Boron opens new lab, suggests IPO possible
11 April, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerMelbourne company Boron Molecular has named its new research laboratory in honour of the Japanese scientist whose reaction, the Suzuki Coupling, underpins the company's technology.
BresaGen, Plurion deal back on the drawing board
10 April, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerBresaGen's negotiations to acquire the rights to US company Plurion's embryonic stem cell technology have hit a stumbling block, sending the two companies back to the table to restructure the deal.
Agenix severs ties with US, European vet distributor
10 April, 2003 by Pete YoungBlood diagnostics company Agenix is cutting itself loose from Synbiotics, the key distributor of its veterinary diagnostic products in US and European markets.
Chairman denies Sirtex fire sale claims
09 April, 2003 by Jeremy TorrDespite rumours that Sirtex's Dr Bruce Gray is wanting to cash in his stake and sell out to established US pharma Cephalon, it appears he is still keen to steer his fledgling company towards a profitable future.
VRI board tussle intensifies
08 April, 2003 by Jeremy TorrFurther to moves by shareholder Australian Heritage Group (AHT) to shake out the board at VRI BioMedical, the war of words has intensified after a flurry of shareholder requisitions, withdrawals and accusations flying between the two companies.
Solbec board casts off its mineral past
08 April, 2003 by Jeremy TorrWestern Australian mining-turned biotech company Solbec Pharmaceuticals has severed its last links with the minerals industry in a move it has signalled as "showing the market all our past history has gone."
Ventracor gets Standard & Poor thumbs up
08 April, 2003 by Jeremy TorrArtificial heart company Ventracor has been selected by Standard & Poor as one of its basket of standard stocks used to gauge market activity.
Alchemia slashes workforce
03 April, 2003 by Pete YoungOne of the stars of Queensland’s biotech industry, biopharmaceutical company Alchemia, has sent shock waves through the sector by slashing staff by 30 per cent.
Eiffel to collaborate with Aradigm
03 April, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerEiffel Technologies has entered into a collaboration with US drug delivery company Aradigm Corporation.
Kiwis hire former IMB chief to ID trans-Tasman opps
03 April, 2003 by Pete YoungOne of the fathers of Queensland's biotech industry, Prof Peter Andrews, has been hired by New Zealand to pinpoint promising opportunities for colloboration between the two regions.
OGTR gives thumbs-up to GM canola varieties
02 April, 2003 by Graeme O'NeillAustralia has taken the penultimate step towards growing its second transgenic crop -- the oilseed canola with yesterday's decision by the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator to release a risk-assessment and risk-management plan for Bayer CropScience's InVigor varieties, which contain three genes, two for hybrid vigour system, one for glufosinate resistance.
Virax signs supply deal with US MedImmune
02 April, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerVirax Holdings has entered into a supply agreement with US biotechnology company MedImmune.
Prana tackles Parkinson's disease
31 March, 2003 by Melissa TrudingerA paper published in prestigious journal Neuron has heralded Prana Biotechnology's technology as a potential therapeutic for Parkinson's disease and revealed the company's strategy to develop its MPAC (metal protein attenuating protein) class of compounds as a platform technology for a variety of diseases.
Eiffel targeting big pharma in 'low risk' strategy
28 March, 2003 by Jeremy TorrWhen Eiffel Technologies' CEO Christine Cussen said last December that the company would start this year with $6.2 million in its back pocket, she outlined several ways the funds would be used. One of these -- pursuing drug re-engineering research to extend patent protection -- could prove particularly lucrative given that drugs worth more than $US42 billion will come off patent in the next three years.
QBF to make first investments
27 March, 2003 by Pete YoungThe Queensland BioCapital Fund (QBF) appears set to throw its considerable weight into the venture capital scene in the most practical way possible - by making its first investments.
