Company news
- Anadis appoints new director
- API completes Interpacific acquisition
- Autogen opens gene discovery facility and signs licensing deal with Merck-Santé
- Bionomics enters epilepsy diagnosis deal
- Brain Resource Company benefits from Bayer agreement
- Cellestis obtains TB test rights
- CHEMEQ receives NZ regulatory approval
- Genesis Biomedical achieves mixed results in osteoarthritis trial
- Genesis R&D Corp forms strategic development team
- Norwood Abbey appoints US VP
- Novogen receives US patent for skin repair compound
- Peplin subsidiary in successful rights issue
- Prima subsidiary receives cancer patent
- Proteome Systems launches proteomics JV
- SSH Medical (Aust) acquires Oxford Medical Equipment
- VRI Biomedical successfully launches first product in US
Anadis appoints new director
25 September - Anadis Ltd has appointed Mr Roman Zwolenski to its board of directors. Mr Zwolenski BSc, has over 30 years of international business experience in Biotechnology. For six years, he was a senior executive with Hoffman La-Roche, based in Australia, the UK and Switzerland. More recently, Mr Zwolenski was Managing Director of AGEN Ltd, an Australian exporter of medical diagnostic products. He is a fellow of the Institute of Company Directors and also holds directorships with other Australian biotech companies.
[Source: Company Announcement]
API completes Interpacific acquisition
3 October - Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd announces it has completed its acquisition of the Interpacific and Interpharma Australian and New Zealand operations. Effective 1 October, the acquisition has led API to appoint Mr Fritz Horlacher and Mr Peter Wright as directors. The three businesses acquired in the deal are:
- New Zealand-based Zuellig Pharma Ltd, a pharmaceutical and hospital distribution company;
- New Zealand-based PSM Healthcare Ltd, a manufacturer of pharmaceutical medicines; and
- Australian-based Halas Dental Ltd, a dental products distributor.
The combined annual turnover of the three businesses exceeds $600m.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Autogen opens gene discovery facility and signs licensing deal with Merck-Santé
8 October - Autogen Ltd, in conjunction with the International Diabetes Institute and Deakin University, has opened a $1.6m high-throughput facility for the identification of genes involved with obesity, diabetes and depression. The facility, located at the International Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, was officially opened on 8 October by Victoria's Innovation Minister John Brumby. The facility, the most advanced in Australia, will aid in the development of drugs to treat these debilitating conditions.
In a separate announcement, Autogen announces it has signed a commercialisation and licensing deal with Merck-Santé, a European Pharmaceutical Company. The licence, covering Autogen's diabetes-related gene Tanis , will enable Merck-Santé to further investigate drug development possibilities. Under the agreement, Autogen is to receive milestone and royalty payments.
[Source: Company Announcements]
Bionomics enters epilepsy diagnosis deal
1 October - Adelaide-based Bionomics Ltd announces a new development collaboration with US biotech Nanogen Inc to research and develop a new diagnostic product for epilepsy. To develop the program, Nanogen will provide its NanoChip® molecular biology workstation, a "gene chip" approach to fast detection of gene variations. Bionomics will provide its exclusive epilepsy gene discoveries. Together, the companies are aiming to produce the world's first molecular diagnostic test for epilepsy. Under the deal, Bionomics will exclusively license any diagnostic-related IP from the collaboration to Nanogen. In return, Nanogen will provide Bionomics with research support and funding, such as milestone payments and royalties. The test is expected to lead to the selection of safer and more appropriate treatment paths for epilepsy patients.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Brain Resource Company benefits from Bayer agreement
26 September - The Brain Resource Company, which provides services to assess the efficacy of new drugs, announces that Bayer Corporation is to use its brain function analysis services in a new drug evaluation trial. The trial, to begin this month, will involve 150 patients. This new agreement with Bayer provides BRC with further opportunities to demonstrate its services to Bayer.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Cellestis obtains TB test rights
2 October - Cellestis Ltd has signed a contract with Danish company Statens Serum Institut, a leader in tuberculosis research, granting Cellestis exclusive rights to use SSI's TB-specific proteins in its QuantiFERON technology. The rights cover some of the most significant proteins specific to TB, and include patent coverage in major countries past 2015. Under the contract, Cellestis is to pay SSI an upfront fee of €100,000. Additional payments of up to €500,000 will then be made to SSI contingent upon achievements such as regulatory approvals for Cellestis' new product, which is to incorporate the licensed technology. SSI will also receive royalties of between 8% and 15.5%.
[Source: Company Announcement]
CHEMEQ receives NZ regulatory approval
26 September - Animal pharmaceutical company CHEMEQ Ltd announces it has received regulatory approval for the sale in New Zealand of its veterinary drug, CHEMEQ polymeric antimicrobial. The drug, designed for use in pigs, is an alternative to the use of human antibiotics in animals. This latest approval follows another recent approval of the drug for sale in South Africa. Corporate Marketing Manager Dr Alistair Murdoch hopes this approval will favourably influence the approval process for CHEMEQ polymeric antimicrobial in other countries where approval is pending, including the US, Europe, Australia and several Asian countries.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Genesis Biomedical achieves mixed results in osteoarthritis trial
27 September - Genesis Biomedical Ltd announces it has completed its double-blind clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of its Cell Bionics® technology for the alleviation of osteoarthritis of the knee. In the trial, involving 100 patients, half received the active treatment and half a placebo. The company has earlier reported that results after initial treatment with the Cell Bionics® technology were strong, with 72% of patients experiencing significant pain reduction. Further, cessation of the treatment led to a rapid recurrence of symptoms.
