Australasian Biotechnology,
Volume 8 Number 1, January/February 1998, pp. 1-13
Editorial, News, Letters, Bioshares, Products, Book reviews, Meetings
Code Number:AU98001
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FROM THE EDITORS
Not Another Monica and Bill Story
In the issue of Who magazine with "All the President's Women"
on the cover, there is a bizarre story about Dr Richard Seed, would be
cloner of humans.
A Bleat from the Bench
The business management of research has become a discipline of its own,
with its own conferences, its own government reports and reviews. Gone
are the days when a CSIRO Chief or the Professorial Head of a University
Department could just decide that a certain area of research was worthy
of more investigations, and almost unilaterally decide to put funds into
the area.
Infrastructure for Research - Culture Collections
The Australian Collection of Microorganisms at the University of Queensland
is in real trouble. Towards the end of 1997, funding for staff ran out
and two staff left, leaving only 1.5 people to curate Australia's main
collection of bacterial cultures. This has meant that thousands of cultures
held in the Collection will not be able to be maintained.
NEWS
$100 Million of New R&D Announced to Support Medical, Manufacturing,
IT and Multi-Media Industries
The Industry R&D Board announced on December 5 that it will provide
funding of up to almost $45 million towards 19 major R&D projects,
under Round Three of the R&D Start Program. With the matching contribution
from the grant recipients this will mean more than $100 million in new
R&D expenditure.
ForBio Research Ltd $A1,574
Automation of DNA Preparation for Genetic Analysis
Clinical development of milk-derived growth promoting agents for
the treatment of chronic wounds
IR&D Board Contacts
Edinburgh BioParks launched by Moredun and the Roslin Institute
Edinburgh BioParks is pleased to announce that it has taken over from
Charles Kingdon & Associates in assisting with commercialisation work
at the Roslin Institute (Edinburgh) and Moredun.
Food Science Australia Opens for Business
Food Science Australia, the joint venture between the CSIRO Division
of Food Science and Technology and Afisc (Australian Food Industry Science
Centre) commenced operation on 1 December 1997.
BIO Publishes 1997-1998 Editors' and Reporters' Guide and Citizens`
Guide
Bio has recently released its 1997-1998 Editors' and Reporters' Guide
to Biotechnology. This Apex '96 award-winning publication is an excellent
"fact book" covering all sectors of the industry.
COMPANY NEWS
Phase 1 Clinical Trial of AM424 Under Way
AMRAD commenced a Phase 1 clinical trial of AM424, a potential treatment
for motor neurone disease (MND) and peripheral neuropathies (disorders
of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord), in mid-October 1997.
Peptech Announces Major Board Changes
The Board of Peptech Limited is pleased to announce the appointment
of two new Directors, Dr Michael Cohen and Dr Tom Quirk. They join Peptech
at an important stage of its development and bring to the company extensive
experience in the successful commercialisation of biotechnology products.
Amersham and Pharmacia Merge
In August 1997, Amersham International plc and Pharmacia & Upjohn
Inc merged their respective Life Science and Biotech divisions to form
the world's largest biotechnology supply company, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech.
Trace Scientific - Herbos Joint Venture
Trace Scientific Ltd (Melbourne, Australia) and Herbos d.d. (Zagreb,
Croatia) have agreed to enter into a joint equity venture to manufacture,
market and distribute diagnostic products. According to Tony Bigum, Managing
Director of Trace Scientific Ltd, the joint venture company Herbos Dijagnostika,
will be based in Sisak Croatia, and as such, is ideally situated to service
the demands of diagnostic laboratories throughout Eastern Europe.
ForBio Strengthens Coffee Ties in Line with International Expansion
ForBio International Inc and Integrated Coffee Technologies Inc have
finalised arrangements for 50:50 joint ownership of American Tropical Plants
Inc (ATP), an Hawaiian company which now holds the licensed technology
which leads to the production of caffeine controlled and uniform ripening
coffee, cocoa and tea. ForBio Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bill Henderson
said the new venture provides ForBio with more flexibility in terms of
production and application of its biotechnology expertise.
