Australasian Biotechnology (backfiles) AusBiotech ISSN: 1036-7128 Vol. 9, Num. 2, 1999

News, Company News, Bio Shares, Issues, ABA Submissions, ABA Branch News, Books, Meetings

Code Number:AU99005

PRESIDENT'S REPORT

In the last two issues of the Journal, I have set out to focus in the President's Report on identifying the activities that the ABA Directors have been addressing on behalf of the ABA.

Senator Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, announced in April the 26 recipients of the latest Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) funding round.

With the inclusion of the four new centres announced today, there are now 67 CRC's across Australia. All centres fit within the six targeted industry sectors - manufacturing technology, information and communications technology, mining and energy, agricultural and rural-based manufacturing, environment and medical science and technology.

The Australian Government's Department of Industry Science & Resources recently re-launched its Biotechnology Section to provide an interactive link between Government, research and commerce.

The Australian-developed world leading treatment for the influenza virus - RelenzaTM - is now available on prescription from pharmacists across the country. Australians suffering the flu this winter will be first in the world to have access to this revolutionary new product which will help combat the often devastating effects of the influenza virus.

The Government's budget allocation of $22.5 million to establish a Commonwealth Technology Port at Melbourne Dockland will provide a significant boost for research and development in Victoria, the Minister for Communications, the Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, said recently. "The park will focus on industrial research and is likely to generate $400 million in new investment over the next 10 years, with significant flow-on employment benefits for Victoria and the rest of the nation well into the next century," Senator Alston said. "Funding for this important four-year initiative is provided in full in this year's budget - delivering in full the Government's A Vision for Excellence election promise."

The Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation and CSIRO are collaborating to develop an environmentally friendly alternative to termite control in urban areas.

Scientists at CSIRO Entomology have identified strains of the naturally-occurring fungus Metarhizium which have the potential to control termites in buildings and other built structures.

Monsanto's "terminator technology" may not be terminated, but neither will it be germinated soon because of the global furor it has caused. St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. announced Thursday that it would not market the controversial new gene technology until the completion of studies that examine the environmental, economic and social effects.

Business Wire, the global leader in news distribution, and Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., the world's leading biotechnology publisher, announced recently a strategic alliance to provide the biotech and health care industries with a unparalleled media distribution and research capability.

The new venture, "BioWire2K.com," will capitalize on the proven strengths of its partners. Business Wire's comprehensive distribution network to the international news media, global investment community, the Internet, online services and databases will serve as the backbone of the new service.

Bayer Diagnostics announced recently that it has received the first Australian Government regulatory approval to supply a new generation of tests for measuring the HIV virus in patients at risk of developing AIDS - which will ensure a significant advance in patient treatment management.

Barramundi that prematurely change their sex to become females are causing big headaches for aquaculture farmers.

All barrumundi are born as males and normally change to females when they are about 6 years old. But young males selected to be breeding stock at the farms are changing prematurely, when they are only two years old. It isn't known why they change, but farmers need an established stock of breeding males to improve the quality and output of the fish they sell.

Known as the "kissing disease" glandular fever is one illness many teenagers are keen to avoid! But it may not be long before glandular fever is under the control of science. Researchers at the CRC for Vaccine Technology (CRC-VT) are working towards a vaccine for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus responsible for glandular fever and other diseases like nasopharyngeal cancer.

"On capital market value, some seven out of the top 25 companies in the world are health related. Ten years ago that figure was just two, and in ten years' time, it will be 12 or 13 out of the top 25 companies.

In Australia the sheer size and scale of health is often not properly understood. Over the last decade we spend around 8% of GDP on health.

Florigene, a leading flower biotechnology company, launched its MoonshadowTM flower into the US market at the Super Floral Show in Kansas City in June. MoonshadowTM is a new carnation flower with a unique violet colour.

Florigene CEO, Peter Molloy, said the new carnation followed many years of research and development and was the first of a range of new flowers incorporating the company's patented blue gene.

A preliminary study shows, for the first time, the utility of Roche's first-generation automated PCR system to screen HCV, HIV and HBV blood donations in one single multi-plex assay.

Genetic testing has the potential to greatly improve the health of all Australians through better diagnosis and treatment, screening programs, and early prevention strategies.

BioResearch Ireland (BRI), the national agency commercialising biotechnology, recently announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing and research agreement with Inhibitex, Inc., A US biopharmaceutical company. The agreement focuses on the prevention and treatment of infections by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium which causes skin and wound infections and is a major cause of hospital acquired infections worldwide. In cases, where the pathogen has developed resistance to antibiotics, it can cause life threatening septicaemia. Forty percent of all deaths from hospital acquired infections are caused by Staphylococcal infections.

A high level Trade and Investment mission, led by the Honourable Dato'Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, will visit Australia from 1 - 8 August, 1999 to promote and further strengthen the business and investment links between Australia and Malaysia. The mission members will include private sector representatives and senior officials from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, Malaysian Trade and Development Corporation and State Governments.

The Scientific Suppliers Association of Australia Inc. (SSAA) announces that the Science Queensland '99 Exhibition will be held from the 9th - 11th November 1999 in the Commerce Building, RNA, Brisbane.

The Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF), under newly appointed Director Dr Gary Cobon, has its sights set on the future.

APAF is a Major National Research Facility set up in 1998 with Commonwealth funds of $7 million. It provides cutting edge proteomic research and analytical services to the Australian scientific community.

Parramatta could become a world centre for the biomedical industry, following an announcement by the GROW Employment Council to conduct a $100,000 feasibility study into the development of a Biomedical Business Park near Westmead Hospital.

The GROW study, to be jointly funded by the Federal Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, was launched by Federal MP for Parramatta, Ross Cameron, at the University of Western Sydney in March 1999.

Australian technology companies are calling it "the death of the clever country". The Federal Opposition says it is "a national emergency". Venture capitalists warn it is at the point of "do or die". R&D in Australia is at the crossroads, according to a report by Nick Tabakoff and Tony Featherstone to be published in BRW on 2nd July.

Mr Phil Scanlan AM, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Bonlac Foods, will lead a large Australian business delegation to Israel to attend the Agritech '99 Exhibition from 2 - 8 September.

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien will lead a Team Canada trade mission to Australia and Japan. The mission will visit Melbourne from September 19-21 and Sydney from September 22-24. Team Canada is a uniquely Canadian approach to expand its trade and other linkages with its key political and economic partners. This visit will provide a not-to-be-missed opportunity for Australian firms to expand on an already successful trade and investment collaboration or establish new business links with Canadian counterparts.

AMRAD Corporation Limited (ASX:AML) has announced its 1999/2004 Strategic Plan which lays the foundation for near-term growth in shareholder value. AMRAD has identified that increased shareholder value can be generated by AMRAD Pharmaceutical R&D, AMRAD Pharmaceuticals and AMRAD ICT.

Biota Holdings Limited (ASX:BTA) has announced that Glaxo Wellcome has received regulatory approval to market Relenza7 (zanamivir) for the treatment of influenza, in all the countries of the European Union. The regulatory approval is under the European Commission's Mutual Recognition Process.

LIPOXEN Ltd, a new company based on technology acquired from The School of Pharmacy, University of London, and entering the rapidly growing drug delivery systems market, was announced today. The company's lead proprietary technology is based around liposomes to optimise the activity of the new DNA vaccines which are emerging as the next major advance in vaccines and immunisation. A second technology owned by the company includes a new method to prolong the active life of protein and peptide drugs and small molecules using polymers of the naturally occurring molecule sialic acid. LIPOXEN Ltd will apply its novel methods to enhance the delivery and availability of drugs after administration as well as addressing problems where adequate levels of drugs cannot be achieved without intolerance, or the maintenance of therapeutic levels after administration is difficult.

International pharmaceutical and healthcare company, F H Faulding & Co Limited (Faulding), has announced the acquisition of Bullivants Natural Health Products Pty Ltd (Bullivants), thereby consolidating its position in the fast growing vitamin and health supplement market. The Brisbane-based Bullivants has the largest product range in the nutraceutical category in Australia and has strong brands in both the pharmacy and health food store markets.

Biota and Daiichi Sign Marketing and Distribution Agreement for FLU OIA7

Biota Holdings Ltd announced on 1st July that it has signed a marketing and distribution agreement with Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co. Ltd of Japan for FLU OIA, Biota's rapid influenza diagnostic test. In addition to a share of the profits, Biota will receive a signing fee of approximately A$1 million and could receive additional fees subject to the achievement of certain milestones.

Biotechnology company, Progen Industries Ltd (ASX Code: PGL; Nasdaq Code: PGLAF), has received the green light from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence testing its drug, PI-88, in cancer patients in Australia.

BIO SHARES

After the initial buzz on excitement at the Australian Governments' budget announcements of extra funds for medical and health research, and extra money for biotechnology infrastructure, industrial analysts are realising that once again it is largely a matter of "taking from some to give to others." There is in fact little new money for science.

ABA BRANCH NEWS

News from Canberra

A Canberra region meeting was held on 29^th June to discuss lessons from the BIO conference in Seattle in May 1999. Dr Ted Maddess of the Australian National University led the discussion.

The second meeting in 1999 of the NSW branch of the ABA was held on 17th June, organised by David Irving and generously hosted by Biotech Australia. It was entitled "Report on the California-Australia Biotech Partnering and Finance Conference and BIO 99". The speakers were David Irving (Biotech Australia), Jamie Callachor (NSW Department of State and Regional Development), Kelvin Hopper (Aoris Nova) and Jonathan Izant (Garvan Institute).

Advances in Biochemical Engineering Biotechnology Volume 56
"Biotreatment, Downstream Processing and Modelling"

In the last two issues of the Journal, I have set out to focus in the President's Report on identifying the activities that the ABA Directors have been addressing on behalf of the ABA. So to continue this thrust, in the last two months, some of the key activities have been:

• the ABA was a participant at the May International Meeting of BIO in Seattle, USA. Dr Peter Riddles had helped Austrade in San Francisco in organising a number of Australian speakers to present at a seminar on Australian Biotechnology. Another Director, Ms Lyndal Thorburn also attended; she noted several points: firstly there was a domination by the pharmaceutical sector; secondly that for the moment it appears that biotechnology is not on the venture capitalist's "hot list" - instead big companies are the main source of funds; thirdly the amount of state government support for biotechnology associations was staggering and finally, that despite the obvious and well received presence at BIO, Australia has much work to do in terms of attracting USA clients to enter the Australian market. A number of Australian state meetings are planned/will be held to provide feedback on BIO.
• the issue of a press release by the ABA in support of the Government initiatives for Biotechnology which were announced in the May budget viz the establishment of Biotechnology Australia overseen by a Ministerial Council comprising the Ministers for Health, Agriculture, Environment and Education and chaired by the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources. The role of Biotechnology Australia is to be a "one stop shop to co-ordinate the Commonwealth's activities in biotechnology". In addition funds have been provided to establish the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, which together with a public awareness program, should help to strengthen public confidence in using the products of biotechnology.
• the issue of a joint press release to announce the establishment of the Agrifood Alliance Australia (AAA) on which I reported last time. ABA is a member of this Alliance, along with Avcare Limited, National Farmers Federation, Seed Industry Association of Australia, R&D Corporations such as the GRDC, Pivot Limited and the Cooperative Research Centres Association. The key goal of AAA is one of public education, to help achieve public understanding of biotechnology. The ABA was represented by the President at the most recent meeting of AAA in Canberra and it was the ABA's turn to chair that meeting.
• the preparation by the ABA of a submission to the Inquiry on Primary Producer Access to Gene Technology, which is being undertaken by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services at the request of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr Mark Vaile. It seeks to report on the capacity of small and medium sized enterprises to access the benefits of gene technology. Fran Bailey, MP, who Chairs the Committee, noted in her press release announcing the inquiry that "Gene technology is moving ahead at such a rapid pace in this field that it is vitally important that the Parliament is kept up to date on the opportunities and implications for our primary producers".
• the attendance by the ABA President at another briefing by Melinda Kimble, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; this one was on Genetically Modified Organisms; she was joined by David Schmidt, Senior Vice President, Food Safety, International Food Information Council and James Maryanski, Strategic Manager for Biotechnology, with the FDA's Center For Food Safety. This "World Net Dialogue" is an interactive satellite television discussion (in real time) and provided as part of the USA Information Service. On this particular occasion the Washington Panel were interviewed by several Australian and NZ interlocutors in Canberra, Sydney and Wellington who were drawn from science, the press, consumer, agribusiness and food manufacturing associations. It was interesting to note that USA farmers, who have readily taken up new varieties developed through gene technology, are starting to assess how the European markets for their produce might be affected as a result of the strong debate there on the use of gene technology in the food chain.
• the representation of the ABA through attendance by the President at a debriefing meeting at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; an Australian delegation had attended a meeting of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Rome in April to put Australia's views at another round of negotiations for the revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources. As had been noted in briefing papers from the Commonwealth "Australia has significant interests at stake in the outcome of negotiations, because the outcome will determine the conditions under which Australian agriculture will obtain access to certain material from overseas sources in future, and because of the potentially wider policy implications for Australian genetic resources policy". The April negotiations agreed text establishing a multilateral system, and addressing farmers' rights. Around three more negotiating sessions are planned over the next 12 months with a view to completing the revision by the middle of next year. The Commonwealth is preparing further Australian position papers for consultations with stakeholders.
• good progress is being made with updating and remodelling the ABA Web Site; we are grateful to Dr Martin Playne for helping to guide this process along with changes to the Journal format.

The Directors continue to focus on containing their travel costs by interacting by electronic means (eg "discussing" a variety of matters on a regular basis via email and also by teleconference on 3 June); however a face to face meeting is planned for mid July to provide an opportunity for a longer discussion on the future direction of the ABA. In Queensland, Dr Peter Riddles has been particularly active in the many discussions currently underway in the bioscience community in that state to determine how best to meet the needs of different groups with an interest in bioscience and its commercialisation.

The Annual General Meeting of the ABA is planned for Thursday 23 September in Sydney at the NSW Department of Regional and State Development from 6 pm. This will be followed by presentations on "NSW Government Initiatives in Biotechnology". We hope many people will come to this wonderful location in the CBD with its magnificent Harbour views. We look forward to seeing you there.

Senator Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science and Resources, announced in April the 26 recipients of the latest Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) funding round.

With the inclusion of the four new centres announced today, there are now 67 CRC's across Australia. All centres fit within the six targeted industry sectors - manufacturing technology, information and communications technology, mining and energy, agricultural and rural-based manufacturing, environment and medical science and technology.

"Cooperative Research Centres are designed to encourage collaboration between industry, educational institutions and government, thus leading to the development of leading edge research" Senator Minchin said.

"The program provides business with a unique opportunity to work in partnership with research institutions and to focus research relevant to industry's needs."

Total research investment for this round of funding is $1,866 million over a seven year period, of which $397 million has been contributed by the Commonwealth, $419 million by industry and $1,050 million by other CRC participants. Annual Commonwealth funding for both the new Centres announced in April and existing CRC's will be $140 million in 1999-2000 and $141 million in 2000-2001.

A list of the successful CRC's and their contact details is below.