However, the follow-up to this initial phase of the trial has indicated a strong placebo response, with no significant difference observed between the active and placebo groups. Genesis reports that high placebo responses to treatments of osteoarthritis in the knee are often observed, however this response was particularly high. Some of the placebo effect may be explained by the high acceptance rate for the therapy, which 94% of patients reported as easier to use when compared to taking pills.
Due to the strong patient response to the therapy, Genesis is to continue studies in this area. The company plans to determine the therapy's efficacy over a longer-term treatment.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Genesis R&D Corp forms strategic development team
26 September - Genesis Research and Development Corporation has established a new strategic development unit to enhance its commercial capability. The unit is to identify programmes, process and technologies that will enable the company to respond more rapidly to emerging opportunities in biotechnology. Members of the unit are Dr Andrew Shenk, previously with the company's plant division and Genesis director Dr Douglas Williams - who has resigned as Senior Vice President (Basic Research) of Amgen Inc to join Genesis full-time. Genesis Chief Executive Jim Watson indicates that Dr Williams' experience and reputation will benefit the company as it evolves to develop commercial products for the international market. The strategic development unit will work closely with the recently-established US-based business development unit, to translate feedback about prospects and opportunities into realisable projects and goals.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Norwood Abbey appoints US VP
27 September - Norwood Abbey Ltd has appointed Mark McLoughlin as Vice President for the commercialisation of its laser project in North America. Based in the US, Mr McLoughlin is a specialist in the healthcare industry. He will be responsible for the coordination of all aspects of the laser project, including progressing the market entry of the laser device in conjunction with a topical anaesthetic manufactured by Ferndale Laboratories Inc. When used in conjunction with Norwood's laser, the waiting time for the anaesthetic is reduced from 30 minutes to five. The companies are currently awaiting marketing clearance review, currently being assessed by the US Food and Drug Administration. Mr McLoughlin will also identify and progress other commercial applications of the laser device, such as the delivery of vaccines.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Novogen receives US patent for skin repair compound
26 September - Novogen Ltd has been granted a US patent for its topical skin repair compound, NV-07a. The patent covers the protection of the skin from sun-induced immunosuppression and UV damage, which if not prevented can lead to skin cancer. However the compound can also repair skin after damage caused by sunlight exposure, restoring immune function and inhibiting DNA damage. It is expected that NV-07a will be able to prevent damage which cannot be prevented with existing sunscreens.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Peplin subsidiary in successful rights issue
25 September - Peplin Biotech Ltd has raised $4.3m in a successful rights issue. Net proceeds generated in the one for eight rights issue, at 65 cents per share, will be used to support the company's anti-cancer R&D throughout next year. The funds will also assist the company in its current licensing negotiations with international pharmaceutical companies for its first drug for skin cancer. The rights issue was enthusiastically accepted, with 44% of shareholders taking up rights applying for more shares than they were entitled. The 6.7m new shares listed on the ASX on 1 October.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Prima subsidiary receives cancer patent
25 September - Prima Biomed subsidiary, Cancer Vac Ltd, has obtained a pivotal Australian patent. The patent covers both the procedure and immune cell product used by Cancer Vac in a Phase I clinical trial. This trial, concluded in July this year, was successful, with all participants generating immune responses to their tumours with minimal adverse reactions. The company is currently finalising preparations for a Phase II trial, expected to commence before the end of the year.
[Source: Company Announcement]
Proteome Systems launches proteomics JV
2 October - Proteome Systems Ltd has signed an agreement with US-based Charles River Laboratories International Inc, to establish a joint venture to provide proteomics testing and analysis services to the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The new company, Charles River Proteomics Services Inc, will provide services on a fee-for-service or contract basis. It will be 80% owned by Charles River and 20% by Proteome. Charles River brings to the JV its experience in providing critical research tools and integrated support services for drug discovery and development, whilst Proteomics brings its world-renowned proteomics expertise. The services are to be powered by Proteome Systems' proprietary integrated discovery platform, ProteomIQ and its bioinformatic tool, BioinformatIQ. The new facility, to be housed within Charles River's plant in Massachusetts, is expected to be fully operational by March next year.
[Source: Company Press Release]
SSH Medical (Aust) acquires Oxford Medical Equipment
27 September - SSH Medical (Aust) Pty Ltd (SSHA), a subsidiary of SSH Medical Ltd, is to acquire the business and assets of Oxford Medical Equipment on 4 October this year. Oxford is a well-known manufacturer of stainless steel medical equipment, operating in the same markets as the "Easy Medical Equipment" division of SSHA. The acquisition will increase SSHA's coverage in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, and other states to a lesser degree. The deal is also expected to provide a significant revenue increase and an opportunity to secure cost benefits via improved efficiencies.
[Source: Company Announcement]
VRI Biomedical successfully launches first product in US
30 September - VRI Biomedical Ltd, a strategic research and development Company dedicated to the diagnosis and management of immunological dysfunction, has successfully launched its first product in the US. The product, ProBio PCCTM, was launched by nutritional R&D company Pharmanex at its international convention in Utah. ProBio, being marketed as a dietary supplement, contains a potent probiotic strain. 10,000 distributors were in attendance at this conference, and, according to the company, ProBio stock was virtually all sold. The company is now scaling up manufacture of this product in readiness for launch into North Asian markets.
[Source: Company Announcement]
