS) made a promising debut this morning, listing at 4 cents above their $0.20 issue price. However they failed to maintain momentum, and at time of writing had dropped to $0.19.
Narhex drug proves multi-talented
11 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillSydney anti-viral drug developer Narhex Life Sciences has one of the world's most promising drugs for HIV/AIDS. Could it also have, in the same drug, a potential treatment for Hepatitis B?
In brief: Biodiem; Avexa
11 January, 2005 by Staff WritersBioDiem (ASX:BDM) has received a US$1m signing-on payment, the first in a number of milestone payments due under its US$8m licence agreement with Akzo Nobel's Nobilon.
Biotech stocks tread water in 2004
11 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleDespite a boom in IPO activity, retail and institutional investors left biotechnology stocks on the shelf in 2004, two sector indices have revealed. The Southern Cross Equities Australian Biotechnology Index declined 5 per cent in 2004, and the 80-company Intersuisse Biotechnology index - bolstered by some larger stocks including Cochlear (ASX:COH) and Resmed (ASX:RMD) -- edged forward only 0.16 per cent over the year.
Rockeby awaits US marketing approval
11 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleSingapore's Rockeby biomed (ASX:RBY) is a step closer to gaining US marketing approval for its candiadiasis diagnostics, Syscan3 and Candia5, having released results of its US 510(k) study which confirmed that both tests are effective as diagnostic aids when used in conjunction with microscopy and microbiological culture.
Peplin cheered by sunspot trial results
10 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillShares in Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) jumped today when the company announced that full analysis of the data from its Phase I safety and tolerability trial had provided "hugely exciting" results: in 40 per cent of cases, a single application of its PEP005 topical gel for pre-cancerous skin 'sunspots' completely or substantially cleared the volunteers' actinic keratoses (AK), compared with 15 per cent for placebo patients.