CRC for Cattle and Beef Quality - headquarters in Armidale

Contact: Professor Bernie Bindon, 02 6773 3291

CRC for Australian Cotton - headquarters in Narrabri

Contact: Dr. Gary Fitt, 02 6799 1514

CRC for Tropical Plant Production - headquarters in Brisbane

Contact: Professor John Irwin, 07 3365 2790

CRC for Viticulture - headquarters in Adelaide

Contact: Dr. Jim Hardie ,08 8303 9405

CRC for Biological Control of Pest Animals - headquarters in Canberra

Contact: Mr. Neil White, 02 6242 1791

CRC for Freshwater Ecology - headquarters in Canberra

Contact: Professor Peter Cullen 02 6201 5168

CRC for Bioproducts - headquarters in Melbourne

Contact: Dr. Douglas Hawley, 03 9706 9730

CRC for Micro Technology -headquarters in Melbourne

Contact: Dr. Robert Hobbs, 03 9534 0909

CRC for Asthma - headquarters in Sydney

Contact: Professor Ann Woolcock, 02 9515 7062

CRC for Vaccine Technology - headquarters in Brisbane

Contact: Professor Michael Good, 07 3362 0430

The Australian Government's Department of Industry Science & Resources recently re-launched its Biotechnology Section to provide an interactive link between Government, research and commerce. The Department's new biotech website is located at:http://www.biotech.isr.gov.au

This site contains the full directory of Australian biotechnology organisations developed jointly with the Australian Biotechnology Association. The directory is also available on a CD ROM in PDF format. The CD ROM is a little tricky to use and it's difficult to obtain a list of all biotech organisations on the list. It can be done by searching using the word "Companies".

The new on-line version contains less background information than that available in ABA's earlier print editions - a good example is to look at AMRAD's entry. However, the information is up-to-date and all current for 1999 and it was produced quickly. It is planned that organisations will be able to update their entries at any time. Information on how to go about this can be obtained from: ba@isr.gov.au

The Australian-developed world leading treatment for the influenza virus - RelenzaTM - is now available on prescription from pharmacists across the country. Australians suffering the flu this winter will be first in the world to have access to this revolutionary new product which will help combat the often devastating effects of the influenza virus.

Indicated for the treatment of influenza A and B infection in anyone over the age of 12, Relenza is the first antiviral proven to be effective against all strains of the influenza virus.

In order to help Australian patients benefit from this important new treatment for influenza, Glaxo Wellcome Australia has established the `Relenza InFLUmation Program'

This program has been set up to provide education on influenza and Relenza, access to Relenza for some high risk patients until PBS listing is achieved, and weekly reports on flu activity from Relenza's national influenza surveillance program.

While a limited number of high risk patients will have access to Relenza product samples via their GP, all patients are now able to purchase Relenza from their pharmacist with a valid script from their GP.

The price of Relenza to the consumer is determined by a number of factors including manufacturing, delivery and wholesale costs, prescription fees and the retailers' costs. In the case of Relenza, the recommended retail price for a full five-day course is $62.50

Relenza is administered via oral inhalation which means the drug is delivered directly to the site of infection in the airways where influenza virus replicates. Inhaled delivery facilitates a rapid antiviral effect and also minimises unnecessary exposure to the rest of the body resulting in an excellent safety profile, shown in clinical trials to be equivalent to placebo.

Both the efficacy and good safety profile of Relenza have been demonstrated in a number of large scale clinical trials involving more than 4000 patients.

Professor Chris Silagy, from Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, who has conducted Australian trials on Relenza, said reported studies have consistently demonstrated statistically and clinically significant benefits in influenza patients treated with Relenza compared with those receiving placebo.

"The duration and severity of symptoms such as headache, cough, sore throat, myalgia, and loss of appetite are all significantly reduced by Relenza enabling patients to return to their normal activities much earlier," Professor Silagy said.

The Government's budget allocation of $22.5 million to establish a Commonwealth Technology Port at Melbourne Dockland will provide a significant boost for research and development in Victoria, the Minister for Communications, the Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, said recently. "The park will focus on industrial research and is likely to generate $400 million in new investment over the next 10 years, with significant flow-on employment benefits for Victoria and the rest of the nation well into the next century," Senator Alston said. "Funding for this important four-year initiative is provided in full in this year's budget - delivering in full the Government's A Vision for Excellence election promise."

Senator Alston and Victoria's Industry, Science and Industry Minister, Mr Mark Birrell, officially launched the Technology Port in May.The Technology Port will form an integral part of the giant $4 billion Docklands project - one of the world's largest inner city urban and waterfront renewal projects, which is revitalising the southern entry to the city centre of Melbourne.The Technology Port is designed to provide joint venture opportunities for major technology users, educational institutions, universities and researchers. It will help commercialise innovative technologies across a broad range of industries in Victoria and throughout Australia, particularly in the high growth areas of multimedia, biotechnology, telecommunications and entertainment technologies.

"A key theme of the Technology Port is the provision of a strong networking environment for inventors, technology entrepreneurs, start up businesses and small to medium enterprises," Senator Alston said. Commonwealth funds of $22.5 million over four years were allocated in the 1999-2000 budget announced on Tuesday, with initial funding of $2 million in 1999-2000.

The Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation and CSIRO are collaborating to develop an environmentally friendly alternative to termite control in urban areas.

Scientists at CSIRO Entomology have identified strains of the naturally-occurring fungus Metarhizium which have the potential to control termites in buildings and other built structures.

The fungus Metarhizium produces tiny spores which can kill termites by penetrating the body surface and multiplying throughout the termite's blood and body cavities. After death, the fungus then grows out new green spores ready to infect another termite and hence begin another fungal life cycle.

Most importantly, the strain of the fungus which infects termites is safe for humans and has no effect on creatures other than the target termites.

"The research still has some way to go" said Project Leader Dr Richard Milner at CSIRO to day. "Termites are clever enough to detect threats to their colony, so the fungus must be introduced in such a way that it is undetectable by them."

Dr Milner said that previous research had concentrated on discovering ways of getting the infectious spores to the centre of the nests when applied directly, while the current research aims to extend this method to use from a remote feeding site such as in an infested house.

Infested house timbers are usually the obvious clue to urban termite presence, but frequently the location of the colony's nest is unknown.

"In these cases, the challenge is to get enough of the infective spores into the colony to kill it. This is achieved either using a trap and treat system, or a spore-treated bait system installed in the immediate area," said Dr Milner. "Our recent research has now identified strains of Metarhizium that are less detectable by termites and special bait formulations have been developed which aid the fungus in escaping detection."

Dr Milner indicated that now that the formulations have shown their promise in the laboratory, various bait systems are being extensively trialled under field conditions in NSW. The company Seed, Grain and Biotechnology Australia (SGB) in Wodonga, Victoria is collaborating with CSIRO in this work. The company is mass-producing the infective fungal spores and testing fungal formulations in real-life urban situations.

Before such a novel biological control agent can be marketed, it must be registered by the National Registration Authority (NRA). The current field trials are designed to provide some of the information necessary for registration and product marketing.

Monsanto's "terminator technology" may not be terminated, but neither will it be germinated soon because of the global furor it has caused. St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. announced Thursday that it would not market the controversial new gene technology until the completion of studies that examine the environmental, economic and social effects.

"We believe that the concerns about gene protection technologies should be heard and carefully considered before any decisions are made to commercialize them," the company said in a statement. So-called terminator technology is one of the seed-sterilization methods being developed to prevent genetically modified seeds from being used for free. If crops produce sterile seeds, farmers must buy new seeds at the next planting.

For Monsanto, this announcement amounts to a retreat from its spirited defense of the technology. Philip Angell, Monsanto's director of communications, said the company had taken its new position "because the reaction to terminator in a lot of different quarters in many countries was clearly becoming the dominant discussion about biotechnology." Angell said Monsanto had consulted with prominent scientists before issuing its statement, which he described as "recognition that we need some level of public acceptance to do our business." Monsanto is not alone in developing the technology, which is believed to be several years from the market.

But Monsanto has drawn most of the heat because of a widely publicized US patent for sterilization awarded last year to the Department of Agriculture and a Mississippi seed company that Monsanto is acquiring. In parts of the world, seed-saving is fiercely protected. Farmers and their advocates fear the loss of this age-old practice along with diminished seed choices that they see resulting from recent consolidation of seed companies by Monsanto and its rivals. Farmers have reacted angrily, even violently, to the prospect of these changes. In November, members of a farm cooperative in India - where 70 percent of farmers save seeds - burned two of Monsanto's experimental fields. Meanwhile, scientists and farm economists in the world's largest agriculture research network - the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research - voted late last year to condemn the technology. It was unclear who would conduct new studies and when.

A United Nations scientific and technology panel organized under the Convention on Biological Diversity already is studying terminator technologies, and several countries are pushing for wider UN involvement. The International Food Policy Research Institute also may be studying the issue. Phil Pardey, a research fellow for the Washington-based institute, referred Thursday to "a woeful lack of understanding of the potential impacts on both developed and developing nations." Jim Moody, president of Washington-based Inter-Action, said he had agreed to help disseminate information about the technology to the 160 organizations under his umbrella.

InterAction is known primarily for helping refugees and disaster victims. The Rural Advancement Foundation International, which has offices in the United States and Canada, coined the terminator technology phrase and has been the most vocal critic of plant sterility research. The foundation's Hope Shand predicted that studies will recommend that the technology be dropped. Monsanto often has fought for global acceptance of biotechnology with little help from rivals, and it may be alone in the terminator controversy.

A spokeswoman for Swiss-based Novartis, Monsanto's main rival in the business of genetic science, referred to the issue as "a Monsanto matter" and declined to comment. A DuPont spokesman said his company had no plan to pursue the technology.

Business Wire, the global leader in news distribution, and Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., the world's leading biotechnology publisher, announced recently a strategic alliance to provide the biotech and health care industries with a unparalleled media distribution and research capability.

The new venture, "BioWire2K.com," will capitalize on the proven strengths of its partners. Business Wire's comprehensive distribution network to the international news media, global investment community, the Internet, online services and databases will serve as the backbone of the new service.

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., is the publisher of Genetic Engineering News (GEN), the most widely read publication in the biotechnology industry, and some 60 other publications. Liebert will provide sophisticated media research and specialised distribution channels that will enable companies to pinpoint their news to appropriate trade media and industry professionals.

"The combination of Business Wire's saturation coverage of the global media and financial industry, coupled with Mary Ann Liebert's unequaled knowledge of the biotech and health care landscape, will provide clients with a powerful and extremely effective distribution vehicle," said Cathy Baron-Tamraz, executive vice president of Business Wire.

Business Wire, the world's largest commercial news service with a satellite reach of some 100 countries, was founded in 1961 by Lorry I. Lokey, its president and veteran journalist and public relations executive. The company is a leading source of news on major U.S. corporations, including a majority of Fortune 1000 and NASDAQ companies.

Business Wire electronically disseminates full-text news releases for public and investor relations professionals simultaneously to the news media, Internet, online services and worldwide investor community.

Bayer Diagnostics announced recently that it has received the first Australian Government regulatory approval to supply a new generation of tests for measuring the HIV virus in patients at risk of developing AIDS - which will ensure a significant advance in patient treatment management.

The test, Bayer Quantiplex HIV-1, RNA 3.0 bDNA, was developed by Chiron Corporation, the company that identified Hepatitis C and whose diagnostics business was recently acquired by Bayer for US$1.1 billion.

Recent developments in drug therapies for HIV patients have exciting success rates in slowing or halting the progression of the disease to full-blown AIDS. However, the greatest success is limited to those patients with lowest blood levels of circulating virus.

Until now, measurements of circulating virus, known as viral load tests, have been limited by an inability to detect the virus below the level of 500 per ml of blood. Bayer Diagnostics' new HIV bDNA test is ten times more sensitive than previously approved tests, being able to measure the virus at less than 50 in a ml of blood.

In 1998, PBS funding of HIV drug therapies was $61.7 million. As viral load tests are used to monitor efficacy of therapy and avoid unnecessary use, they contribute significantly to controlling those costs. There are an estimated 30-35,000 viral load tests conducted in Australia annually, covered by Medicare.

Professor John Mills of the MacFarlane Burnet Centre believes Australia is a leader in HIV research and patient management.

The Bayer Diagnostics HIV bDNA test was developed by Chiron Diagnostics. On September 17, 1998 Bayer and Chiron announced that Bayer would acquire Chiron's diagnostics business for US$1.1 billion in cash, plus licensing and royalty fees.

Included in the agreement are Chiron's immunodiagnostic, critical care diagnostic, nucleic acid diagnostic and clinical chemistry businesses. The combined organisation now offers Australian customers a complete line of products spanning the critical care testing, laboratory testing, point of care testing, nucleic acid testing and self-testing market segments.

Bayer's Diagnostics Business Group, headquartered in Tarrytown, NY (HYPERLINK http://www.bayerdiag.com) is one of the largest diagnostics businesses in the world. The company serves customers in 100 countries with an offering that includes diagnostics systems in three key segments: Laboratory testing, point of care testing and self-testing. Bayer Diagnostics, incorporating the former Chiron Diagnostics, now has approximately 8,000 employees worldwide with combined 1997 sales of close to $A3 billion.

Barramundi that prematurely change their sex to become females are causing big headaches for aquaculture farmers.

All barrumundi are born as males and normally change to females when they are about 6 years old. But young males selected to be breeding stock at the farms are changing prematurely, when they are only two years old. It isn't known why they change, but farmers need an established stock of breeding males to improve the quality and output of the fish they sell.

Fish quite often change sex and some have the ability to go back and forth. Scientists think that hormonal regulators or good farm food might be causing the barramundi to change. Dr. Trevor Anderson, a CRC Aquaculture scientist working at the James Cook University in Townsville, expects to track down the cause in the next year. He has tried to solve the problem by placing a slow-release pill containing testosterone in the fish, through a small cut in muscular tissue. Another possible solution is trying to fool them into thinking they are living in long summer days.

"If the water is a bit warmer and the hours of daylight longer, then wild barramundi keep on being males and keep on spawning. But this doesn't seem to work for the barramundi bred in aquaculture - it's got us scratching our heads," Dr. Anderson says.

Barrumundi farms have expanded rapidly over the last six years, and now produce about $10 million worth of fish each year. Cris Phillips, a North Queensland barramundi farmer and former President of the Barramundi Farmers' Association, thinks the industry has the ability to treble over the next ten years, and solving the breeding problem will be a big step on the way. The industry is located in Queensland between Townsville and Mossman and in Brisbane; in NSW at Wagga; in SA at Robe; and in WA at Lake Eyre.

Partners in the CRC Aquaculture research project are: James Cook University, the Queensland Department of Primary Industry, the Australian Institute of Marine Science; the NT Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries; the Australian Barramundi Farmers' Association; and three private hatcheries.

For more information contact: Dr. Trevor Anderson, CRC for Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville. QLD 4811 Tel: (07) 4781 5586 Fax: (07) 4781 4585 email: Trevor.Anderson@jcu.edu.au

Known as the "kissing disease" glandular fever is one illness many teenagers are keen to avoid! But it may not be long before glandular fever is under the control of science. Researchers at the CRC for Vaccine Technology (CRC-VT) are working towards a vaccine for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the virus responsible for glandular fever and other diseases like nasopharyngeal cancer.

