Axon returns to profit, ships new products
16 March, 2004 by Renate KrelleAusterity measures have borne fruit at US-based Axon Instruments (ASX:AXN) -- the company's results, announced yesterday, trumpeted a profit after tax of US$1.1 million, compared to a US$9.5 million loss in 2002.
Regulatory: AstraZeneca, Praecis
15 March, 2004 by Staff WritersAstraZeneca has received final European marketing approval for its new breast cancer drug Faslodex, following a recommendation from a European Union expert committee in November.
US State Department promotes biotech, garners critics
15 March, 2004 by Staff WritersThe US government has launched a new web site about biotech crops as part of a special taxpayer-funded project to promote such crops worldwide -- a move criticised by some consumer and farm groups.
Investors wary as Ventracor trading recommences
15 March, 2004 by Renate KrelleInvestors were spooked by uncertainty at Ventracor today, with shares dropping 6 per cent to AUD$1.50 by press time as the artificial heart maker (ASX:VCR) recommenced trading following Friday's trading halt.
IPO watch: CoTherix, Momenta, Cytokinetics, Basilea
15 March, 2004 by Staff WritersBiopharmaceutical company CoTherix has filed with US regulators for an initial public offering worth an estimated US$70 million.
Avastin spurs Genentech to forecast profit growth
15 March, 2004 by Staff WritersSan Francisco-based Genentech says it expects annual earnings growth of 20 per cent for the next seven years on strong sales of cancer drugs, including the new medicine Avastin, and treatments for auto-immune disorders.
Metabolic to advance cone shell venom drug
10 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerMetabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) expects to be able to submit an application for a Phase I clinical trial of its marine cone shell venom-derived pain drug ACV1 by the end of the year, after pre-clinical data demonstrated the activity of the drug against neuropathic pain.
Researchers develop new cattle embryo screening methods
10 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerScientists at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development are developing methods to screen cloned cattle embryos to identify embryos that show signs of abnormal imprinting -- a process that can lead to overgrown foetuses, placental problems and related disorders.
Perth's latest animal health offering names chairman
09 March, 2004 by Renate KrellePerth-based Stirling Products (ASX:STI) -- which debuted on the stock exchange last month via a backdoor listing -- has appointed London-based pharmacologist Prof Clive Page as non-executive chairman.
Proteome Systems, Shimadzu team up in US push
09 March, 2004 by Renate KrelleJapanese instruments specialist Shimadzu Scientific and the US arm of Australia's Proteome Systems will tighten their US collaboration, announcing today that they have agreed to team up on the application support of their jointly-developed proteomics products, Xcise and Chip.
Benitec, Promega launch new RNAi products
05 March, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillBrisbane-based gene technology company Benitec (ASX:BLT) today launched the first commercial gene-silencing vectors to emerge from its global licensing agreement signed with the US-based Promega Corporation in Madison, Wisconsin, in April last year.
R&D grant to speed pathology technology on its way
05 March, 2004 by Renate KrelleEveryone's favourite nightmare -- that they will be falsely diagnosed with a terrible disease because of a mix-up in blood or tissue samples -- is the target of Brisbane-based Ai Scientific's pathology specimen processing technology, which last week received a $3.33 million R&D Start grant from the federal government.
Psivida subsidiary signs US development deal
04 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerPsiMedica, the UK-based subsidiary of Australian nanotechnology company Psivida (ASX:PSD), has signed a materials transfer agreement with US nanotech company NanoHorizons.
Avastin approval is great news for biotech, say pundits
04 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerLast week's thumbs-up by the US Food and Drug Administration for Genentech's anti-angiogenesis drug Avastin (bevacizumab) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer has widespread implications both for cancer therapy and biotechnology in general, according to industry observers.
Virax booms on cancer vaccine trial news
03 March, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerVirax's share price has soared after the company disclosed that French biotech company Transgene recently reported promising interim results from Phase II trials of a cancer therapeutic vaccine based on the Virax's Co-X-Gene technology.
