Editorial, News/Company News, Bio Shares, Issues, Meeting Reports, ABABranch News, Books and Meetings.

Australasian Biotechnology, Volume 9 Number 3, July/August 1999, pp.126-150, 170-179 Editorial, News/Company News, Bio Shares, Issues,Meeting Reports, ABA Branch News, Books and Meetings. CodeNumber:AU99009 FROM THE PRESIDENT Hazards and Outrage With theincreasing realization about the importance of the need for publicawareness and information about gene technology, it is pertinent tolook at what underpins "risk communication", for essentially this iswhat talking about a new technology involves. In understanding howpeople perceive and respond to risks, it is then easier to know how toaddress a communication program. This was topic of a conference on"Public Perception of Biotechnology" held at the Agricultural ResearchInstitute in the USA in the late 80s and it is still highly relevantnow. NEWS Only a Zero Capital Gains Tax Rating for Overseas Investorswill Attract Venture Capital to Australia, Deloitte Survey Shows TheFederal Government will need to go "all or nothing" in reducing theCapital Gains Tax rate for overseas investors to zero if they areserious about attracting US and UK venture capital to Australia, a newDeloitte Touche Tohmatsu survey, Venture Capital in Australia, August1999, indicates. New Safety Measures for Genetically Modified Products A stringent new system to control all commercial releases ofgenetically modified products in Australia was recently announced bythe Minister for Health and Aged Care, Dr Michael Wooldridge. Get outof Genetic Food Stocks: Deutsche Europe's biggest bank has advised theworld's largest investor to sell their shares in leading companiesinvolved in the development of genetically modified organisms becauseconsumers do not want to buy their products. Government ReleasesBiotechnology Discussion Paper The Chairman of the CommonwealthBiotechnology Ministerial Council, and Minister for Industry, Scienceand Resources, Senator Nick Minchin, launched on 2nd September abiotechnology discussion paper aimed at increasing public awareness andunderstanding of biotechnology. New Opportunities for CooperativeResearch Senator Nick Minchin, Minister for Industry, Science andResources, today called for industry and researchers to develop newproposals for government funded research. The Minister intends to makea formal call for applications for a new round of funding forCo-operative Research Centres (CRCs) in November 1999, with the closingdate for applications expected to be 5 July 2000. Benefits ofBiotechnology Highlighted by Agriculture Ministers at 6th Augustmeeting The opportunities and challenges of biotechnology and itsimpact on Australian agriculture were highlighted at a meeting of theAgricultural and Resource Management Council of Australia and NewZealand (ARMCANZ) in Sydney. Fifty Years at the John Curtin School ofMedical Research Professor Frank Fenner celebrated the 50thanniversary of his appointment as the founding Professor ofMicrobiology at the John Curtin School of Medical Research, in theAustralian National University in August. BioTechnica 99, Hanover,Germany From 5-7 October, 32 Australian biotechnology companies andresearch bodies will be showcasing their capabilities in biotechnologyat BioTechnica '99, one of the world's leading biotechnology tradefairs, in Hanover, Germany. Local Virus behind Newcastle DiseaseOutbreaks Major outbreaks of Newcastle disease in poultry in Australiaover the last two years were due to a change in a home-grown, milderstrain, and not from an incursion from overseas. Gene TechnologyBriefing for Queensland Parliamentarians Gene technology will make akey contribution to a healthier, wealthier and more sustainableAustralia in the 21st century, members of the Queensland Parliamentwere told recently. Probiotics Research Group at Food ScienceAustralia to Close Down Research into probiotic bacteria andapplications of probiotics in foods, yoghurts and beverages is beingclosed by management of Food Science Australia. This will result in theloss of up to eight staff . It is believed that over 20 staff will losejobs in Food Science Australia in coming months. Food Science Australiais a joint venture of CSIRO and the Victorian Government's Afisc, setup some two years ago. Australian Scientist Wins Prestigious Medal forWorld-class Breakthrough Dr Tony Weiss this month will receive theprestigious Amersham Pharmacia Biotechnology Medal for hisinternationally recognised work on human elastin. David CampbellBegins Independent Consultancies Following a career spanning overtwenty years in corporate agribusiness, David Campbell has establishedtwo new independent consulting businesses to progress interests in theareas of technology development and transfer, strategy development andimplementation, and capability and skills development. He will operatethese businesses as "Leading Dog Consulting" providing leading edgestrategic management solutions, and "Agribusiness @ Work" providing anintegrated approach to improving the sustainability and competitivenessof agribusiness. He will team with other leading edge professionals inAustralia and elsewhere, when necessary, to provide such services witheven greater customer value. AgBio Forum The third issue of AgBioForum is now on-line at http://www.abgioforum.missouri. edu/Theevolving role of private investment in public research universities isdiscussed, along with its implications for the future of the Land Grantuniversity