Once you are infected with EBV, the virus remains in your body for life, although you may not get sick from the infection. Eighty per cent of people have the virus. Many people are infected as a child, but if you are infected as a teenager, you have a 50 per cent chance of developing glandular fever (also known as Infectious Mononucleosis or IM). It is spread mainly through saliva, which is why it is called the "kissing disease". When someone is infected with EBV and gets ill, part of the virus, the antigen, stimulates the immune system and cytotoxic T cells (CTL), or killer T cells, are produced to control the disease.

The immune system also produces "memory cells" which remain in the person's blood stream. If another EBV infection occurs, the memory cells recognise the virus and mount a quick response to prevent illness. To make a vaccine, scientists need to imitate an infection and generate CTL without making the person sick. The memory cells from this response then protect the person when the real virus comes along.

For a vaccine against EBV, CRC-VT scientists have defined a number of peptides of the viral proteins, responsible for producing the correct immune response. They then copied one of these peptides synthetically and used this as the basis of an EBV vaccine. This vaccine is now being trialled in human volunteers. The CRC-VT has programs of research to develop vaccines for a variety of target diseases like melanoma, malaria, rheumatic fever and veterinary diseases.

The CRC-VT also researches new technologies that will be used in the next generation of vaccines.

For further information contact: Communications Officer, The Bancroft Centre, PO Royal Brisbane Hospital, QLD 4029 Tel: (07) 3362 0249 Fax: (07) 3362 1014 email: CRCVT@qimr.edu.au

"On capital market value, some seven out of the top 25 companies in the world are health related. Ten years ago that figure was just two, and in ten years' time, it will be 12 or 13 out of the top 25 companies.

In Australia the sheer size and scale of health is often not properly understood. Over the last decade we spend around 8% of GDP on health.

If you look at last week's Federal Health Budget, there's an enormous task in simply managing the financial side of health.

In Government spending alone, last week's total health budget was over $22 billion - that's around 15 percent larger than the budget of Victoria.

The Pharmaceutical Industry is a vast one and you need to look no further than one firm, Sigma Pharmaceuticals, which has a new Research and Development laboratory in my electorate in outer-eastern Melbourne, as a case in point.

Sigma has undergone massive internal changes including forward integration into the retail sector, and is now the ninth biggest retailer in Australia, earning only 36 million dollars less than David Jones and being only 20 percent smaller than McDonald's.

Facing the challenges in health does and will mean change.As the Wills Review made clear, Australia is one of just a few countries in the world with the capacity to harness the benefits of the revolution in biotechnology. We need to develop the ability to conduct research in this new and exciting field. With biotechnology, we are the cusp of one of the great revolutions in human history.

I believe that in the years and decades ahead, just as the 19th century will be known as the century of industry, and 20th century will be regarded as the century of communications, so, too, because of the undoubted potential that genomics offers, future generations will regard the 21st century as the century of healing.

Biotechnology can potentially create a wealth of new medical treatments and disease prevention measures.

For Australia to be a leader and significant player in this new and emerging field requires what Peter Wills' Report termed the "Virtuous Cycle" - forming a new strategic partnership between medical researchers, Government industry and financial institutions.

It's also clear that the Wills' Report sets out just how vital research is for improvement in the health system generally, and the scope of opportunities that currently exist.

In a field where the lead times are long, where it's not uncommon for changes to take 10 years or more, and where turning research into effective new treatments can take 25 to 30 years, the great challenge that Peter Wills' Report poses is that we must bring these elements together within a relatively short period of time.

The scope is there for a new kind of relationship to form between the private sector and the research community - a relationship that can ensure Australia plays its full and proper part in the `century of healing'.

Florigene, a leading flower biotechnology company, launched its MoonshadowTM flower into the US market at the Super Floral Show in Kansas City in June. MoonshadowTM is a new carnation flower with a unique violet colour.

Florigene CEO, Peter Molloy, said the new carnation followed many years of research and development and was the first of a range of new flowers incorporating the company's patented blue gene.

"Colours in the blue spectrum - violet through to blue - don't normally exist in many types of flowers. By introducing the blue gene, we have opened up the opportunity for a whole new range of novel-coloured flowers. The new carnations are our first products, but we will move to roses and other flowers. Eventually we hope to develop a range of new flowers in colours from violet through to blue," he said.

The Super Floral Show drew some 250 of the US's leading growers and suppliers to discuss trends in the flower industry. Florigene's MoonshadowTM carnation, with its unique violet colour, was a star of the international show, and interest has been extremely high. "There is a huge demand for novel products in the global flower market," Mr. Molloy said.

Mr. Molloy said the first crop of the flowers was being harvested this month in Ecuador for sale in the US. Until now, production and marketing has been limited to small scale quantities and mainly in Australia. "We have committed to a major crop for the US market and expect it to reach volumes of 500,000 flowers per month," he said.

Florigene is an Australian based company that uses biotechnology to develop new commercial varieties of flowers. Florigene has also developed an extended vase life technology, called "EVA" which prolongs the life of cut flowers.

The ABA receives an email newsletter from UK's BioIndustry Association. Details below:

NewsCAST is a weekly email newsletter delivered to individuals within member companies of the BioIndustry Association. It contains feature articles on bio-technology, political, financial and corporate news, as well as up-to-the-minute information on BIA activities and links to articles of general interest on the web.

BioIndustry Association, 14/15 Belgrave Square, London. SW1X 8PS UK Tel: (+44) 171 565 7190 Fax: (+44) 171 565 7191 admin@bioindustry.org
http://www.bioindustry.org

The final count for attendance at BIO '99 in Seattle topped 5,700 - smashing last year's record in New York City by 20 percent for BIO's annual meeting. The success of the 1999 International Meeting & Exhibition has raised expectations for BIO 2000 in Boston next March, where the number of exhibitor booths will jump by nearly 50 percent to 700 at the Hynes Convention Centre.

BIO '99 also set a record for the largest international contingent, which accounted for nearly 29 percent of total attendees compared with 17 to 23 percent in past years. More than 1,650 people from 39 countries outside the United States participated in BIO '99. BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum said, "I didn't expect the New York record to be broken for a couple of years. The Seattle meeting was a huge success and now we are looking for even greater attendance in Boston."

A preliminary study shows, for the first time, the utility of Roche's first-generation automated PCR system to screen HCV, HIV and HBV blood donations in one single multi-plex assay.

In the study of seroconversion panels by Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. (RMS) in the United States, the prototype PCR system detected HBV, HIV and HCV infections much earlier than current immunological assays - by 35 days for HCV; 37 days for HIV; and 14 days for HBV.

Seroconversion is the production of antibodies in response to an antigen. A seroconversion panel is a collection of consecutive blood samples drawn from a given individual from the time of infection until seroconversion. The period from the time of infection is commonly known as the "window period."

"Roche is the first test manufacturer to demonstrate that multi-plexed single unit blood screening for HCV, HIV and HBV is technically feasible using PCR technology," said Chaka Impraim, Ph.D., RMS research and project leader. "The incorporation of HBV in a multi-plex assay with HCV and HIV is a significant technological advance. It has the potential to benefit recipients of blood donations by reducing the time for obtaining test results on all three viruses," he said.

Genetic testing has the potential to greatly improve the health of all Australians through better diagnosis and treatment, screening programs, and early prevention strategies.

A draft information paper about genetic testing, developed by the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is now open for public comment.

Guidance on Ethical Aspects of Human Genetic Testing discusses the ethical issues associated with genetic testing. It is aimed primarily at health professionals and researchers and includes information about obtaining consent, counselling, privacy and confidentiality, and disclosure of genetic information. Members of the public are also welcome to read the document.

The document outlines the main types of tests available in Australia, the genetic material used in testing, and how it is determined which genes the laboratory should study. Also addressed are matters such as equity of access to testing, commercialisation and allocation of resources. A glossary and bibliography are included, to make the document easier to read for the ordinary person.

Regular users will have noticed that the information in the ABA website (www.aba.asn.au) has been comprehensively upgraded in recent weeks. During July, the site is being uplifted with a new graphic design, and some new features will be added.

In addition to the online directory of organisations and online educational leaflets (12 in total), all links have been checked and updated. We will be introducing a password access section for members and subscribers only, and sections on What's new, Breaking Newstory, Press Releases, and Recruitment. Most of the upgrade will be completed by the end of July.

BioResearch Ireland (BRI), the national agency commercialising biotechnology, recently announced that it has signed an exclusive licensing and research agreement with Inhibitex, Inc., A US biopharmaceutical company. The agreement focuses on the prevention and treatment of infections by Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium which causes skin and wound infections and is a major cause of hospital acquired infections worldwide. In cases, where the pathogen has developed resistance to antibiotics, it can cause life threatening septicaemia. Forty percent of all deaths from hospital acquired infections are caused by Staphylococcal infections.

The research agreement is based on work being carried out by researchers at BRI's National Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Centre at the Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin (TCD). Under the terms of the agreement, Inhibitex will fund two years of discovery research with BRI. Based on the achievement of technological goals, Inhibitex guarantees extension of the agreement for an additional two years. In exchange, BRI will grant Inhibitex an exclusive worldwide license, with the right to sublicense, any specific proteins discovered as a result of the collaboration. Five patent applications now cover this exclusive technology.

A high level Trade and Investment mission, led by the Honourable Dato'Seri Rafidah Aziz, Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, will visit Australia from 1 - 8 August, 1999 to promote and further strengthen the business and investment links between Australia and Malaysia. The mission members will include private sector representatives and senior officials from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, Malaysian Trade and Development Corporation and State Governments.

In conjunction with this mission, seminars on "Business Opportunities in Malaysia" will be held in the following cities:

The objective of these seminars is to update Australian businessmen on the current financial and economic development taking place in Malaysia as well as to appraise them of the opportunities that exist for trade, tourism and investment in Malaysia.

The Malaysian economic recovery is gaining momentum, with international investment house Goldman Sachs predicting a gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the country of 2% this year, rising to 3.9% in 2000. The business environment in Malaysia continues to remain attractive for long term capital investment. The 1998, FDI approved projects increased by 14% to US$3.4 billion from US$3.0 billion in 1997. The liberal investment policies, excellent infrastructure facilities, productive labour force and attractive tax incentives are some of the factors that have attracted more than 3,000 multinational corporations from 33 countries to invest in Malaysia.

You are cordially invited to attend any of the above seminars and avail yourself of the opportunity to be updated on the current economic situation in Malaysia and its future prospects. Seminar participants will have the opportunity to interact with the Minister on matters related to business and investment in Malaysia. You will also be able to engage in meaningful discussion with the private sector members regarding business collaborations and joint venture possibilities.

Participation is free subject to prior registration.

For further information regarding participation, please contact:

Mr Mohd Zain Sakmah, Director MIDA Sydney,
Tel: (02) 9251 1933
Fax: (02) 9251 4333 or
Ms Maimunah Hamed,
Trade Commissioner MATRADE,
Tel: (02) 9252 2270
Fax: (02) 9252 2285

The Academy of Science has an important National Science and Industry Forum Report - "Gene Technology and Food." This was issued online in April 1999 on the Academy's website (www.science.org.au). It is a 16 page report of the Forum held at the National Maritime Museum in Sydney on 31 March 1999.

The Forum will continue to exist in this ongoing debate, and it is possible to participate in future activities. Contact Tel: (02) 6247 5777

The Scientific Suppliers Association of Australia Inc. (SSAA) announces that the Science Queensland '99 Exhibition will be held from the 9th - 11th November 1999 in the Commerce Building, RNA, Brisbane.

This event is planned to substantially duplicate the success of the inaugural Science Queensland exhibition held at the same venue in April 1997. It is expected that a number of Professional Societies will run a series of concurrent seminars at Science Queensland for their members.

Intending visitors to the exhibition will be able to obtain more information and pre-register for the event on the SSAA website in due course. Please visit our site at http://www.ssaa.asn.au and also view the extensive Product Locator and Event Diary sections on our website.

For further details please contact: Alan Lawrenson - Business Manager, The Scientific Suppliers Association of Australia Inc., Tel: (02) 9804 8051 Fax: (02) 9804 8052 or email: ssaa@enternet.com.au

The Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF), under newly appointed Director Dr Gary Cobon, has its sights set on the future.

APAF is a Major National Research Facility set up in 1998 with Commonwealth funds of $7 million. It provides cutting edge proteomic research and analytical services to the Australian scientific community.

Technologies offered by APAF include 2D gel-electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, robotics, protein sequencing, amino acid analysis and post translational modification analysis. When these techniques are integrated the proteome analysis process is fast and highly sensitive.

The technology can be applied in the areas of microbiology, pharmacy, medicine and agriculture. Current APAF investigations range from pathenogic bacteria to high production wheat varieties.

Parramatta could become a world centre for the biomedical industry, following an announcement by the GROW Employment Council to conduct a $100,000 feasibility study into the development of a Biomedical Business Park near Westmead Hospital.

The GROW study, to be jointly funded by the Federal Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development, was launched by Federal MP for Parramatta, Ross Cameron, at the University of Western Sydney in March 1999.

The study will use the medical and research strengths of Westmead Hospital and the University of Western Sydney to generate high levels of job and investment opportunities in Parramatta. The biotechnology industry, which uses advanced biological techniques such as genetic research to develop effective treatments, improvements and cures for everything from cancer to livestock quality, is one of the fastest growing in the world.

Mr Jim Bosnjak OA, Chairman of GROW, said the study would find out how Parramatta can become a major Asia-Pacific centre for biomedical research and development. "GROW believes Westmead meets all the criteria necessary for it to become a world-class centre for the biomedical industry. Not only is it already the largest health precinct in Australia with 4,500 employees, but biomedical research work is already firmly established."

Westmead Hospital currently has 130 full time researchers, 100 part time and 100 phD students working on projects covering almost every area of the biomedical industry. Every project is on the cutting edge of medical science, including studies to prevent Cystic Fibrosis and ways to advance procedures in transplantation medicine.

Mr Bosnjak said the Biomedical Park would provide links between three universities, a major teaching hospital with associated clinical research facilities and private sector organisations in the pharmaceutical and medical industries.

Parramatta City Council is also firmly behind the plan. Dr Alex Shamgar, Principal Planner Prosperity at Parramatta City Council, said there was a broad skill base in Parramatta - particularly in the biomedical industry.

Australian technology companies are calling it "the death of the clever country". The Federal Opposition says it is "a national emergency". Venture capitalists warn it is at the point of "do or die". R&D in Australia is at the crossroads, according to a report by Nick Tabakoff and Tony Featherstone to be published in BRW on 2nd July.

Despite Australia's reputation for innovation and leading edge technology, some ideas are not being successfully commercialised here and instead, are moving offshore. Australia is missing the opportunity to capitalise on the commercialisation of R&D to become an exporter of technology, as opposed to a user.

A combination of inadequate tax concessions, political complacency, venture capital shortages and onerous assessment procedures of AusIndustry has forced Australia to fall behind many countries in terms of R&D capabilities.

The partner in charge of R&D at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Viv McCarron, believes the turning point for Australian companies was the Howard Government's decision in 1996 to cut the tax concession from 150% to 125%. "More people aren't bothering to claim any more. With the con-cession rate now at 125%, it eff- ectively means the amount of the concesssion is nine cents in the dollar. It is simply no longer a terribly cost-effective thing to do."

