'Provocative' study could unravel lymphoma mystery
20 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillUniversity of NSW epidemiologists have uncovered evidence for an unexpected upside to allergies -- people who suffer from asthma and hay fever are 50 per cent less likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Proteome signs sweet deal with Agilent
19 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillInternational proteomics technology and research company Proteome Systems (ASX:PSX) has signed a agreement with life-science research systems company Agilent Technologies (NYSE: A) to develop and market an integrated technology package for glycomics, the analysis of glycosylated proteins.
Perth team tracks HIV's 'escape mutants'
12 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillThe 'H' in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) could stand just as well for Hydra, the multi-headed monster of Greek myth. By the time the human immune system has decapitated one strain of the virus, it has spawned a host of novel mutants. Mutants proliferate because natural selection endowed the virus with a dodgy reverse transcriptase enzyme that introduces random errors into the genetic blueprints of newly replicated virus particle.
WEHI team gets behind malaria's cloak of invisibility
08 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillIn the science fiction series Star Trek, the Klingons use cloaking technology to render their spaceships invisible to the Enterprise's sophisticated sensor systems. But like many other futuristic ideas, that cloaking technology was invented by nature first. The tiny vampire Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the deadliest form of human malaria, has up to 60 ways of cloaking itself against its host's immune defences.
LCT cheered by diabetes preclinical results
06 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillAuckland-based, Australian-listed biomedical company Living Cell Therapies (ASX:LCT) is elated at the results of a six-month preclinical trial of its DiaBCell encapsulated-cell therapy for diabetes in monkeys.
Beating diabetes
05 April, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonSusan Williamson spoke with eminent scientist Len Harrison about his views for the future of diabetes research.
EvoGenix acquires US firm Absalus
05 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillUnlisted biotech EvoGenix and Mountain View (CA) ally Absalus have formally tied the knot after an 11-month trans-Pacific courtship.
Pacmab aims for multiply myeloma therapy
04 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillSydney blood-cancer therapeutics developer Pacmab is due to present details of its prospective monoclonal antibody therapy for the multiple myeloma to the International Myeloma Conference in Sydney next week.
Sydney researcher discovers new piece in cancer puzzle
01 April, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillA molecular geneticist working on cancer at Westmead Hospital's Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) has made a chance discovery that throws new light on the mechanisms that immortalise cancer cells.
Proteome Systems downsizes Boston facility, banks milestone payment
01 April, 2005 by Renate KrelleFour months into an 18-month collaboration with the US-based High Q Foundation, Sydney's Proteome Systems (ASX:PXL) is to bank US$300,000 of a possible US$3 million in milestone payments, having successfully zeroed in on a small number of candidate biomarkers for the inherited neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease.
Melbourne team in arthritis find
31 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillA Melbourne research team has dead-heated with US giant Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in the race to identify the elusive enzyme that destroys cartilage in inflammatory arthritis, but has been beaten to the IP punch by the big Boston-based pharma.
Solbec psoriasis trial disappoints
30 March, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillPreliminary data from Solbec Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:SBP) Phase I/IIa clinical trial of its anti-psoriasis developmental drug Coramsine have confirmed that it is safe and well tolerated, but have not indicated any superiority to existing commercial treatments for psoriasis.
Alchemia to put anti-cancer drug through clinical paces
23 March, 2005 by Renate KrelleAlchemia (ASX:ACL) has confirmed it expects to take its first drug candidate, ACL16907, into clinical trials in the first half of 2006.
Interview: Charting a course towards a cure
22 March, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonJoe Sambrook tells Susan Williamson about the opportunities and challenges in understanding, treating and, ultimately, preventing breast cancer.
Lorne Cancer: Architecture and oncology
22 March, 2005 by Susan WilliamsonSusan Williamson discovers why the theme of tissue architecture is so prominent at this year's Lorne Cancer conference.
