In brief: Sirtex, GTG, LCT, Bone
11 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerIndependent clinical studies performed in the US, Europe and Australia have verified the efficacy of Sirtex Medical's (ASX:SRX) SIR-Spheres liver cancer treatment.
Anti-GM movement knew of 'secret' trials
11 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillClaims by anti-GM activists that the Victorian government and Bayer CropScience are putting farmers' livelihoods at risk, by keeping secret the locations of genetically modified canola trials, have been scotched with the revelation that they have known the location of at least one participating farm for more than a year.
Early results bode well for Psivida's biosilicon
07 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillThe first four patients with inoperable liver cancer involved in a Phase IIa clinical trial of an in situ radiotherapy treatment developed by Perth nano-biotech company Psivida (ASX:PSD) have experienced regressions of up to 60 per cent in their tumours.
Chemeq shares jump as first order shipped
06 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerChemeq shares jumped 46 per cent today after the company announced that it had shipped its first order of its polymeric anti-microbial product to South Africa for use in poultry.
Benitec US patents challenged, sets up equity arrangement
06 October, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerBenitec (ASX: BLT) has signed a term sheet for a AUD$7.5 million standby facility with Icon Investors, to provide the RNAi company with a flexible source of cash at hand for use as working capital, for expansion of its US operations or for future acquisitions.
Biotech's growing in S Africa, conference hears
05 October, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillA leading South African biosafety expert has told a Brisbane conference that the biotechnology revolution is beginning to roll across Africa, with small-scale farmers clamouring to grow genetically modified crops.
Pfizer fellows celebrate research riches
01 October, 2004 by Renate KrelleAssociate Professor Lea Williams, of the University of Sydney and the Brain Dynamics Centre at Sydney's Westmead Hospital is one of three Australian researchers to have been awarded a Pfizer Australia Research Fellowships valued at $1 million each over five years.
Starpharma wins $7.5 million NIH grant
01 October, 2004 by Susan WilliamsonMelbourne-based nanotechnology company Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has won a US$5.4 million (AUD$7.5 million) grant from the US National Institutes of Health to lead a consortium developing microbicides for the prevention of infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
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.