Heather Ridout, national policy director of the Australian Industry Group (AIG), is particularly scathing: "I don't think people understand the long-term damage that is being done to Australia by neglecting R&D. At the moment, we have a 125% tax concession plus a yet-to-prove-itself grants scheme. Frankly, this is extremely weak."

At the same time, a void exists in R&D funding that has prompted the launch of at least 10 Australian venture capital funds specialising in high technology in the past two years. These and others now control $300 million in funds under management and are a crucial link between res-earch ideas and their commercial application. Australia's venture capital resources are dwarfed when compared with Israel's estimated $US3 billion. The shortage of funding in Australia is forcing companies to develop their technology overseas.

Ridout says: "Other countries are doing everything they can to drive their high-tech development. By comparison, Australia is doing very little. My view is that, when it comes to R&D, we are complacent at the political level. And it is becoming increasingly obvious that our politicians can't afford to be complacent. R&D is hugely important to our economic future."

But in spite of such views, Federal Minister for Industry, Nick Minchin, says the across theboard 125% tax deduction is here to stay. "We are committed to 125%, and that is relatively generous in world terms."

Mr Phil Scanlan AM, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Bonlac Foods, will lead a large Australian business delegation to Israel to attend the Agritech '99 Exhibition from 2 - 8 September.

It is also expected that a large group of agribusiness representatives will attend from South Australia and The Hon. Rob Kerin MP, South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Deputy Premier has confirmed that he will lead the South Australian delegates on the Mission.

Agritech '99 is the show-case for Israel's world-renowned agricultural technology and integrated solutions. It will feature the very latest Israeli technology in many sectors of modern agriculture including irrigation and ferti-gation, water management, planting and propagation, mach-inery, poultry breeding and livestock, aquaculture, computerised information and management systems, chemical and organic fertilisers, food processing, plant protection and greenhouse systems.

More information:

Visit our web site: http://www.aicc.org.au/

Email: sydney@aicc.org.au

Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien will lead a Team Canada trade mission to Australia and Japan. The mission will visit Melbourne from September 19-21 and Sydney from September 22-24. Team Canada is a uniquely Canadian approach to expand its trade and other linkages with its key political and economic partners. This visit will provide a not-to-be-missed opportunity for Australian firms to expand on an already successful trade and investment collaboration or establish new business links with Canadian counterparts.

Team Canada trade missions are the cornerstone of Canada's trade promotion activities. They combine the efforts of the Prime Minister, the 13 Provincial Premiers and Territorial Leaders, the Minister for International Trade, the mayors of major Canadian municipalities and approximately 300 business leaders to raise Canada's international profile by promoting commercial partnerships for Canadian suppliers of high-quality goods and services.

The business participants in Team Canada range from large, globally-recognized firms to young entrepreneurs with fledgling companies, from university deans to arts and culture promoters. During the mission, these business leaders and the accompanying Canadian political delegation will meet with Australia's leading political and business figures to explore ways to strengthen Canada's economic ties with Australia.

By establishing partnerships with Canadian businesses for example, Australians can gain preferred access to a North American market of 386 million people, through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). A number of Australian companies have already taken advantage of Canada's cost and other advantages within NAFTA, by locating their North American operations there, either alone or in partnership with a Canadian firm. Similarly, Canadian companies can - and increasingly are - benefiting from partnerships with Australian firms to tap into their expertise and establish gateways to the expanding Asian market.

The Canadian business delegation to Australia will concentrate on nine priority industrial groups: biotechnology; aerospace; electric power and new energy; agriculture and agri-food; building technologies and materials; information and communications technologies; environment; mining/natural resources, and healthcare, plus education services. A series of business forums and networking events will be organized around these industries in both Melbourne and Sydney.

For more information about the Team Canada Biotechnology sessions, please contact:

Life Sciences Sector
Canadian Consulate General
Level 5, 111 Harrington Street, Sydney 2000
Tel: (02) 9364 3047

AMRAD Corporation Limited (ASX:AML) has announced its 1999/2004 Strategic Plan which lays the foundation for near-term growth in shareholder value. AMRAD has identified that increased shareholder value can be generated by AMRAD Pharmaceutical R&D, AMRAD Pharmaceuticals and AMRAD ICT.

In this regard:

• AMRAD Pharmaceutical R&D will be focussed on more advanced pharmaceutical projects providing a clear pathway to international collaborations.
• AMRAD Pharmaceuticals is profitable and generates cash to AMRAD through dividends. It can continue to generate long term shareholder value.
• AMRAD ICT has the potential to deliver significant shareholder value and will be pursued in spite of near-term losses and cash consumption. The division should pass break even in 1999/2000.
• AMRAD Discovery Technologies can generate growth in value, however this is likely to be in the longer-term for AMRAD while consuming cash in the near-term. Advisers have been appointed to seek means to externally fund an expansion of the business to delivery shareholder value.
• While AMRAD Biotech is a growing, profitable and valuable business, it is not a core business for AMRAD. An adviser has been appointed to sell AMRAD Biotech and maximise its cash value.
• Overhead and administrative expenses will be reduced to satisfy the needs of a more tightly focussed AMRAD business.

Implementing these changes will result in some staff redundancies. The planned result is that AMRAD's more advanced pharmaceutical projects that can contribute to shareholder value will be aggressively pursued in a context that should see the company profitable in the 2000/01 year.

AMRAD will continue to work with its valuable network of leading Australian pharmaceutical research institutions. Access to their discoveries will remain unchanged. AMRAD's key management will also remain unchanged.

"With two pharmaceutical projects in clinical trials, three likely to move to clinical trials in the next financial year, AMRAD has moved to a new and more advanced stage of its development. The quality and value of its more advanced pharmaceutical projects is reflected in the level of interest exhibited by international pharmaceutical companies which may fund the advanced development and market introduction of the projects. These last stages of development should see growth in shareholder value. AMRAD's obligation is to ensure such development happens as soon as possible," said Ralph Ward-Ambler, AMRAD Chairman.

"Australia has a limited amount of time to secure a role in the biotechnology revolution rapidly gaining momentum around the world. In response, AMRAD has recognised the need to move forward fast, to capitalise on this opportunity, and ensure promising Australian medical research discoveries receive the resources required to achieve success on the world stage."

Biota Holdings Limited (ASX:BTA) has announced that Glaxo Wellcome has received regulatory approval to market Relenza7 (zanamivir) for the treatment of influenza, in all the countries of the European Union. The regulatory approval is under the European Commission's Mutual Recognition Process.

This follows approval of Relenza in February in Sweden, which then acted as the Reference Member State. Relenza was launched in Australia on 1 May 1999. Biota received 10% of net sales in Australia and 7% of net sales in the rest of the world. Glaxo Wellcome has worldwide marketing rights for Relenza.

"Applications for marketing approvals have now been filed in over 100 countries," commented Dr Hugh Niall, CEO of Biota Holdings Limited. "This European Union approval now means that Relenza is approved for sale in 16 countries around the world. In 1998, the E.U. market represented approximately 25% of global audited pharmaceutical sales."

LIPOXEN Ltd, a new company based on technology acquired from The School of Pharmacy, University of London, and entering the rapidly growing drug delivery systems market, was announced today. The company's lead proprietary technology is based around liposomes to optimise the activity of the new DNA vaccines which are emerging as the next major advance in vaccines and immunisation. A second technology owned by the company includes a new method to prolong the active life of protein and peptide drugs and small molecules using polymers of the naturally occurring molecule sialic acid. LIPOXEN Ltd will apply its novel methods to enhance the delivery and availability of drugs after administration as well as addressing problems where adequate levels of drugs cannot be achieved without intolerance, or the maintenance of therapeutic levels after administration is difficult.

Professor Gregory Gregoriadis, a world-renowned expert on liposomes, is the founder of the company, and originator of its present methodologies. Speaking recently he said "Liposomal formulations are now emerging as significant advances in therapy, decreasing side-effects of potent drugs, and allowing plasma levels to be maintained to increase their therapeutical effect or make their administration to patients more tolerable. LIPOXEN Ltd will apply liposomal methods to a variety of drugs, including particularly DNA vaccines where activity can be substantially enhanced and many of the problems of administration solved. In addition LIPOXEN Ltd will address short half-life compounds, in particular proteins and peptides, where its technology using naturally occurring polymers, rather than the synthetic compound PEG, has been shown to prolong plasma levels of active material significantly. Similar results have been seen with small molecular drugs which can also benefit from the technology."

Dr George Christie, The Chief Executive of the company, previously Vice-President Upjohn Research Laboratories, said "LIPOXEN Ltd is delighted to be able to bring the fruits of Professor Gregoriadis' 30 years experience of drug delivery systems to the market."

The worldwide market for drug delivery systems was estimated at $17 billion in 1996 and was forecast to reach 6% of the global pharmaceutical market by 1997. Growth at 15% per annum is forecast for the foreseeable future. Liposome based products alone are predicted to reach over $2 billion by 2002. DNA vaccines are expected to capture a significant share of the future vaccine market, which is predicted to grow at 12% per annum to $8.7 billion by 2002. Protein and peptide drugs reached $10 billion in 1996 and are predicted to grow to $15-20 billion by 2000.

International pharmaceutical and healthcare company, F H Faulding & Co Limited (Faulding), has announced the acquisition of Bullivants Natural Health Products Pty Ltd (Bullivants), thereby consolidating its position in the fast growing vitamin and health supplement market. The Brisbane-based Bullivants has the largest product range in the nutraceutical category in Australia and has strong brands in both the pharmacy and health food store markets.

Bullivants' turnover has grown rapidly with a record of strong cash flow and profitability. It owns the major brands Nature's Own7, Bio-Organics7 and Natural Nutrition7.

The acquisition increased the Faulding Consumer division's turnover by nearly 60 percent to in excess of AUD200 million. It complements Faulding's existing business with access to the major sales channels in the nutra-ceutical market where until recently it only had a presence with the leading Cenovis7 and Golden Glow7 brands, which are in the grocery and direct marketing channels respectively.

Bullivants' growth has exceeded the 13 percent compound growth rate of the total Australian nutraceutical market since 1994. The nutraceutical market generated revenues in excess of AUD403 million in the last calendar year.

The purchase price for Bullivants was AUD135 million. Faulding will be funding the purchase with a AUD100 million equity raising through a share placement arranged and underwritten by J B Were & Son, with the remainder debt funded from existing committed bank facilities.

Biota and Daiichi Sign Marketing and Distribution Agreement for FLU OIA7

Biota Holdings Ltd announced on 1st July that it has signed a marketing and distribution agreement with Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co. Ltd of Japan for FLU OIA, Biota's rapid influenza diagnostic test. In addition to a share of the profits, Biota will receive a signing fee of approximately A$1 million and could receive additional fees subject to the achievement of certain milestones.

Utilising BioStar's proprietary Optical ImmunoAssay (OIA7) technology, FLU OIA allows the practitioner to collect a patient specimen and detect both influenza A and B within 15 minutes. The test also has the potential to provide rapid diagnosis of unusual flu variants, such as the avian virus found in Hong Kong.

Biota has worldwide marketing rights for the diagnostic test outside the US and has appointed distributors for Australia, major EU markets and now, Japan. Biota is currently reviewing additional alliances to market and distribute the product in other areas.

Biota's US based development partner, BioStar Inc., a subsidiary of Thermo BioAnalysis Corporation (ASE:TBA), has marketing and distribution rights in the US and New Zealand.

Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co. Ltd, a member of the Daiichi Pharmaceutical Group, is based in Tokyo and employs approximately 800 people. It is engaged in four different fields of the life sciences, of which diagnostics is the major focus.

Biotechnology company, Progen Industries Ltd (ASX Code: PGL; Nasdaq Code: PGLAF), has received the green light from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to commence testing its drug, PI-88, in cancer patients in Australia.

The second stage, Phase one trial will take approximately 12 months and will determine the maximum tolerated dosage level of the drug on cancer patients. The trials will be carried out in Melbourne with approximately 40 patients who no longer respond to standard therapies.

Progen Industries Ltd. Managing Director, Mr Alan Scott, said PI-88 had the potential to treat a wide range of cancers including breast, lung, prostate and colon.

Mr Scott said the world cancer therapeutic market was estimated to be currently worth A$20 billion. Following the successful completion of Phase one trials, PI-88 has to undertake a further two phases of testing before Progen will seek approval to market the drug. This is expected to take three to five years. However, if the trials were considered highly successful this process could be fast tracked under US rules.

This milestone in the drug's development follows successful trials in the United Kingdom where PI-88 was tested on healthy people over a six month period to determine a non-toxic injection-starting dose level for the second stage of the phase one trial. Results from these trials showed the drug was well tolerated and behaved as expected.

Mr Scott said the technology used for PI-88 was a potential breakthrough in the treatment of cancer. "Testing of human tumours grown in animals has shown PI-88 effectively reduces the size of the primary cancer tumour and prevents the formation of secondary cancers by stopping abnormal cells from burrowing through the capillary wall," Mr Scott said.

"The spread of cancer to new sites within the body is a major contributing factor to the impact of cancer on patients' lives. PI-88 prevents the cancer cells from burrowing through blood vessels so that they die and are washed away in the bloodstream."

Mr Scott said this type of treatment was a new approach to treating cancer compared to other forms of therapy such as chemotherapy. "Unlike chemotherapy, where the cancer can develop a resistance to the drug, treatment with PI-88 is not expected to result in drug resistance."

As at June 2, 1999, Progen's market capitalisation totalled A$95.7 million.

BIO SHARES

Warning - This table is a guide only to stock movements. Persons should not use this information as the sole basis for business and financial decisions. Advice from financial advisors should be sought.

After the initial buzz on excitement at the Australian Governments' budget announcements of extra funds for medical and health research, and extra money for biotechnology infrastructure, industrial analysts are realising that once again it is largely a matter of "taking from some to give to others." There is in fact little new money for science.

On top of this, there is a realisation by industry that the company-targetted innovation support schemes, such as R & D Start and the R & D Taxation Concession Scheme are going to be continued to be tinkered with. Despite some abuse by a few, the 150% tax concession scheme has resulted in a major R & D boost by profitable Australian companies. It brought them closer to the R & D expenditures of companies in the developed world (by OECD comparisons). One of the first acts of the Howard Government was to reduce the concession to 125%. This had an immediate deleterious effect on company R & D spending, and took it back to the 1991/92 situation. Further internal reviews are planned for both the R & D Start and R & D Taxation Concession Schemes, leading to yet more uncertainty for companies.

Similar uncertainty exists for the research providers too - the Universities and CSIRO. Universities continue to be squeezed, ever increasing the pressure to accept under-qualified fee-paying students and provide them with less. CSIRO is not far behind, with continuous pressure to be more industry-funded, leaving public-good research a very poor cousin. The traditional and important role of CSIRO as the independent unbiased umpire in `public good' areas (such as the environmental areas) is seriously threatened by funding shortages. The very successful CRC program also has had an uncertain future in its short life, and highly successful and industry targetted CRC's such as the CRC for Food Industry Innovation has surprisingly failed to gain renewal in the recently announced round.

The critical point that the Government must realise is that certainty and continuity of funding and funding schemes is much more important than even the level of funding in all science-based endeavour.

Science and its application have long time frames (from 10 to 20 years). Companies cannot expect to be partners in R & D if the financial goal posts are being changed every three or four years. Likewise, scientists should not be diverted from their science on to major fishing trips for funds. The current funding situation for science is so appalling that there is little hope for a new PhD in Science to develop a career as a research scientist. `Constant change' may be the buzzword of business today, but it is certainly the enemy of scientific endeavour.

