NZ's Protemix recruits US-based CEO
10 February, 2005 by Renate KrelleBiotech entrepreneur Garth Cooper has stepped sideways from his role as CEO of New Zealand biotech Protemix, appointing US-based former Eli Lilly executive Larry Ellingson to guide the company through pending Phase III trials of its drug for diabetic heart disease Laszarin.
Bionomics aims to leapfrog into later stage trials
04 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerBionomics (ASX: BNO) CEO Deborah Rathjen outlined the company's strategy for growth at a briefing this week, noting that the company aimed to become a AUD$200 million company within three years.
CSL, Merck strengthen bid to be first to market with HPV vaccine
03 February, 2005 by Renate KrelleAustralia's CSL (ASX:CSL) and California's Medimmune both won a milestone and royalty bonus today when their collaborators, developers of two competing vaccines for HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines, announced they would cross-licence patents on which both vaccines were based.
Neuren latest in line of lacklustre market debuts
03 February, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerNZ biotech company Neuren listed on the ASX today (ASX:NEU) in a less than stellar debut -- the company's shares opened at the issue price of AUD$0.40 but quickly lost ground. At press time, the shares were trading at around $0.37 after dropping as low as $0.335.
Slow start for Heartware float
31 January, 2005 by Renate KrelleArtificial heart company Heartware (ASX:HTW) today completed its makeover from US venture capital play to ASX-listed company, with shares debuting below their issue price at AUD$0.49.
Cytopia acquires US collaborator
13 January, 2005 by Melissa TrudingerCytopia (ASX: CYT) has acquired the assets of its US collaborator Myomatrix in a deal worth about US$625,000.
Prana may go it alone with Alzheimers drug
12 January, 2005 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne meditech company Prana Biotechnology (ASX:PBT, NASDAQ:PRAN) is prepared to take its lead drug for Alzheimer's disease all the way to the market if a major clinical trial in the UK confirms its efficacy.
US Medicare to test paying for flu antivirals
10 January, 2005 by Staff WritersThe US government has announced that Medicare will test the idea of paying for antiviral drugs -- including Biota and GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza -- for some patients who catch influenza.
Bionomics pays $2m for French CRO
17 December, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillSouth Australian biotech Bionomics (ASX:BNO) is to pay more than AUD$2 million in cash and kind for Neurofit, a small contract research company that specialises in testing candidate drugs for central nervous system (CNS) disorders in cellular and animals models.
Early inspiration still drives angiogenesis guru
16 December, 2004 by Susan WilliamsonAffectionately known as the father of angiogenesis, Prof Judah Folkman, from Harvard Medical School, visited Australia for the first time last month to attend the AHMRC congress at which he gave an inspiring plenary about angiogenesis and his latest foray into the emerging class of anti-cancer or anti-angiogenic drugs.
Domantis extends life of protein therapeutics
15 December, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillAlbudAbs - the latest invention of Cambridge (UK) antibody-therapeutics developer Domantis, a 36-per cent owned ally of Sydney biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD)- were yesterday launched on the market, with the promise that they can extend the half-life of protein therapeutics.
Report recommends research funding boost
10 December, 2004 by Renate KrelleA new government review has reported that investment in health and medical research delivered excellent returns and benefits to the community, and has recommended that overall Commonwealth government investment be increased to AUD$1.8 billion by 2008/9.
Meditech pursues psoriasis therapy
08 December, 2004 by Graeme O'NeillMelbourne biotech Meditech Research (ASX:MTR) has signed a collaborative research agreement with Griffith University's Institute for Glycomics to develop novel carbohydrate-based topical drugs for inflammatory skin diseases, including psoriasis.
Select Vaccines and Diagnostics CRC aim for better assays
08 December, 2004 by Melissa TrudingerSelect Vaccines (ASX: SLT) will collaborate with the CRC for Diagnostics (CDx) to develop a diagnostic assay for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), using Select's adhesive peptide technology and the CDx's synthetic EBV peptides.
In brief: Genmab; Savient; Roche; GSK; Merck
08 December, 2004 by Staff WritersDenmark's Genmab has announced its treatment against cancer of the lymphatic system, HuMax-CD20, had shown positive results in Phase I/II studies.