system. Biotech Boom Blooms in Germany, According to NewEdition of the European Biotechnology Directory The newly published1999 edition of the European Biotechnology Directory reveals thefastest growth in the European biotech sector is coming from Germany. Feldbaum Criticizes Celebrity Science at National Press Club At aNational Press Club Morning Newsmaker's briefing last week, BIOPresident Carl Feldbaum chided celebrities, such as Prince Charles, forcommitting a public disservice by speaking out against science despiteknowing little or nothing about it. New Biotechnology InvestmentCompany A new joint venture biotechnology investment company, Biotron,has been formed to finance the development of a portfolio ofbiotechnology products arising from a new `platform technology' whichhas resulted from the world of Professor Peter Gage and members of themembrane Biology Program at the ANU's John Curtin School of MedicalResearch. Australian Wheat Venture Biowest Australia, Perth,Australia and AgDirect Australia, a company owned by two WestAustralian farmers, have formed Grain Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd(GBA). Stewart Washer, spokesman for Biowest, is confident that otherinvestors will join the venture. First Clinical Trials Underway at NewResearch Unit The first clinical trials are now getting underway atthe new world-class medicines research unit at The Prince of WalesHospital in Sydney. Healthier Animals with Natural Immune Boosters ACSIRO Animal Health team has developed a method to deliver naturalproteins, cytokines, into animals, in combination with better vaccines.Cytokines are proteins produced by the body's own defence mechanisms tohelp fight disease. Gene Research "not on hold" CSIRO is moving aheadwith the development of better strains of wheat, barley and other cropsusing modern genetic technologies, the Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry,Dr Jim Peacock said on 3rd September. Fossil Cholesterol Dates ourAncestors Back Nearly 2.7 Billion Years Rocks from the remote Pilbararegion of northwestern Australia contain chemical traces of our mostdistant ancestors that are nearly one billion years older thanpreviously known. COMPANY NEWS Funding from Venture Capital Companiesto Develop New Anti-clotting Drugs to Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke Thrombogenix Pty Ltd, a Melbourne-based biotechnology company, hasobtained its second round of investment from Macquarie Technology FundsManagement, Momentum Funds Management and the Australian TechnologyGroup Limited (ATG). These funds will enable it to further develop apromising new class of anti-clotting drugs. Biota Announces US Foodand Drug Administration Approval for Relenza® for the Treatment ofInfluenza Biota Holdings Limited (ASX:BTA) announced recently thatGlaxo Wellcome has received regulatory approval from the US Food andDrug Administration (FDA) to market Relenza® (zanamivir forinhalation) for the treatment of influenza A and B. Biota ReleasesPreliminary Final Results - Announces Intent to Expand Presence inGlobal Viral Respiratory Disease Market Biota Holdings Limited haslodged its results for the year ended 30 June 1999. The companyreported total revenues of $3.07 million, compared to $1.77 million forthe previous year. Biota Announces Zanamivir Filed For RegulatoryApproval in Japan Biota Holdings Limited advises that Glaxo WellcomeK.K. (Japan) has announced that it had filed with the Japanese Ministryof Health and Welfare (MHW) on 2 August 1999, for approval to importthe inhaled anti-viral drug, zanamivir, for the treatment of influenzaA and B. Roche Molecular Systems Inc. Names Three Vice Presidents Martin D Madaus, Joanne P Spadoro and David B Thomas have been namedvice presidents of Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. The announcement wasmade by Kathy Ordonez, President of the biotechnology company. Faulding Builds Natural Business F H Faulding & Co Limited(Faulding) recently announced that is Faulding Healthcare business unithas acquired the business interests of the Brisbane-based healthsupplement company Queensland Biochemics Pty Ltd, which trades asGolden Glow Natural Health Products (Golden Glow). Glaxo Wellcome -New analysis shows flu drug can speed recovery from symptoms by threedays The combined results of six international clinical trials showthe new Australian-developed anti-influenza medication called Relenza(zanamivir) can speed-up recovery from the symptoms of influenza bythree days in many sufferers. New Advances in ANU Anti-Cancer DrugResearch New hope for cancer patients has emerged with the isolationand cloning of an enzyme that is responsible for the growth and spreadof solid tumours. Scientists at the ANU's John Curtin School of MedicalResearch (JCSMR) have become one of two international research groupswho have successfully cloned the enzyme, called `heparanase'. Progen'santi-cancer drug trial receives second site approval from PeterMacCallum Cancer Institute (subject to final administrative filings) Progen Industries Limited (ASX Code: PGL; Nasdaq Code: PGLAF), recentlyreceived provisional approval from the Peter MacCallum CancerInstitute's Ethics Committee to commence testing its anti-cancer drug,PI-88, at the Institute under the umbrella of Centre for DevelopmentalCancer Therapeutics. Breakthrough Drug Delivery Technology byAustralian Researchers A new device is launched for a simple andeffective way of taking medication Researchers at the VictorianCollege of