1. Overview

2. Key points

3. The Australian Biotechnology Association 4. Biotechnology, Innovation and the genera- tion of wealth

5. Scope of the biotechnology industry

5.1 Global situation

5.2 Australian situation:

5.3 Biotechnology and R&D

5.4 Commercialisation of biotechnology 6. Issues relating to the review of business taxation

6.1 Climate to support the development of new discoveries: Australia's needs

6.2 Availability of Venture Capital & Capital Gains Tax

6.3 Government support for R&D

7. Consultations

8. Key References

1. Overview

The Australian Biotechnology Association (ABA) is a national body of companies and individuals dedicated to the development and prosperity of the Australian biotechnology industry.

Specifically, the Australian Biotechnology Association's mission is:

• To encourage and support the commercialisation of Australian bioscience in the international marketplace

The ABA agrees that it is critical that the Government is addressing taxation reform and believes that it presents significant opportunities to foster growth in exports and employment in key high technology sectors.

2. Key points:

• Innovation is a key driver of wealth; biotechnology relies for its exploitation on the generation of ideas and on an appropriate investment climate to develop those ideas commercially.
• High technology industries based on biotechnology are important to the growth of Australian exports, to protection against cheap imports, to employment, to the environment and to the health of our people; this equates to health & prosperity for Australia.

• Venture capital funds are acknowledged as the main reason for the exceptionally strong growth of the US economy since the start of this decade.

• Government support for R&D is important for industries based on biotechnology which have a high requirement for R&D.

3. The Australian Biotechnology Association

The ABA was established in 1985 as a public company limited by guarantee, when the potential for the application of the technology was starting to be realised.

It is a national body of over 400 individuals from research institutions, legal, firms regulatory bodies and companies. In addition there are 40 corporate members; students also form a proportion of the membership.

The objectives of the ABA are to:

• Foster research, development and application of biotechnology in Australia
• Promote communication between the research community and the emerging biotechnology industry and those that service it
• Represent the industry by advising and lobbying government and other national and state bodies on matters of S&T policy relating to biotechnology (including international agreements)
• Foster exchange of information & education on biotechnology
• Represent the Australian biotechnology industry internationally.

4. Biotechnology, Innovation and the generation of wealth

Innovation is the key driver of economic wealth. Indeed in the recent British Government White Paper "Our Competitive Edge: Building the Knowledge Driven Economy" it was noted that

"Nations across the world are becoming progressively more sophisticated and well educated. All markets increasingly demand innovative and higher quality products and services"

and that

"In the global market place, knowledge, skills and creativity are needed above all to give the UK a competitive edge. These are the distinctive assets of a knowledge driven economy."

Biotechnology relies for its exploitation on the generation of ideas and on an appropriate investment climate to develop those ideas commercially. With the increasing mobility of capital and Intellectual Property globally, the Review of Business Taxation provides an opportunity to look at the taxation system and how it impacts Australia's position with the rest of the world.

5. Scope of the biotechnology industry

The National Biotechnology Advisory Committee of Canada reporting in "Leading in the Next Millennium" note that:

"Biotechnology and its applications will rival information technology as a "change maker" in terms of economic growth, employment and quality of life"

World sales of biotechnology based products are estimated to be about US $15 billion with human health care accounting for over 90 per cent of applications and the latter growing at over 10% per annum. Transgenic seeds have captured a major share of US acreage of cotton, soybeans and corn (often over 50%) and plantings of genetically modified varieties have grown rapidly in Argentina and Canada. Industry Canada estimates that the world market for biotechnology application will reach US $50 billion by 2005. The USA has estimated that there is an employment multiplier of 15 arising from the application of biotechnology.

Biotechnology industry revenues in North America have been growing at between 20% and 45% per year; there has been demonstrated growth in employment of around 20% and commitment between 35% and 55% of its revenue to R&D. These are symptoms of a dynamic and committed industry sector with a clear vision of growth.

The USA dominates commercial activity, due to its strong research and industrial base, its well developed venture capital sector and entrepreneurial culture and its regulatory regimes. In the USA most of the development and commercialisation of biotechnology has been through start-up companies; this pattern has been followed in Australia. In Europe biotechnology commercialisation has tended to be concentrated in the large pharmaceutical and agrochemical companies. In Asia, governments have played an important role in driving the adoption of modern biotechnology techniques.

The Australian biotechnology industry is relatively small but is well positioned with some key strategic advantages. Australia has world-class research, good infrastructure, a competitive labour market and is a politically stable country. Australia has the opportunity to emulate the growth experienced in North America and Europe.

Biotechnology companies in Australia comprise about 140 dedicated biotechnology companies which use biotechnology techniques to produce the majority of their goods & services. In addition there are many other companies in human therapeutics, food, veterinary medicine, agriculture and other sectors, which use some biotechnology techniques as part of their production and manufacture. Conservatively, it is estimated that there are about 1000 of such companies which are "minority" users of biotechnology in Australia.

R&D is a key driver of growth in the biotechnology industry.

The biotechnology industry is considered to be a high technology industry that typically has a strong commitment to R&D and a high intensity of R&D expenditure. North American private sector investment in biotechnology R&D is growing at between 20% and 25% per year.

Emerging biotechnology-based firms are heavy consumers of investment capital.

Although biotechnology industries offer excellent prospects for wealth generation, the costs and risks associated with commercialisation remain very high and the time frames can be long. Biotechnology is substantially a research driven technology requiring highly skilled labour. Taking a new diagnostic from applied R&D to market might cost from $2 to $30 million and take up to five years; a new pharmaceutical product or crop variety might require 12 -15 years and over $200 million to bring to the market.

There is a strong need to encourage a climate of investment in new ventures and one that supports high growth companies where revenue and profits are reinvested in the development of the company. The taxation system can support this process

Discoveries are often licensed prematurely to foreign multinationals with a poor return to Australia for the research, much of which is publicly-funded. This is a consequence of the difficulty of raising capital to develop the research to useable products in Australia. Recent examples of this loss include:

• Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF), which stimulates the growth of new tissue and was discovered at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne. As a result of a lack of investment capital in Australia, it was commercialised in Japan and the US for an annual market of over $1 billion, including imports into Australia.
• Pin Technology, the micro-synthesis of multiple peptides, is the basis of combinatorial chemistry for automated testing of biological activity in large-scale screening for potential new drugs. This technology was discovered by an Australian scientist, but has now been developed in the US into a standard analytical screening system for an annual market of over $1 billion.

The availability of venture capital is a key issue for the future development and commercialisation of Australian biotechnology.

Modifications to the current CGT are seen as critical to the encouragement of the Venture Capital industry in Australia. Venture Capital funds are acknowledged as the main reason for the exceptionally strong growth of the US economy since the start of this decade. An internationally competitive CGT is needed in Australia in order to drive the growth based on innovation.

At the recent R&D Tax Workshop hosted by the Innovation Branch of the Department of Industry, Science & Resources, Mr Bill Ferris, Chair, AVCAL's Taxation Committee suggested a CGT of 20% "across the board" and a CGT of zero specifically for off-shore investors which could be identified in a Venture Trust Register held in Australia with an appropriate organisation.

The biotechnology industry believes that the tax system should encourage patient, high-risk venture capital for technology sectors such as biotechnology using a a sliding scale model where CGT is reduced as the time of holding of assets increase. This has been introduced into the UK and aims to reward longer term investors supporting industry growth. Biotechnology ventures are typically long term with little prospect of profit early on.

If growth emulates the North American experiences, investment demand from Australian biotechnology firms can be expected to be in the order of $1b to $4b over the next 5 years. To attract this level of investment, international investment in Australia will be important and competitive tax structures for patient capital investment will be essential.

CGT also impacts on the level of return to individuals in small start-ups as most senior staff take some level of reward in the form of risk sharing equity. The Wills Report (Health & Medical Research Strategic Review: The Virtuous Cycle - Working together for health and medical research) notes that the "involvement of academic and ex-academic researchers is important in establishing biotechnology enterprises" and that "Researchers should have strong financial incentives to be involved in, and contribute to, the success of business enterprises".

Government support for R&D is critical for the growth of the Australian biotechnology industry.

It has been mooted (R&D Review Feb 1999/Australian Financial Review 22 March 1999) that the Government is considering removal of the Tax Concession for R&D as part of its business tax reform.

The ABA fully supports the need for a tax concession for R&D as it provides an on-going incentive, particularly for medium and larger sized companies both from Australia and overseas to invest in R&D in Australia. Removal of the tax concession provides a clear message that the Australian Government does not support R&D.

Australia is seen by some overseas companies as a good environment in the region for investments in R&D to underpin their business enterprises - good and cost effective researchers, good research infrastructure and a politically stable country. We have the opportunity to capitalise on this further. It is important that the value of the concession be retained, as a minimum, at the current level (with an actual benefit of 9c/dollar), otherwise compliance costs will outweigh the benefits. With a reduction in the Corporate Tax Rate the the R&D Tax Concession would need to be increased by an amount that will at least retain its current value. Many, however, argue for a return to the previous level of 150%.

Start-up Companies:

The ABA notes that the current schemes for supporting business expenditure on R&D have some imperfections particularly with respect to small, start-up firms.

Small firms with unproven technology generally find access to the R&D Tax Concession not cost-effective. The compliance costs are too high and the benefits are insufficient to be an incentive for conducting R&D; unless a firm is in profit, the benefits are not immediately available, although tax credits do accrue.

The R&D Start Grants Program is also not readily available to the emerging new technology firms. Selection criteria tend to exclude unproven technologies.

This combination of support for R&D does not service adequately the needs of emerging biotechnology-based firms and the Review of Business Taxation is an opportunity to address the imbalances of the current support for R&D.

Suggestions for support for small start-up companies were made at the recent R&D Tax Workshop hosted by the Innovation Branch of the Department of Industry, Science & Resources. These included an up-front payment of benefits (based on a delivery mechanism like the Canadian system of refundable tax credits). In addition, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) of the UK was seen as good vehicle to further encourage investment in early stage R&D.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme provides "tax deduction at 20% for investments up to around $A400,000 per annum by investors in qualifying small (less than $20 million gross assets) unlisted enterprises if the investment is held for a minimum of 5 years. In addition, CGT is not charged on any gain arising when the shares are sold after 5 years. If disposal is made at a loss then that loss (less income tax relief) can be deducted from taxable income. Further, unlimited CGT roll-over relief is provided for investments in eligible shares by entrepreneur owner/directors".

In addition there was also strong support at the Workshop for tax relief on scrip rollovers (whether they be in the public or private sector or a combination of both); this is seen as critical particularly for smaller companies; it would help to mitigate against premature selling out.

Thus for small start-up companies taxation incentives are needed which help encourage the provision of capital as well as investment for the longer term by both local and overseas institutions as well as individuals (Business Angels).

7. Consultations

A Biotechnology Venture Capital Forum was held on 14 December 1998 in Sydney, co -sponsored by the Australian Biotechnology Association and the Department of Industry, Science & Resources Biotechnology Task Force. The forum reviewed the need, access to, and availability of venture capital for Australian biotechnology firms. The issue of the impact of CGT and other taxes on the availability of venture capital was a central topic at this function. The key points were:

• lack of access to capital for early stage developments (establishing companies)
• high level of Capital Gains Tax in Australia relative to other nations
• the limited biotechnology experience and understanding of biotechnology on the part of Australian venture capitalists.
• the "perceived" risk level associated with biotechnology investment because of the long period from concept to market (including the regulatory process)

• the need to increase the supply of suitable investment opportunities in biotechnology for Australian venture capitalists.

8. Key References

Ernst & Young (1997): "The Coming of Age": Fourth Report on The Canadian Biotechnology Industry

Ernst & Young (1998): "New Directions": Twelfth Biotechnology Industry Annual Report

Ernst & Young (1998): "Continental Shift". European Life Sciences: The Industry Annual Report.

National Biotechnology Advisory Committee (Canada) (1998): "Leading in the next Millennium": Sixth Report.

Thorburn, L. (1998) "Innovation by Australian Biotechnology Companies": Australasian Biotechnology Journal, 8, 280-288.

UK Department of Trade & Industry (1998) The 1998 Competitiveness White Paper: "Our Competitive Future: Building the Knowledge Driven Economy". http://dtiinfo 1.dti.gov.uk/public/frame7.html

1. Introduction

1.1 Australian Biotechnology Association

2. The future value and importance of genetically modified varieties

2.1 Overview

2.2 Plant biotechnology

2.3 Animal biotechnology

3. The ability for producers to compete using traditionally available varieties

4. The commercialisation and marketing of agricultural and livestock production varieties

5. The cost to producers of new varieties

6. Other impediments to the utilisation of new varieties by small producers

7. Assistance to small producers to develop new varieties and the protection of the rights of independent breeders in relation to genetically modified organisms

8. The appropriateness of current variety protection rights, administrative arrangements and legislation, in relation to genetically modified organisms

9. Opportunities to educate the community of the benefits of gene technology.

10. References

1. Introduction

The Australian Biotechnology Association (ABA) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Committee which has been asked to inquire into and report on the following areas, with particular emphasis on the capacity of small and medium sized enterprises to access the benefits of gene technology:

The future value and importance of genetically modified varieties; and

The ability for producers to compete using traditionally available varieties.

Abbreviations used include: GMF for genetically modified foods (where foods are prepared from or using ingredients that have been genetically modified); GMO for genetically modified organisms (which include plants, animals and bacteria which contain extra genetic material inserted via "gene technology").

The Australian Biotechnology Association was established in 1985, as a public company limited by guarantee, when the potential for the application of gene technology was starting to be realized. It is a national body of over 500 individuals from research, legal, regulatory and company back- grounds; there are also about 40 corporate company members; students also form a proportion of the membership. The ABA is dedicated to the development and prosperity of Australia through the safe use of biotechnology as well as better communications between all sectors of biotechnology. A particular objective is to contribute to improving the understanding of all Australians about biotechnology. One of the ways this has been done has been to produce 12 leaflets that explain about the technology and its application and regulation. A copy of these is appended.

2. The future value and importance of genetically modified varieties

Growing and processing food through fermentation were two of the earliest uses for biotechnology. It is now apparent that there are many opportunities for modern biotechnology to speed traditional plant and animal improvement (through tissue culture, genomic technologies, gene marker and mapping techniques, artificial insemination , and production of transgenic organisms) and can also enable traits from unrelated species to be combined (Parker and Zilberman 1995; Kleiner 1997).

Food is sold to a marketplace that is perhaps more complex than many other biotechnology markets, where consumer perception can very easily be adversely affected by emotionally slanted or misleading information (e.g. food scares based on careless public statements- see for example New Scientist 22 May 1999, and 31st October 1998; Wahlquist 1999). Initial offerings of GMF to the market may not be well accepted if consumers are not led to understand how they will benefit indirectly by productivity increases on the farm (e.g. by reduced costs, better export sales and their flow on effects), improved food quality, better environmental management from technological improvements currently on offer and security of future food supply from breeding of more resilient disease resistance into crops.

