Australasian Biotechnology,
Volume 7 Number 3, May/June 1997, pp.130
Editorial, News, Book and Product reviews
Code Number: AU97019
Size of Files:
Text: 104.4K
Graphics: No associated graphics files
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Internationalisation of the Business of Biotech as seen from the BIO
'97 Meeting
Australian biotechnology and the opportunities for investment in
Australia were highlighted in several different ways at the annual meeting
of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) held recently (9-12 June)
in Houston, Texas and attended by a group of over twenty enthusiastic
Australians. The BIO meeting is becoming the key feature of the
international biotechnology calendar with over 3000 delegates attending
from around the world. Being such a large meeting, there are typically a
dozen concurrent sessions covering the following areas: Financing, Science,
Management, Technology Transfer, Regulatory, Communications and
International.
NEWS
Austrade Industry Advisory Panel Launched for Biotechnology
The Deputy Prime Minister for Trade, Tim Fischer, announced in mid May a
Biotechnology Industry Advisory Panel to advise Austrade on export strategy
for the industry.
Transgenic Potatoes May Mean Cheaper Chips
Australia's first harvest of revolutionary non-browning potatoes took
place near Adelaide recently. CSIRO researchers have turned off the
gene which causes potatoes to turn brown when they are cut or bruised. By
inserting the gene back-to-front, or by slightly altering the structure of
the gene, the potatoes no longer turn brown. CSIRO has patented the
technology worldwide. The same technology can also be applied to other
fruit and vegetables. Researchers say the technology can potentially
deliver significant savings for potato processor - and that may mean
cheaper chips for consumers.
New Pharmaceutical Policies
Extension of Term Scheme for Pharmaceutical Patents
The Government has decided to amend the Patents Act 1990 to provide for
extensions of term of up to five years for pharmaceutical patents. The
changes will bring Australia into line with international best practice.
Small Business Innovation Fund to Boost Access to Capital
The Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism, John Moore, announced
recently the establishment of the `Small Business Innovation Fund' to help
small technology-based companies access to venture capital.
"This move addresses a fundamental gap in the Australian capital
market," Mr Moore said. "It will encourage investment in innovation and new
ideas and will help small businesses to grow and employ more people."
US President Bill Clinton on Human Cloning
"As the Vice President has said and all of us know, we live in an era of
breath-taking scientific discovery. More and more, our future in the world
depends upon advances in science and technology. And more and more, the
scientific community will influence the course of the future and the lives
that our children will lead in the new century that is upon us.
New Type of DNA-Free Inheritance in Yeast is Spread by a "Mad Cow"
Mechanism
Researchers at the University of Chicago's Howard Hughes Medical
Institute have found that a protein molecule able to transmit a genetic
trait without DNA or RNA in yeast is able to string itself together into
long fibers much like those found in the brain in "mad cow" and human
Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases.
Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation
Late last year Lionel Wisbey retired as Executive Director of the
Foundation because of ill health and, regrettably, died in February 1997.
The Foundation has now appointed Dr Boris Grego as the incoming Executive
Director of the Foundation, who took up his position on Monday, 21st April.
IGF-I Patent for Treatment of Gut Growth Disorders Approved in the US
A patent, held by GroPep Ltd, has recently issued in the United States
as well as Australia. The invention covers use of the growth factor,
insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), or its modified analogues in the
treatment of gut growth disorders.
UNESCO Professorship in Biotechnology
Professor Peter Rogers from the Department of Biotechnology, University
of New South Wales, has returned recently from a Short Term UNESCO
Professorship at the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic
Engineering (NIBGE) in Faisalabad, Pakistan.
European Parliament Agrees on Novel Foods and Ingredients
The European Parliament has passed by 339 votes to 60 legislation
allowing the sale of novel foods and ingredients in the Community.
Special Feature - Regulatory Issues
For reasons beyond our control, we were not able to publish the planned
special feature on Regulatory Issues in this issue. That special feature
has now been deferred until February 1998.
COMPANY NEWS
Dr Graham Mitchell Joins Peptech's Board
Peptech announced the appointment on 5th May of Dr Graham Mitchell, AO
as a non-executive director.
Dr Mitchell AO, RDA, BVSc, FACVs, PhD, FTSE, FAA is a recognised as one
of Australia's leading biological scientists. His expertise extends over a
wide range of science and technology. From 1993 to 1996 he was Director of
Research, R&D Division of CSL and is now a principal of Foursight
Associates Pty Limited (together with Sir Gustav Nossal, Professor David
Penington and Dr John Stocker).
Peptech Establishes Collaboration with the UK's Medical Research
Council
Peptech Limited, the Australia-based pharmaceutical company, today
announced that it has executed an agreement with the UK's Medical Research
Council (MRC) for the development of novel approaches to the generation of
peptide libraries for use in drug screening.
Biota Gains Rights to New Anti-Cancer Compounds
Biota Holdings Limited announced in April that the company has signed an
agreement with LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia, for the exclusive
worldwide rights to newly synthesised anti-cancer chemical compounds.