Groundbreaking Joint Venture Between Green Triangle and ForBio Limited
The Australian potato industry is set to boom with the multi-million
dollar expansion of the potato seed industry commencing in South Australia.
Anti-Cancer Drug Program Enters New Stage
Biotechnology firm Biota Holdings Limited announced on 19 January 1998
a significant development in its quest to produce a new anti-cancer drug
for the international market.
Biota and BioStar Begin North American Clinical Trials of Influenza
Diagnostic
Biota Holdings Limited (Australian Stock Exchange:BTA) announced on
13 January 1998 that with its development partner, BioStar Inc., it has
commenced North American clinical trials of its influenza diagnostic, being
conducted at several locations in the United States. The North American
trial is designed to assess the performance of Biota's new 15-minute diagnostic for both
influenza A and influenza B using several patient specimen types. Biota expects its new
revolutionary diagnostic to be submitted for regulatory clearance in the US in the second
quarter of 1998.
Biopartnering
Biopartnering deals are important milestones in the development of biotechnology
companies. It is vital that companies negotiating these deals are full
appraised of all the issues which they need to cover in their contract,
and the various structures which can be applied. The crucial points are
financial (upfront and milestone payments, research costs and royalties),
control of the various stages, supply of product and liability, intellectual
property and rights of termination. There are many other points which will
also need to be dealt with in a contract.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
The success of a biotechnology company is significantly dictated by
the number of patents issued to it. Patents are the primary assets targeted
in mergers and acquisitions in the biotechnology industry.
BIO SHARES
Covering Australian Biotechnology Stocks - compiled by M.J. Playne
ASIAN NEWS
Contributed by Tikki Pang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
IMBN - A New Molecular Biology Network for the Asia Pacific Region
Fast Becoming a Reality
A considerable amount of excitement is building up among the region's
scientists over the establishment of a new network of life scientists,
which aims to boost biomedical research and biotechnology in the Asia Pacific
region. The network, to be known as the International Molecular Biology
Network for Asia and the Pacific Rim (IMBN), is modeled on the European
Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) and has shown remarkable progress
since its inception in the middle of 1997.
Meeting Report - The Third Asia Pacific Symposium on Typhoid Fever and
Other Salmonellosis
IPE-BTU Biotechnology News
Sixth Pacific Rim Biotechnology Conference and BioExpo 98
Third International Symposium - Asia Pacific Society of Bioscientists
Victorian Fermentation Special Interest Group
Postgraduate Young Speakers Competition
BOOK REVIEWS
Wider Application and Diffusion of Bioremediation Technologies, The
Amsterdam `95 Workshop. OECD 1996
This book is the outcome of the OECD workshop of the same title held
in November 1995.
Hairy Roots. Culture and Applications
Editor: Pauline M. Doran
What can you say? A bit of an unnerving title for a book reviewer. However,
for those of us involved in plant tissue culture, the subject of this title
has been an exciting one since the observations in the early 1980's of
the rapid growth of roots of several plant species transformed by Agrobacterium
rhizogenes.
Fundamentals of Food Biotechnology
Byong H. Lee
This book indeed matches its title - it gives a quite fundamental view
of food biotechnology. There is a short introduction to biotechnology.
This is followed by three chapters on the principles of biochemistry, microbiology
and biochemical engineering.
Encyclopaedia of Molecular Biology and Molecular Medicine
Editor: R.A. Meyers Volumes 4-6
These three volumes complete this very well-produced and useful encyclopaedia.
Each volume is of around 500 pages. Volume 6 contains a detailed index
of 127 pages covering the contents of all six volumes. The index appears
to have been thoroughly checked.
MEETINGS
Details of forthcoming meetings from 19 April 1998 - 8 Sept 2000
Product News
JOHN MORRIS SCIENTIFIC
ML-6100 Fermentor Controller
IR2: The New Formula for DNA Sequencing and Genetic Analysis
PRATT SAFETY SYSTEMS
New Modular Safety Shower Range is Versatile and Cost Effective
New Poisons Cabinet
METTLER TOLEDO LIMITED
The Right Electrode for the Right Application
HEARNE
GetARef for Windows
ABA OFFICE BEARERS
Copyright 1998 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.