Genetic modification can lead to development of:

• more productive crops,
• crops with improved resistance to pests and diseases, resulting in lower use of pesticides;
• crops with modified fats, oils or improved nutritional value to make them more healthy for human consumption;
• crops which produce novel industrial or therapeutic enzymes; these new crops are processed for industrial or health, rather than food uses.

These developments are poised to have a major impact on commercial production. In the viticulture industry, for example, biotechnology is developing improved grapes which, at the same time, are resistant to important pests and diseases (Robinson 1998). Transgenic rice is resistant to the yellow stem borer, which is important in the Asian market (Quiddington 1995). Cotton resistant to the bollworm caterpillars allows reduction in pesticide sprays, which through spray drift have caused problems in beef-producing properties.

Biotechnology can enable growers to modify the chemical and physical characteristics of plant products so that they meet consumer demands for low fats, better flavour, improved shelf life and other desirable traits (Biotechnology News 1995; OECD 1996; Hedley et al. 1996; Shimamoto 1998). Crops such as canola can be engineered with changed oil quality and content. Australia is second only to Canada as an exporter of canola; these exports earned Australia about $500 million in 1998. Last year 40% of the Canadian area sown to canola was of genetically modified varieties and this proportion is expected to increase. The benefits of improved food quality for consumers (eg adjustment of amino acid or other content, removal of deleterious plant metabolites, to suit human metabolism) are incontrovertible.

Globally, over 1800 field trials of transgenic plants were conducted between 1987 and 1995 (OECD 1996), but the first marketing approvals for genetically-modified crops were not granted until 1994 (Thayer 1995). By 1997 the products of 10 such crops (e.g. tobacco, tomato, rapeseed, soybean, chicory and maize) had been approved for sale in the European Union (EU) (Muller et al. 1997). A further 38 species are currently being tested (Malik 1998). Substantial numbers of hectacres of plantings have occurred in China with a less stringent regulatory system. It is expected that agricultural/food products based on biotechnology will comprise only 4% of the total agriculture market , and 20% of the food market by Yr 2000 (Jones 1998) (OECD 1996).

In Australia as yet there are no commercial crops for use as GMFs but Ingardâ cotton, genetically-modified to contain insecticidal proteins active against the cotton boll worm, was introduced in 1996. Other products are being trialed in the field and transgenic canola crops are expected in two to three years.

Successful use of biotechnology in plant and animal agriculture requires an understanding of the genetics of many plant and animal (pest and product) species. Major areas of R&D cover plant genome research, metabolic studies, development of novel plant products, pest management and diagnostic tools (National Science and Technology Council 1995). The average R&D investment by ag-biotech firms is 17% of sales/turnover, but this ranges widely depending on the actual target market (Kidd 1995).

For animal products biotechnology enables development of animals with modified growth rates, thus bringing them to market earlier at a lower cost. It also enables the development of animals that are resistant to pests and diseases (thus lessening the need for treatment with chemicals such as pesticides) and production of, for example, polyunsaturated "meat on-the-hoof", low fat milk and stronger wool. It potentially provides sources of useful "biochemicals" for human use, such as pharmaceuticals from milk ("pharming"). Like plant agriculture, animal biotechnology research is focused on animal genetics, metabolic studies, development of novel products and diagnostic tools (National Science and Technology Council 1995).

3. The ability for producers to compete using traditionally available varieties

If Australian primary producers are to remain competitive in national and international markets, the future value and importance of genetically modified varieties should not be under-estimated. Cost of goods sold has been driven down relentlessly since about 1980 in response to international and domestic pressures. In the long term it is projected that Australian producers will grow genetically modified varieties rather than traditionally available varieties, as it is expected that the profit margin will be higher. These new varieties especially would have to deliver tangible benefits in terms of profitability and quality to the producer and the consumer.

The traditional important role for breeders is breeding for traits such as disease and pest resistance as well as food quality; for long term food security we need to make sure that the development of new and better methods which gene technology allows to underpin plant breeding are encouraged for all crops. On a small scale, some producers might be able to establish niche markets for premium-priced organic/non-genetically modified foods, but this is likely to be a minor component of the national agri-business industry. Indeed, it is recognized that with the furore in Europe over GMF, Australia has a current advantage in being able to assure readily that the primary produce exported in GMO free.

4. The commercialisation and marketing of agricultural and livestock production varieties

Australia needs to embrace gene technology to stay competitive with other food exporting countries. Thanks to researchers in Universities, State and Commonwealth scientific institutions, Australia is at the forefront of genetic manipulation leading to improved breeds of cattle and sheep and crop varieties, and must ensure that it capitalises on this. Good public policy formulation in this area demands a sophisticated understanding of technology trends, and of consumer attitudes in a variety of markets. Market forces will largely determine adoption of new GMFs, provided the Government establishes and maintains a regulatory system satisfactory for both producers and consumers.

Clear, transparent regulatory regimes must be in place as soon as possible so that the progress for clearance of products from gene technology can be tracked through the various regulatory agencies (e.g. National Registration Authority, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia New Zealand Food Authority, National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme). The establishment of the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator must improve rather than further obfuscate the existing regulatory processes. In addition, it would be worthwhile ensuring that the general public is aware of the current of regulatory processes which have been used to date and how the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator will build on what is already in place. One of the reasons given for the acceptance to date of GMF in the USA has been the great consumer confidence placed in their regulatory system.

Another area that has the potential to impact trade between countries is the International Biosafety Protocol for the safe transboundary movements of living (genetically) modified organisms that may have an adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. An Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on Biosafety has been established under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Protocol is still under negotiation. The most recent meeting at Cartegena de Indias in February 1999 failed to reach agreement on a range of issues.

Many of GMFs in the first round of offering are directly benefiting the producers rather than consumers. The final consumers need to have explained from many sources how, in a competitive economy, this really does benefit all of society by indirect flow on effects. The report from the 14 Lay panel members who participated in the recent first Australian Consensus Conference on "Gene Technology in the Food Chain" highlighted the need to involve the public more - they noted eg that "Currently the public does not have enough information about GMO food to make informed purchasing decisions. To allow real choice, information must be more readily available. Awareness allow the opportunity for wide public discussion and debate" (First Australian Consensus Conference 1999)

5. The cost to producers of new varieties

A major problem with developing genetically engineered crop varieties in Australia is that almost all of the genes and the processes used to transfer them are patented by multinational seed companies. Many of these companies are large vertically-integrated companies which have the potential to create monopolies in world markets. By contrast, much of the germplasm used in Australia comes from publicly funded (government/farmer) plant breeding programs. The existence of a strong intellectual property system which includes Plant Breeders Rights is an important factor in allowing local organisations to negotiate effectively with integrated transnational companies, as commercial arrangements have to be made with the owners of the genes and transfer processes to put these genes into Australian elite germplasm. CSIRO, for example, is working with Cottonseed Distributors and with Monsanto to release Ingardâcotton to Australian growers. Its rate of distribution is limited by the number of hectares approved for planting by the regulatory agency GMAC. It is crucial that there be significant Australian equity in these ventures in the best interests of local grain growers and of taxpayers generally.

Costs must be such that it is worthwhile for farmers to grow these varieties. Many farmers are aware of the case where a very high licence fee was imposed by the seed company Monsanto on Australian farmers who grew genetically engineered insect resistant cotton, such that it was barely profitable. However, it did result in lower use of pesticide.

6. Other impediments to the utilisation of new varieties by small producers

New varieties that have altered product quality traits (e.g. changed oil quality and content) will often be grown on a contract basis and will require segregated handling from other crops. This will be imperative much later on when crops are grown for non-food uses such as for the provision of vaccines, pharmaceutical peptides and industrial enzymes.

If consumers and the Australian New Zealand Food Authority require labelling of food products that are "substantially equivalent", then much more segregation will be needed. This may be difficult for small producers.

In addition, the market is often split, in that the requirements of the domestic market may be different from that of the international market. In brewing, for example, individual brewers are generally locked in by plant and process to malt specification and the domestic requirements are different from those of the international market where the use of adjuncts such as rice and maize require higher enzyme levels in the malt.

The strong anti-GMF sentiment in Europe is leading some customers of Australian food manufacturers to demand they certify their product as GMO-free. At present Australia does not have a process for ensuring segregation of GMO crops from regular ones particularly of imported varieties, so in the case of imported soybeans, all could have been derived from GMO crops. Thus, firms cannot guarantee the soy oil they use is not derived from GMO crops. This is coming to a head in the EC now with the debate on the Novel Foods Act, mainly targeted at regulating GMFs.

The USA has been tolerant of GMFs so far, but U.S. farmers are now starting to realize that their crops, which are aimed at world markets, may be more difficult to sell in Europe. Big Asian markets do not seem to be affected by these anti-GMF sentiments, as yet, where realistic economic appraisal of new technologies is more obviously influenced by awareness of food shortages in relation to demand, and large numbers of hectares are planted with these crop (eg in China). Australia will be governed by what is decided in these major markets.

7. Assistance to small producers to develop new varieties and the protection of the rights of independent breeders in relation to genetically modified organisms

The need for traditional breeding programs will continue, with the transgenes simply providing new valuable markers to be incorporated into the equally valuable elite germplasm. Thus assistance to develop new varieties and protect breeders' right should continue. Indeed, for farmers to be able to access the benefits of gene technology, the Plant Breeders Rights Act (1994) for varietal protection and the Australian Patent Act (1990) must be retained and preferably strengthened.

The Rural Research & Development Corporations, such as the Grains Research & Development Corporation, play a key role in the support of public breeding programs. Access to germplasm for plant breeding is important; as much of this comes from overseas, it is important that Australiaís interests are well represented during the negotiations on the revision of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources at meetings of the Commission on Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture.

8. The appropriateness of current variety protection rights, administrative arrangements and legislation, in relation to genetically modified organisms

The use of genetic manipulations of raw materials and products derived from them, in the food chain, has important safety implications for human health. This means that the regulatory body involved in the approval for the use of gene technology in agriculture needs to have strong representation from the Department of Health. The establishment of the new Gene Technology Office in the Health Ministry is a step forward, but the processes for co-ordination must be transparent and consistent. There are concerns about how easy this will be.

9. Opportunities to educate the community of the benefits of gene technology

The ABA has long supported the need to inform the community regarding the applications of gene technology to many sectors, including agriculture and food production. The ABA has generated a series of 12 leaflets that explain what biotechnology is and how it is used; these were of particular benefit to high school students in the earlier years when less printed material was available. The ABA is currently seeking funding from Government sources to support extension of this work for dissemination to a wider audience

Consumers need to be confident about gene technology and its applications. They need information at a range of levels, from a range of different sources, and the public needs to be consulted regarding regulation of the technology. If there is no consumer acceptance then there is no market for the product, as was seen in the past with irradiated foods.

All people participating in this technology must take every opportunity to talk about the technology with a range of people who may use it such as opinion leaders, community groups, farmers, school students. A better-informed community is better able to make more informed decisions on the benefits and risks associated with the application of biotechnology and less likely to be influenced by scaremongers.

Labelling may also play an important role in generating consumer confidence, but if it imposes a requirement to be able to separate GMFs from non GMFs all along the food chain, it will cause significant cost increases (possibly as much as 30%, The Economist 1999), with commodities being especially sensitive to price factors. Thus poor labelling policies could cancel out the benefits that genetic improvements offer to the overall Australian community.

Christine Deane (1999) notes saliently that:

"The future of biotechnology will be dictated by market reaction rather than technical feasibility. Consumer reaction to the products of biotechnology is the critical factor determining the ultimate success or failure of this technology in the marketplace". "Risk is a central issue influencing public opinion on biotechnology. The public perception of risk and the scientific evaluation of risk are very different."

Risk comprises two components viz a hazard component which can "hurt" and an outrage component which covers everything else about risk except how it is likely to hurt and includes emotional, social, ethical aspects. A scientific assessment of risk focuses on the "hazard" component while people"s concerns about risk have more to do with outrage than hazard. This is why scientists think that "people worry about the wrong risk". Thus in formulating a communication program about a new technology such as biotechnology, its essence is risk communication and so it is important to understand how people perceive and respond to risks and the factors that contribute to outrage. (Sandman 1987).

10. References Cited

Biotechnology News (1995): BBSRC Launches Strategy to Meet Industry's Needs.

Deane, Christine R (1999) "Public Perceptions and Risk Communication in Biotechnology": (Paper presented at a Conference on "Accounting for Risk in International Agreements", Centre for the Practice of International Trade, The Melbourne Business School)

First Australian Consensus Conference (1999): Lay Panel Report on First Australian Consensus Conference on "Gene Technology in the Food Chain", Old Parliament House, Canberra, March 10 - March 12 1999

Hedley, M., Langley, S., Mitchler, C. et al. (1996): Biotechnology, Agriculture and Your Food. Ag-West Biotech Inc. - The Canadian Institute of Biotechnology, 1996, Canada.

Jones, S.M. (1998):Biotechnology and Australian Agriculture, Presented at Sydney, Cyanamid Webster, 16 September 1998.

Kidd, G. (1995): 14 US Agbiotech firms Up R&D Spending 3.2%. Biotechnology 13 (August 1995): 732-733.

Kleiner, K. (1997): Human Harvest Festival. New Scientist (12 July 1997): 17.

Malik, V. (1998): Field Testing and Commercialisation of Insect Resistant Transgenic Corn: a Case Study, Presented at Food and Health for the 21st Century, Adelaide, Australian Biotechnology Association, 19-23 April 1998.

Muller, A., Russel, G. and Lucas, P. (1997): European Biotech 97: "A New Economy".Ernst & Young,April 1997, Stuttgart,

National Science and Technology Council (1995): Biotechnology for the 21st Century:

New Horizons.Office of Science and Technology Policy, July 1995, Washington, US.

OECD (1996): Biotechnology and Trade. Trade Directorate, OECD, TD/TC/WP(96)37, 11-12 September 1996, USA, Europe.

New Scientist (22nd May 1999). The name of the game.p1.

New Scientist (31st October 1998). Special Report: Living in a GM world. (Special issue of magazine dealing with GMFs).

Parker, D.D. and Zilberman, D. (1995): Biotechnology and the Future of Agriculture and Natural Resources - An Overview. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 50: 1-7.

Quiddington, P. (1995): Genetic Manipulation of Crops Creates Sharp Differences in Asia. Australian Financial Review, 31 August 1995, page 39, Sydney.

Robinson, D.S. (1998): New Grapes from Old: Biotechnology in Viticulture, Presented at Biotechnology - Food and Health for the 21st Century, Glenelg, Adelaide, Australian Biotechnology Association, 19-23 April, 1998.

Sandman, P. (1987) in ìPublic Perceptions of Biotechnologyî ed. Batra L. and Klassen, W. Agricultural Research Institute, Bethesda Maryland

Shimamoto, P.K. (1998):Eating Quality of Rice Regulated by Splicing of Waxy premRNA, Presented at Biotechnology - Food and Health for the 21st Century, Glenelg, Adelaide, Australian Biotechnology Association, 19-23 April, 1998.

Thayer, A.M. (1995): Biotech Companies Face Uncertain Future After Grappling With Troubles in 1994. Troubles in 1994. Chemical and Engineering News (March 20, 1995): 12-14.

The Economist, (1999). Sticky Labels, p81-82, May 1st

Wahlquist, A. (1999): Not against the Grain : Let's Take the Monster out of Frankenstein Foods. The Australian, 26 May 1999

Consulted

Australian Food Council (1996): AFC Biotechnology Report. The Australian Food Council, April 1996, Brisbane, Australia.

