Peptech investee Domantis lands development deal
27 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillA potentially lucrative drug-development deal between UK pharma Argenta and domain-antibody pioneer Domantis limited has added a silver lining to the week for Sydney biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD), which has a 36.1 per cent stake in Domantis.
Novozymes looking for opportunities in Australia
26 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerDanish company Novozyme is aiming to become the "Intel" of biopharmaceuticals, and is looking for opportunities for partnerships, acquisitions and technology licensing in Australia.
GTG tests a hair of the dog
26 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne's Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTX, NASDAQ:GNTLY) will be ensuring Australian punters won't be sold the proverbial pup, after signing an exclusive, five-year contract with Greyhounds Australasia to provide DNA-based parentage testing to the greyhound racing industry in Australia and New Zealand.
Pharmaxis' Aridol trial meets its endpoints
26 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPharmaxis (ASX: PXS) has achieved a major milestone with the successful completion of the Phase III clinical trial for its asthma diagnostic and treatment management tool Aridol.
FDA clears PanBio's West Nile assay
26 October, 2004 by Renate KrellePanbio (ASX:PBO) has received US Food and Drug Administration clearance for its West Nile virus IgG diagnostic assay, and appointed former Woolworths and Elders IXL manager John Lee as a non-executive director and chairman of the company's board.
Peplin drug tests safe on the surface
26 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane cancer-drug developer Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) is preparing to run a phase II trial of its promising skin-cancer drug PEP005 early next year, after completing a multi-centre, Phase I safety trial in US volunteers with actinic keratoses.
More haste less speed for Imugene bird flu vaccine, but project still alive
25 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillA development glitch may be responsible for the failure of a prototype vaccine against deadly avian influenza, developed by Sydney veterinary vaccine company Imugene (ASX:IMU).
Ventracor to beef up marketing and distribution
25 October, 2004 by Renate KrelleVentracor (ASX:VCR) has wrapped up a "successful" pilot trial of its VentrAssist artificial heart device -- including one bridge-to-transplant patient who has now received a donor heart -- and is set to beef up its marketing and distribution capabilities, shareholders heard today at the company's AGM.
Third-quarter results highlight big pharma's ills
25 October, 2004 by Ben HirschlerBig pharma looks sick. A host of third-quarter earnings figures this week confirms the mounting pressures faced by many drug makers on both sides of the Atlantic as prices are squeezed, sales growth in major markets slows and research productivity falls.
Sheep trial success for Sunshine
25 October, 2004 by Renate KrelleA pre-clinical trial in which 26 sheep were implanted with Sunshine Heart's (ASX:SHC) C-Pulse heart-assist device has shown it to be safe and functional, with all animals exhibiting normal arteries 10 months after the devices were implanted.
Polynovo to test biopolymer 'glue' for new bionic ear
22 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillPolyNovo Biomaterials, a 50-per cent owned subsidiary of Perth's Xceed Biotechnology (ASX:XBL), has entered a research alliance with Melbourne's Bionic Ear Institute to develop a more sophisticated bionic ear that could dramatically improve patients' hearing by inducing new auditory nerves to grow and connect with the bionic implant.
Vioxx pushes Merck profit down; analyst predicts takeover
22 October, 2004 by Staff WritersNew Jersey-based Merck has reported a 28 per cent drop in quarterly profit and said 2004 earnings will fall as much as 11 per cent due to last month's recall of its Vioxx arthritis drug.
Visiomed awaits FDA clearance for Funhaler
22 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerVisiomed (ASX: VSG) is readying itself to commence marketing and distribution of its Funhaler device worldwide, although it is still awaiting US FDA clearance for the product.
Amrad scores third $3m milestone payment
22 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerAmrad (ASX: AML) will receive its third US$3 million payment from Merck & Co after reaching another preclinical milestone in the development of new asthma therapies based on the IL-13 receptor.
Moses says Amrad undervalued; receives $3m from Merck
21 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerAmrad (ASX: AML) chairman Bob Moses told shareholders at the company's AGM that the company remained significantly undervalued, even though it had successfully restructured and refocused its portfolio to concentrate on inflammation and cancer, and spinning out the anti-infectives projects into Avexa.
