Biota soars on news of US$5.6m NIH grant
01 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillShares in Biota (ASX:BTA) jumped 14 cents to $0.66 when the Melbourne anti-viral drug developer announced it had been awarded a US$5.6 million (AUD$8 million) US Government research grant to develop a long-acting influenza drug.
BioPharmica outlines commercial directions
30 September, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillAfter raising AUD$2.6 million from its August float, new Perth biomedical company BioPharmica (ASX:BPH) has been busy trawling Australian research waters for new intellectual property.
Acrux lists at a discount
29 September, 2004 by Renate KrelleDrug delivery company Acrux (ASX:ACR) listed on the ASX today at $0.90, a discount of 10 per cent to its issue price of $1.00 per share. But shares rallied slightly as the day progressed, and at time of writing were trading at $0.93.
Late stage partnerships not always the way to go: Edwards
29 September, 2004 by Renate KrelleRecombinant Capital's Mark Edwards has some unfashionable advice for Australian life science companies: don't hold out for a late-stage partnership with a pharmaceutical company at the expense of shoring up the company's future with early stage deals.
BioDioem eyes vision drug market
29 September, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne biopharma BioDiem (ASX:BDM) has entered the race to develop a treatment for the ophthalmic disorder, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), by taking a licence for a Russian-developed peptide therapeutic that has shown high promise in an Australian clinical trial.
Healthy ASX listing for Sunshine Heart
28 September, 2004 by Renate KrelleSunshine Heart (ASX: SHC) listed on the ASX today at AUD$0.60 -- 10 cents above its issue price. But at time of writing the cardiac company's shares had slipped slightly lower to AUD$0.57.
Pharmas desperately need academic guidance: Cohen
28 September, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerThe University of Dundee's Sir Philip Cohen believes that pharmaceutical companies desperately need the help of academic labs, as drug development requires more and more knowledge about biological mechanisms to specifically target drugs.
Pharmaxis breathing easier after positive Phase II results
28 September, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillPharmaxis (ASX:PXS) investors will be breathing easy after the company announced a positive result from its Phase II clinical trial of Bronchitol, its lead compound for treating the chronic lung disorder bronchiectasis.
Iliad hits homer with first drug
27 September, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillUnlisted Melbourne drug-development company Iliad Chemicals has reported promising results from a pre-clinical trial of its first anti-cancer drug, developed with its proprietary Multicore drug-synthesis technology.
Peptech ready for growth
24 September, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPeptech (ASX: PTD) is keenly awaiting the day the Centocor decision is handed down by the arbitrators.
NHMRC sets five-year moratorium on organ xenotransplantation
24 September, 2004 by Renate KrelleThe National Health and Medical Research Council has recommended a five-year moratorium on any clinical research into animal-to-human whole organ transplants in Australia.
GTG in $18m deal with Genzyme
23 September, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerGenetic Technologies (ASX: GTG) has taken the first step in forming a strategic alliance with US-based biotech Genzyme by granting a licence for its non-coding DNA patents that will bring in more than AUD$18 million in revenue over the next 11 years.
Psivida spins out diagnostic specialist
23 September, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPerth nanotechnology company Psivida (ASX: PSD) has spun out an Australia-based diagnostics company, AION Diagnostics.
Wily scientific tricks trap foxes
22 September, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillDr David Dall, CEO of pest-control company Pestat, took a small, anonymous silver spraycan to last month's BioFestival agbiotech conference in Melbourne.
Peplin granted US patent for its anti-cancer therapeutics
21 September, 2004 by Renate KrelleThe United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted Peplin Biotech (ASX: PEP) a patent protecting the broad anti-cancer activity of its angeloyl-substituted ingenanes - a class of molecules which includes its lead molecule PEP005.