Biotechnology News (October 1995): 1.

Department of Trade and Industry (1995): Biotechnology Means Business; Status Report - Food. Department of Trade and Industry,1995, London, UK.

Powell, D.B. (1998):Changing Wool Properties by Sheep Transgenesis, Presented at Biotechnology - Food and Health for the 21st Century, Glenelg, Adelaide, Australian Biotechnology Association, 19-23 April 1998.

Biological weapons are, along with chemical and nuclear weapons, classed as weapons of mass destruction. Their destructive potential should not be underestimated: weight for weight and dollar for dollar, biological weapons represent the most dangerous type of weapon yet developed. A biological weapon used against a large city can in theory cause as many casualties as a nuclear bomb, but costs only a fraction as much to develop and manufacture. Biological agents used for weapons include live pathogens such as anthrax and smallpox, and toxins such as botulin toxin and ricin. Biological weapons can be used against humans, animals and plants.

The Problem - Why the Biological Weapons Convention Needs to be Strengthened

The Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which was completed in 1972 and came into force in 1975, bans the production, development and stockpiling of biological weapons. It is historic as the first multilateral treaty to outlaw an entire class of weapon, and it achieved wide acceptance: currently 141 countries are parties to the Convention.

Unfortunately, however, unlike its much more recent cousin the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the BWC contains no provisions for verifying whether countries are complying. At the time the Convention was concluded, it was thought that biological agents were not particularly practical or attractive as weapons of war, and were difficult to develop and weaponise. The tensions of the Cold War also did not encourage the major players to consider a verification scheme.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, concerns grew among the international community that the absence of verification provisions from the BWC was a major deficiency. Evidence emerged that a number of countries, although signatories or parties to the Convention, were continuing to develop biological weapons including anthrax, botulin toxin, plague, and smallpox - for use on the battlefield or against an enemy's civilian population. The 1991 Gulf War demonstrated that the threat of use of biological weapons was not just hypothetical. Subsequent inspections by United Nations teams confirmed that Iraq possessed an extensive biological weapons program.

Also contributing to the growing concern are the rapid advances in biotechnology, which made biological weapons easier and cheaper to develop, produce and conceal, and increased their potential utility as practical weapons.

The Response - VEREX , the Ad Hoc Group, and a Verification Protocol

Review conferences of the BWC are held every five years. The Third Review Conference in 1991 established a group of governmental experts, known as VEREX, to identify and examine potential verification measures from a scientific and technical standpoint. VEREX reported in 1994 that a verification regime for the BWC was feasible. This led to the establishment of the Ad Hoc Group in 1995, which was given a mandate to negotiate a "legally-binding instrument" to strengthen the BWC. The Ad Hoc Group is based in Geneva, and is composed of representatives of interested states parties to the BWC.

The Ad Hoc Group has been working on this task of developing a verification protocol since mid-1995. There were initially many different ideas about the proposed shape of the protocol, and some countries averse to future verification used various tactics to limit and delay progress. Despite the difficulties, however, in July 1997 the Ad Hoc Group was able to produce a rolling text - a single document, set out as a protocol, containing all the various ideas and options. This rolling text has been the basis for the Ad Hoc Group negotiations since then.

The Proposals - What is Being Negotiated?

As well as the VEREX report, two other factors have fed into the Ad Hoc Group's consideration of possible verification measures:

• the experience of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) in Iraq, which not only demonstrated the need for a global verification regime for chemical and biological weapons, but also provided practical experience of some of the verification challenges such a regime might face; and
• the successful conclusion of the Chemical Weapons Convention, with its comprehensive verification regime including mandatory annual declarations of relevant facilities and a system for international inspections of some facilities, either in response to a specific concern about activities being conducted or on a routine basis to verify declarations.

Although many participants in the Ad Hoc Group initially imagined that the BWC verification protocol would be very similar to the verification sections of the CWC, there are important differences in the respective characteristics of chemical and biological weapons production that require different approaches to verification. In general, substantial quantities of chemicals and specialised industrial plant are necessary to produce chemical weapons in useful quantity. This is not necessarily the case with biological weapons, where with the right technical skills, an appropriate biological agent and growth medium, and suitable fermentation and incubation vessels, it is possible to make significant quantities of biological weapons agent without sophisticated or conspicuous plant and equipment. This makes biological weapons activity less easily detectable.

Because of these differences and in order to formulate an effective verification protocol, greater thought is being given to the need to rely more on confidence building measures and visits to biotechnological facilities, in contrast to the CWC's emphasis on the monitoring of production of specific precursor chemicals. Similarly, mandatory declarations may have to include not only facilities actually working with particular agents but also facilities that have the capability to conduct such work.

The rolling text currently contains several variants and combinations of these concepts, and there is considerable divergence in the positions of many countries. Nevertheless, some broad characteristics are starting to emerge, and the final protocol is likely to include, in some form:

• A requirement for countries party to the protocol to declare past offensive and defensive biological warfare programs, current defensive programs, vaccine production facilities, facilities working with specified agents, and facilities with a certain level of biological containment (eg biosafety level 4).
• Provisions for on-site visits by neutral international inspectors to relevant facilities, perhaps chosen at random, or in order to clarify anomalies or ambiguities in declarations.
• Provisions for challenge inspections to investigate facilities suspected of conducting activities prohibited by the BWC.

These provisions would also include measures to protect the legitimate interests of governments and industry, such as:

• Procedures for "managed access" during visits and inspections, where access to a facility is strictly limited to the parts necessary for the visit/inspection team to complete its specific, mandated task and the form of access could be adjusted to take into account particular facility concerns provided the team was able to meet its mandate.
• Procedures for the handling and protection of confidential proprietary information and national security information.

Why Industry Involvement is Important

As the CWC experience has shown, industry involvement is vital if the BWC protocol is to be workable and effective. A verification protocol which does not enjoy the support and cooperation of industry may become unworkable.

The Government is keen to receive industry perspectives in order to be well informed of industry interests and to avoid legitimate industry interests being unduly compromised in the final protocol. Industry expertise and perspectives can contribute to the development of a more effective protocol that achieves its verification aims more efficiently and accurately, with minimal burden on the normal operation of the biotechnology industry.

Industry views are important in designing the verification measures outlined above. How, for example, can we design a scheme of on-site visits that is equitable and does not interfere with or disrupt the normal operations of a facility, or compromise sensitive commercial information? What safeguards can be established to ensure that challenge inspections are not launched spuriously, or for deliberately malicious - even commercially motivated - purposes? Are there other means of verification that would be just as effective, but less onerous for industry?

The Australian Government is committed to seeking the active involvement of local and international industry in negotiating a BWC verification protocol. As part of an initiative announced in March 1998, the Government has established a National Consultative Group of experts, which includes industry representatives, to help inform its approach to the Ad Hoc Group negotiations. In September 1998, the Government convened an international meeting of Foreign Ministers in New York to discuss ways of accelerating the Ad Hoc Group negotiations. A major outcome of this meeting was securing agreement of all participating countries on the value of close dialogue and cooperation with industry in order to enable industry perspectives to contribute to the development of a credible and effective protocol.

Biological Disarmament Unit
International Security Division
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Canberra ACT 0221
tel: (02) 6261 2055
fax: (02) 6261 2151

With the April issue of the journal, I received a copy of the Australian Biotechnology Directory, and was impressed by the amount of effort that had gone into it, and the large numbers of companies involved in the industry. Those responsible for the Directory should be commended for their efforts.

On looking through the Directory, one group seemed to have been overlooked. This is the small but growing number of scientists with considerable industry experience who, for various reasons, have left their previous employers and are now self-employed and available for work on a short term or contract basis. Their experience enables them to assist with many practical aspects of product identification and development, thus potentially expediting projects and reducing costs and time to market: Collectively, they have skills in many areas such as :

• GMP and regulatory requirements
• Establishment and scale-up of processes
• Quality control of candidate products
• Documentation and project planning
• Commercially attractive presentation of research ideas and IP to industry

Such individuals should ensure that they are included in the Australian Biotechnology Directory. At the same time, the formation of a network of such individuals could be expected to be beneficial. I would like to hear from anyone interested in being part of such an informal network (email: pye@ssc.net.au)

A Canberra region meeting was held on 29^th June to discuss lessons from the BIO conference in Seattle in May 1999. Dr Ted Maddess of the Australian National University led the discussion.

The main themes of BIO revolved around finance and partnering. There were many sellers but few buyers (investors) at the conference. It was clear that the venture capital market has shifted towards IT and that many US biotech firms will not be able to obtain adequate finance to reach market. There was a strong emphasis on human therapeutics or partnering/merging with larger firms.

Those Australians who had been to BIO felt that attending was worthwhile if they had prepared adequately. This included getting on to the speakers' program to raise visibility.

The pre-BIO meeting in San Diego was also useful as it encouraged US firms to look at Australia more closely. Despite a growing Australian presence at BIO, the main meeting is overwhelmingly US-dominated. The Queensland Government's efforts in raising the Australian profile were appreciated and it is hoped that other states will raise their profile next year in Boston.

The next Canberra meeting is on 28^th July when Dr David Irving of Biotech Australia will address a joint breakfast meeting with LES ANZ.

The second meeting in 1999 of the NSW branch of the ABA was held on 17th June, organised by David Irving and generously hosted by Biotech Australia. It was entitled "Report on the California-Australia Biotech Partnering and Finance Conference and BIO 99". The speakers were David Irving (Biotech Australia), Jamie Callachor (NSW Department of State and Regional Development), Kelvin Hopper (Aoris Nova) and Jonathan Izant (Garvan Institute).

The speakers presented summaries of their perceptions of the highlights of the two meetings and their relevance to Australian biotechnology. Points made about the Biotech Partnering meeting, which arose from an initiative of the Innovation Council of the NSW DSRD included :

• Few Americans participated and most departed after the first half-day, leaving the Australians to talk (fruitfully) amongst themselves
• The local Californian biotechnology organisations (Biocom and Connect) were very effective and reinforced each other rather than competing. Local ABA branches could advantageously emulate these
• Australian government representation was dominated by Queensland: Peter Beatty gave a dynamic and well-informed presentation. In contrast, NSW government support for its biotechnology was weak.

BIO 99 was a much larger meeting (over 5000 attendees compared to 300) and the lessons learned were different:

• There was a strong Australian presence and good support from Austrade (although its user-pays philosophy is not helpful). However, Americans tend to see Australia as a tourist destination rather than as a serious purveyor of biotechnology business.
• Again, Queensland invested heavily (but may not have got their money's worth) while NSW's effort was very disappointing. Few NSW companies had even bothered to attend the DSRD's pre-conference meetings.
• It was a good meeting to obtain information and make first contacts, but since sellers of technology predominated, it was not necessarily a good marketplace.
• Americans were aware of Australia's uncompetitive capital gains tax regime, which limits overseas investment.

Both during and after the presentations, there was active participation and discussion by the small but select audience. The discussion focussed in particular on the perceived lack of support for biotechnology by the NSW government, in contrast to the strong support in Queensland and Victoria. The high level of interest is illustrated by the meeting continuing for an hour longer than originally planned. There will be an opportunity to continue this discussion at the NSW Branch Meeting to be held in conjunction with the ABA AGM on 23rd September in Sydney. Look out for the notice and come and give us your views and support!

The third meeting was held on 30th June in conjunction with Australian Science Communicators in their series "Science in the Pub". The title was "Waiter, there's a Gene in my Soup", and the speakers were Carole Renouf (Australian Consumers Association) and T.J. Higgins (CSIRO Division of Plant Industry). The meeting was compered in lively style by Paul Willis (ABC Radio Science broadcaster) in a format quite different to the formal presentations that scientists are used to: the speakers were asked to respond to questions from Paul or from a seemingly never-ending stream of the audience. Other novel features were the preparation and reading of the speakers' abstracts in verse form, and a raffle _ a new way to help fund meetings!

Despite, or perhaps because of, the informality, a considerable amount of information was passed on to the large audience, only some of whom had a background in biology. Both speakers were very well-informed and unprejudiced, so despite nominally representing the "consumer" and "scientist" camps, there was considerable agreement between them. Both emphasised the importance of transparent regulation of safety aspects and of adequate consumer communication, to the acceptance of genetically modified foods. These are especially necessary since the public has become cynical after hearing misleading messages from scientists and government on other issues (eg BSE in the UK), and because of the perceived overriding interests of large multinational agribusiness companies.

Both agreed that labelling of GM foods, allowing customer choice and input to risk control was necessary, though as TJ pointed out, preferably in an enforceable fashion resulting from an assayable difference. One interesting point of difference was TJ's emphasis on the product characteristics, while Carole stressed that the process leading to the product was also of interest to consumers.

The meeting ended perhaps appropriately with a plea from TJ for input to himself and other scientists to help improve their communication with the public.

Thanks are due to Robyn Stutchbury and Sandra McEwen and their ASC colleagues for their valiant organisation, and to Florigene and CSIRO for their generous donation of the raffle prizes, two beautiful bunches of Moonshadow carnations and a T-shirt made from Ingard cotton.

Managing Editor: Professor Dr T. Scheper
Publisher: Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg
1997, 205 pages (hardcover)
ISBN 3-540-61485-0

This series is difficult to review because they are nearly always so meticulously prepared and logically presented. This volume is no different. It contains the following five chapters, each of about 30 pages, on enzyme bleaching of kraft pulp, biotransformation for L-ephedrine production, inclusion bodies and purification of proteins, extraction and purification of cephatosporin antibiotics, and dynamic modelling of nonlinear bioprocesses.

These chapters are all produced by leading scientists experienced in each of the fields covered. Needless to say, they are well written, comprehensive and useful essays. However, unless this series is regularly purchased, a single volume on its own appears very mixed in content, as each chapter is relatively unrelated in a particular volume. A little more advance planning by the editorial board might result in more thematic volumes which would sell in their own right. Having said that, I recommend this series as compulsory acquisition for any biotechnology or biochemical engineering department in any organisation. High standards are maintained.

Martin Playne
Melbourne

Produced by the Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Inc. Sydney
ISSN 1329-069X. 121 pages. Spiral bound, soft cover

This directory is well-produced and clearly laid out. It includes the following sections:

APMA, APMA members, Industry associations, International pharmaceutical manufacturers associations, Commonwealth government departments, State government departments, National pharmacy organisations, Medical/pharmacy-related organisations, Medical/pharmacy media, Health website links, and an index.

Entries are quite brief: name, address, telephone, fax, email and a limited number of contact people.

Copies of this useful directory are available from APMA's Public Affairs Manager Tel: (02) 9922 2699 See APMA's website www.apma.com.au

Martin Playne
Melbourne

A comprehensive Guide to Technology and Industry Development Assistance in Australia

The directory provides a comprehensive guide to all Federal and State Government technology, innovation and industry assistance programs. It includes tax incentives, industry R&D, trade and investment programs, communications and multimedia initiatives, and medical, energy, rural, environment and university research programs and grants.

The 1999 edition has been extensively updated to include the numerous changes to Federal and State Government programs, departments and personnel which have occurred over the last year, particularly since the Federal Election. It contains details of initiatives such as the Innovation Investment Fund, R&D START scheme, Technology Diffusion Program, Invest Australia, Australian Greenhouse Office, international R&D programs and new assistance measures for the pharmaceutical, automotive and textile industries.