World Trials of New Influenza Therapeutic
An Australian-developed influenza treatment has recently commenced final
testing in Australia, prior to approval being sought for release onto the
world market. Biota Holdings Limited announced that Phase III trials of the
new drug GG 167 will commence as from 1st May and will continue in
Australia throughout the winter in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and
Queensland.
Biota Holdings Licenses Prostate Cancer Project
Biota Holdings Limited announced on 12th May that it had signed an
option agreement with two Japanese companies that could lead to the
development of a new therapy for prostate cancer.
Boehringer Merges with Roche
On 24 May 1997 Roche entered into an agreement with the owners of
Corange Ltd., Bermuda, to purchase all shares in this holding company.
Corange Ltd is sole owner of the diagnostics and pharmaceutical businesses
of the Boehringer Mannheim Group.
AMRAD enters Multi-million Dollar Natural Products Screening
Collaboration with Rhone-Poulenc Rorer
Australian research-based pharmaceutical company AMRAD Corporation
Limited announced recently that it has entered into a major commercial
research collaboration with the Australian subsidiary of the international
pharmaceutical company, RhonePoulenc Rorer Inc.
Biotechnology Transfer Services
Consulting Services for Asia Pacific
BTS is an established management consulting firm specialized in
trans-Pacific biotechnology business development. BTS provides
comprehensive market analyses, strategic business plans, technology
transfer evaluations, access to sources of capital, and assistance with
identifying and negotiating both commercial and collaborative research
partnerships.
AORIS NOVA PTY LTD
Innovation Management
About Aoris Nova
The consultancy was started in 1993 to help commercialise new technology
in biomedical sciences and biotechnology and related disciplines.
Typically, clients are decision makers in large and small companies,
investors and research groups.
BIO SHARES - Covering Australian Biotechnology Stocks
The July 1997 issue of Shares magazine contained an article discussing
many of the shares listed and provides a useful background to these
companies.
NEWS FROM THE DAIRY INDUSTRY
Three papers presented at the Annual Meeting of the Dairy Industry
Association Australia (Victorian Branch) on 19th April 1997 are summarised.
NEW ABA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SUBCOMMITTEE
ABA NEWS
Australian Biotechnology Conferences
Submissions to Government and Other Bodies
Appointment of Executive Director
10th International Biotechnology Symposium and 9th International
Symposium on Yeasts
Accounts for this conference have now been finalised.
1997 ABA Annual General Meeting
ABA Regional Meetings
BIO '97
There was a substantial Australian presence at this meeting held in the
USA. There was an Australian workshop sponsored by the ABA and an
Australian booth, at which ten companies and CRCs were represented.
Next ABA Council Meetings
Melbourne - Monday 28 July, 1997
Sydney - Monday 29 September, 1997 (also AGM)
BIOCOMPUTING
Astralian Company Homepages
Biotechnology Companies
Accounting and Taxation Services
Searching Patent Information on the Internet
By Dr C.S. Prakash,
Ever since the US Supreme Court upheld an award of a patent to Ananda
Chakrabarty for a genetically engineered organism in 1980, patents have
become an integral fuel driving the commercial biotechnology boom.
Biotechnology researchers are actively patenting many new products and
processes arising from their inventions. Patent application documents
contain a wealth of descriptive information and are very useful to
researchers and students wishing to keep up with the cutting-edge advances
in biotechnology.
NOVA: SCIENCE IN THE NEWS
When scientific stories such as cloning, rabbit calicivirus or toxic
algal blooms appear in the media they may seem contradictory and confusing.
This is because they are often simplified or shortened to fit the time or
space available.
NZ Biotech Directory on the Web
BOOKS
PUBLICATIONS FROM JETRO
The Best Selling Imports in Japan's 1996 Consumer Market
White Paper on International Trade Japan Trade Statistics
Asian Trade Promotion Bulletin
Success is Yours - Exporting Processed Foods to Japan
World Information Directory of Industrial Technology & Investment
Support Services
Chinese Biotechnology Directory 1997
Irish Biotechnology Company Update
The New Zealand Biotechnology Directory 4th Edition 1997; Editor: Owen Cole
Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology and Molecular Medicine Volumes 1,2 and 3
Editor: Robert A. Meyers
Gene Delivery Systems: A State of the Art Review. OECD 1996.
Policy Controvery in Biotechnology: An Insider's View
Henry I. Miller.
MEETINGS
Details of forthcoming meetings from 31 Jul 1997 - 9 November 1997
LIFE TECHNOLOGIES
Life Technologies is continually seeking to offer the researcher a broad
range of product to simplify the purchasing and supply of necessary and
complementary reagents. The company now represents the following companies
in Australia and New Zealand:
European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC)
American Peptide Company (APC)
CELLCO Incorporated
PALL FILTRON
METTLER TOLEDO
Robust pH Sensor
pH transmitter
JOHN MORRIS SCIENTIFIC
New, High Throughput DNA Sequencing Systems
W.R. & D. WELLS PTY LTD
Taking the Spills and Strain out of Pouring
ABA OFFICE BEARERS
PROVOCATION
Copyright 1997 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.