The Directory also includes details of venture and development capital companies, Cooperative Research Centres, National Research Facilities, technology centres, technology parks, tertiary institute consulting companies, technology support organisations, industry research institutions and professional associations. There are also sections on bodies such as AusIndustry, Austrade, CSIRO, ANSTO and DSTO.

It is extensively indexed and includes over 900 entries complete with contact names, phone and fax numbers, email addresses and web sites.

The directory, written by Jane Ford, former editor of the monthly Scitech Newsletter, is now in its thirteenth edition and has become an essential reference for business, industry, government and academia. It is now available for only $180 (includes $5 for postage and packing).

Order from: Jane Ford & Associates, GPO Box 1915, Canberra, ACT 2601 Phone (02) 6247 7220; Fax (02) 6249 6648.

A comprehensive Guide to Australian Government, University and Private Sector Asia Programs and Initiatives

The directory brings together information on Asia oriented assistance programs and initiatives aimed at helping business, industry, universities and other institutions make links with the Asia region.

The new edition has been extensively updated to include all recent changes to Federal and State Government export initiatives and assistance programs. There are details of international agreements, Australia/Asia Business Councils, foundations and peak business and industry bodies which promote and assist entry into the region. It also covers the multilateral development banks and UN agencies and ways of accessing their business and procurement opportunities.

There are sections on Austrade, AusAID, APEC and Federal and State Government Departments responsible for trade, education, science, technology, industry, environment, greenhouse, primary industries and legal programs. It includes a substantial section on Asia-related centres, courses and other activities at each Australian university plus a section on the Cooperative Research Centres involved with Asia.

It is now available for only $145 (including postage and packing).

Order from: Jane Ford & Associates, GPO Box 1915, Canberra, ACT 2601 Phone (02) 6247 7220; Fax (02) 6249 6648

Compared to the first edition, this second edition was expanded, updated and revised completely, and contains most up-to-date and accurate information. It was also divided into three parts. The first part contains an overview on China's Biotechnology, including government policy, science base, bioindustry, technology transfer, information resources, intellectual property and regulation environment. The second part lists all government agencies and societies involved in biotechnology. The third part lists more than 1,000 research institutes, university departments, and companies, as well as foreign companies' representative offices in China. It gives information on the organization's name, address, tel/telex/fax numbers, 80% with email addresses / homepages, activities and services offered with an index. Appendices contain China's laws and regulations related to biotechnology and pharmaceutical. 1998, 254pp, US$199.00.

Compiled by the State Pharmaceutical Administration of China, the first CD-ROM contains China's state and local administration of pharmaceutical institutions, and about 1,000 enterprises of Chinese and western medicines, health products, medical apparatus, hygiene materials and medical business in 30 provinces, cities and autonomous regions across the country. Each entry contains the enterprises' basic information such as the enterprise name, name of general manager, address, postcode, region, phone/fax numbers, ownership, number of employees, business scope; introduction; and products in details, as well as the intent of cooperation with their foreign counterparts. It is so far the most authoritative, practical and systematic CD-ROM for business in China's mainland. It is English-Chinese bilingual, and it runs for windows with vivid pictures, sound effect, animation and indexing by enterprise name, region and product.

1998, CD-ROM, US$298.00, ISBN:7-980016-62-9.

Further information: Hans Consultants Inc., 19-1-3 East Section, Xiaohongshan, Wuchang, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China. Fax: +86-27-8787 8343, Email: <hanco@earthling.net>

9-13 August 1999
Sydney, Australia
Contact Amber Whittington Tel: 61 2 9248 0823; Fax: 61 2 9262 3135

IXth International Congress of Mycology andIXth International Congress of Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology

16-20 August 1999
Sydney, Australia
Further info: www.tourhosts.com.au/iums Tel: 61 2 9262 2277

22-25 August 1999
Groningen, The Netherlands
Contact: Hans Sietsma Tel: 31 50 363 2326; Fax: 31 50 363 2273; Email: j.h.sietsma@biol.rug.nl

Impact of Molecular Biology on Crop Production and Crop Protection

23-25 August, 1999
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
Contact: Cambridge Healthtech Institute Fax: +1 617 630 1325; Email: chi@healthtech.com; www.healthtech.com

International Conference on Biotechnology in the Global Economy

2-3 September 1999
Harvard University, USA
Contact: Conference Secretariat Fax: +1 617 496 8753; Email: Calestous_Juma@Harvard.edu

Agritech Israel 99

5-9 September 1999
Haifa, Israel
Contact: Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Tel: 02 9326 1700; Fax: 02 9326 1676; email: sydney@aicc.org.au

International Program on Rice Biotechnology

3-17 September 1999
Phuket, Thailand
Contact: Gary H. Toenniessen Fax: 1 212 852 8442; Email: gtoenniessen@rockfound.org

International Medicinal Chemistry Symposium

12-15 September 1999
Beijing, China
Contact: Mr Wu Shaoyuan Fax: +86 10 6218 0144; Email: sywu@public3.bta.net.cn

9th International Conference on Diseases of Fish and Shellfish

19-24 September 1999
Rhodes, Greece
Contact: Dr Maura Hiney Tel: 353 91 524411 ext. 3124; Fax: 353 91 750514; Email: maura.hiney@ucg.ie

Genetically Modified Foods

22-23 September 1999
Beijing, China
Contact: Ms Bernice Jacob, IBC Asia Ltd (Singapore branch) Fax: +65 7335 087; Email: bernice@ibcasia.com.sg

9th Wheat Breeding Assembly

27 September - 1 October 1999
USQ, Toowoomba, Qld
Contact: Conference Secretariat, Meetings and Events, USQ Tel: 07 4631 2840; Fax: 07 4635 5550; email: pugh@usq.edu.au

Membrane Technology in Food and Bioprocessing

1-2 October 1999
University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury Richmond, NSW
Contact: Jenny Carney Tel: 02 4570 1455; Fax: 02 4578 4100; Email: J.Carney@UWS.edu.au

10th World Congress of Food Science & Technology and World Food Expo

3-8 October 1999
Sydney, Australia
Further information: Tel: 61 2 9241 1478; www.aifst.asn.au

3rd Pacific Rim Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis

4-8 October 1999
Wuhan, P.R. China
Contact: Dr Sun Ming, Huazhong Agricultural University, Dept Microbial Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, P.R. China Fax: 86 27 8739 3882; Email: YZ41@public.wh.hb.cn

Commercialising Health Innovations Forum (CHIF)

5-6 October, 1999
Melbourne Convention Centre
Contact: Secretariat Tel: 03 9521 8881; Fax: 03 9521 8889; email: conforg@ozemail.com.au Website: www.ahi.com.au/chif

BioTechnica '99

5-7 October 1999
Hannover, Germany
Contact: Oliver Wedeking Tel: 0511 89 32128; Fax: 0511 89 31218

Enzyme Engineering XV

10-15 October 1999
Kona Surf Resort, Kona, Hawaii
Contact: United Engineering Foundation, Three Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5902 Tel: 1 212 591 7836; Fax: 1 212 591 7441; Email: engfind@aol.com

BioPartnering Europe

18-19 October 1999
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, England
Contact: Tel: 831 464 7100; Fax: 831 464 4240; Email: biopartnering@techvision .com

Membrane Technology in Environmental Management

1-4 November 1999
Tokyo, Japan
Contact: Prof Kazuo Yamamoto Fax: 813 5802 2987; Email: yamamoto@esc.u-tokyo.ac.jp

APEC Technomart III

1-6 November 1999
Gold Coast, Queensland
Contact: Judith Maestracci Tel: 07 3229 2624; Email: info@pacrimtechnomart.com

6th Hong Kong International Cancer Congress

14-17 November 1999
Hong Kong, China
Contact: Ms Venus Chan Tel: 852 2818 0232; Fax: 852 2818 1186; Email: mededcon@hku.hk

EuropaBio '99

Third Annual European Biotechnology Business Congress

16-19 November 1999
International Congress Centre, Munich, Germany
Contact: Congress Secretariat Tel: +32 2 735 0313; Fax: +32 2 735 4960; Email: mail@europa-bio.be

Current Concepts in Drug Therapy

18-19 November 1999
Seattle, USA
Contact: Paul Perry, Fax: +1 206 543 0364; Email: cme@u.washington.edu

CIA99 - ChemAsia99, InstrumentAsia99 and AnaLabAsia Exhibition and Conference

30 November - 3 December 1999
Singapore Suntec Centre
Contact: Fax: 65 339 9507; Email: info@sesmontnet.com

Conference on Aquaculture in the Third Millennium

11-17 January 2000
Bangkok, Thailand
Contact: Pedro Bueno Tel: 66 2 561 1727; Fax: 66 2 561 1728; Email: pedrob@fisheries.go.th

Biotechnology India 2000

16-18 February 2000
New Delhi, India
Contact: Exhibitions India Pvt. Ltd. Fax: +91 11 462 3320; Email: exhibitionsindia@vsnl.com

11-17 March 1000
Melbourne, Australia
Contact: Lisa McNaught Tel: 71 3 9682 0244; Fax: 61 3 9682 0288; Email: worldwide@icms.com.au

The Second International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds

22-25 May 2000
Monterey, California, USA
Contact: Tel: 614 424 5461; Fax: 614 488 5747; Email: conferencegroup@compus erve.com

Achema 2000, 26th Exhibition Congress, International Meetong on Chemical Engineering

22-27 May 2000
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Contact: German Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Attn. Margret Lamy, PO Box A980, Sydney South, NSW 1235 Fax: 02 9265 2211

Agbiotech: The Science of a New Century

5-8 June 2000
Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Canada
Contact: ABIC 2000 Conference Coordinator C/- The Signature Group Inc, 489 Second Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7K 2C1

3rd Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC 2000)

5-9 June 2000
Toronto, Canada
Contact: Sharon Murray Tel: 1 877 925 2242; Fax: 1 877 333 2242; Email: siggroup@sk.sympatico.ca

15th Australasian Biotechnology Conference

2-6 July, 2000
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Contact: Greg Harper, CSIRO Tropical Agriculture, Gehrmann Laboratories, University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072 Tel: 07 3214 2441; Fax: 07 3214 2480; email: Gregory.Harper@tag.csiro. au

6th International Symposium on The Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms

8-13 July 2000
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Contact: http://www.usask. ca/agriculture/biosafety/ for more information

9th International Congress for Culture Collections

23-28 July, 2000
Brisbane, Australia
Contact: Dr Lindsay Sly, Australian Collection of Microorganisms, Tel: 07 3365 2396; Fax: 07 3365 1566; Email: sly@biosci.uq.edu.au

2nd World Congress of Philosophy and Medicine

24-26 August 2000
Cracow, Poland
Contact: Prof.dr. H. ten Have, Catholic University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Fax: +31 24 354 0254

Biotechnology 2000: 11th International Biotechnological Symposium

3-8 September 2000
Berlin, Germany
Contact: Renate Strauss Tel: 49 69 7564 249; Fax: 49 69 7564 176; Email: rosenbaum@dechema.de

BioJapan 2000

26-28 September 2000
Tokyo, Japan
Contact: Secretariat of BioJapan 2000, Japan Bioindustry Association, Fax: +81 3 5541 2737; Email: bj2000@jba.or.jp

IMBC 2000 International Marine Biotechnology Conference

29 September - 5 October 2000
Sheraton Townsville Hotel & Casino & Townsville Entertainment Centre, Queensland
Contact: International Marine Biotechnology Conference 2000, C/0 Australian Institute of Marine Science, PO Box 216, Aitkenvale, QLD 4814 Tel: 07 4781 6219; Fax: 07 4781 5822; Email: imbc_2000@aims.gov.au

3rd International Conference on Transgenic Animals

16-20 October 2000
Beijing, China
Contact: Li Birong Fax: +86 10 6253 2114; Email: info@bilong.com

8th International Barley Genetics Symposium

22-27 October 2000
Adelaide, Australia
Contact: Ms Elisabeth Eaton Tel: 08 8363 1307; Fax: 08 8363 1604; Email: fcceaton@ozemail.com.au

XXXIV International Congress of Physiological Sciences

26 August - 1 Sept 2001
Christchurch, New Zealand
Contact: Congress Secretariat, Fax: +64 9 260 1242; Email: info@tcc.co.nz

Recombinant DNA Techniques Course

14-19 November 1999
Microbial Biotechnology & Diagnostic Unit, Department of Microbiology, Monash University
Information: Technical - Mr Mark Cauchi Tel: 03 9905 4830;Registration - Ms Lesley Gladman Tel: 03 9905 4817; Email: mark.cauchi@med.monash. edu.au

Dr Anne Campbell (CRC Association)
Tel: (02) 6279 8835; Fax: (02) 6279 8836

Dr Peter Riddles (Institute for Molecular /bioSciences)
Tel: (07) 3346 2507; Fax: (07) 3346 2509

Mr Gary Cox (Wray & Associates)
Tel: (08) 9325 6122; Fax: (08) 9325 2883

DIRECTORS:

Dr Anne Campbell (CRC Association)
Tel: (02) 6279 8835; Fax: (02) 6279 8836

Mr Gary Cox (Wray & Associates)
Tel: (08) 9325 6122; Fax: (08) 9325 2883

Dr Shirley Lanning
Tel: (03) 9690 0219; Fax: (03) 9690 0219

Dr Peter Riddles (Institute for Molecular BioSciences)
Tel: (07) 3346 2507; Fax: (07) 3346 2509

Dr Peter Rogers (CUB - Brewtech)
Tel: (03) 9342 5449; Fax: (03) 9347 9240

Ms Lyndal Thorburn (Advance Consulting & Evaluation)
Tel: (02) 6297 2438; Fax: (02) 6297 2203

Dr David Tribe (University of Melbourne)
Tel: (03) 9344 5703; Fax: (03) 9347 1540

Dr Neil Willetts
Tel: (02) 9416 5537; Fax: (02) 9416 5537

Dr Elane Zelcer (Thrombogenix Pty Ltd)
Tel: (03) 9827 6427; Fax: (03) 9824 0054

SECRETARY:

Mrs Barbara Arnold
Tel: (03) 9596 8879; Fax: (03) 9596 8874

TREASURER :

Mr Steven Clarke
Tel: (03) 9596 8879; Fax: (03) 9596 8874

Dr Robert Klupacs

GENETIC RELEASE:

Dr Sue Meek (WA Dept of Commerce & Trade)
Tel: (08) 9327 5637; Fax: (08) 9327 5542

PUBLICATIONS:

Dr Martin Playne (Food Science Australia)
Tel: (03) 9252 6000; Fax: (03) 9252 6555

W.A. BRANCH:

Dr Michael Borowitzka (Murdoch Uni)
Tel: (08) 9360 2333; Fax: (08) 9310 3505

QLD BRANCH:

Dr Peter Riddles
Tel: (07) 3346 2507; Fax: (07) 3346 2509

Dr Neil Willetts
Tel & Fax: (02) 9416 5537

VIC BRANCH: Dr David Tribe

Tel: (03) 9344 5703; Fax: (03) 9347 1540

ACT BRANCH: Ms Lyndal Thorburn

Tel: (02) 6297 2438; Fax: (02) 6297 2203

Copyright 1999 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.