Pharmacy Monash University announced on 27 Augustgroundbreaking drug delivery technology that is destined to becomecommon both in Australia and internationally. Receiver Appointed forInsolvent Hyal after Secured Creditor Demands Repayment of Debt Toronto - The firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointedreceiver of insolvent Hyal Pharmaceutical Corp. after the companyacknowledged it was unable to repay $750,000 of debt plus interest andcosts, for which it has recently received a demand notice fromSkyePharma plc. The move follows the filing of a petition bySkyePharma, a secured creditor of the corporation. Non GeneticallyModified Foods: Protein Technologies International Offers a Choice With genetic modification hitting the headlines and consumer concernescalating, many manufacturers are considering their options when itcomes to ingredient suppliers. Protein Technologies International(PTI), manufacturers of Supro® soy protein, is the only company inAustralia currently able to offer manufacturers a choice when it comesto non-genetically modified (non-GM) isolated soy protein. Administrators Appointed for ForBio On 18 August national charteredaccountancy firm, Ferrier Hodgson, was appointed as Administrator tothe Brisbane-based biotechnology company, ForBio Limited. BioventuresAustralia The management of Start-up Australia has been committed toearly stage investment for over 5 years and recognises that aspecialist fund is required to fill the gap of funding at theseedstage. This type of funding is critical to creating start-up companiesand creating value from technological advances, particularly in thelife sciences. Start-up Australia has joined forces with US basedResearch Corporation Technologies to create BioVentures Australia. Research Corporation Technologies RCT is a highly successfultechnology investor headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. It owns, or is aninvestor in, a large number of well known biotechnology andpharmaceutical technologies. During 1998, it had project revenues ofUS$76.2 million. RCT provides a combination of science, business andlegal expertise to assess a technology's potential and the work neededto increase its value. The company has extensive international linkswith the large pharmaceutical companies to facilitate sale or licensingof the technology. Biodiscovery Ltd Biodiscovery Ltd's shareholdingshave been the subject of scrutiny by an Australian Financial Reviewwriter (Fri 13 August 1999; pages 59,92). Biodiscovery Ltd is a smallSydney-based biotechnology company with two major projects - a diabetesvaccine being developed in conjunction with the John Curtin School ofMedical Research in Canberra. The second is an agreement withRhone-Poulenc to develop products from CSIRO's insect library. It hasa number of other strategic research partnerships with leadingAustralian research groups. BIO SHARES Covering AustralianBiotechnology Stocks - compiled by M.J. Playne ISSUES The PublicDebate on Biotechnology One of the most interesting things to come outof the genetic modified food (GMO) debate is the polarisation of thepublic. In the beginning there were a small number of anti-GMO interestgroups pushing their view, often very actively, although with littleapparent effect. On the other side were the scientists and industries,often quietly moving along (although there are exceptions) anddeveloping the new technology. In between is the general public, oftenwith interest in biotechnology, but with little access to information. Letter To the Editor MEETING REPORTS Herbal Medicine into the NewMillennium Dr G David Lin, email: dlin@scu.edu.au School of Natural andComplementary Medicine, Southern Cross University, PO Box 157, Lismore,NSW 2480 The "Herbal Medicine into the New Millennium" - aninternational forum on the science, regulation, production and clinicalapplication of medicinal plants - was successfully hosted by theSouthern Cross University (SCU) in Lismore from 16 to 18 June, 1999.Twenty-seven national and international speakers including Her RoyalHighness Princess Chulabhoh Mathidol (Thailand), Professor Varro Tyler(USA), Professor Robert Henry (Centre for Plant Conservation Genetics,SCU) and Professor Peter Waterman (Centre for Phytochemistry, SCU),presented 27 plenary lectures to around 300 participants. De BonoInstitute New Thinking in Biotech Forums organised by the De BonoInstitute were held in: Sydney - Friday 28th May 1999 Brisbane -Tuesday 1st June 1999 Melbourne - Monday 7 June 1999 "What Would ItTake To Develop A Biotech Industry Which Is Able To Enjoy Key CommunitySupport?" Their Executive Summary of the findings follows : ExecutiveSummary The `Biotech New Thinking Forums' are the first in a trilogyof `New Thinking Forums' hosted by the de Bono Institute, focusing onseparate emerging high growth industries. Attended by a total of 298biotechnology industry stakeholders and interested parties, the threeforums collectively generated 1725 comments, ideas and concepts,captured using the de Bono `Six Thinking Hats' process. ABA BRANCHNEWS Canberra Region The last meeting of the Canberra region groupwas held on 28 July in conjunction with the Licensing ExecutivesSociety (Australia New Zealand). Over 45 people attended to hear DrDavid Irving, of Biotech Australia Pty Ltd speak about lessons fromcommercialising biotechnology in Australia. BOOKS Directory andDatabase Released Hallmark Editions, the publisher of R&D Review,has released the third edition of The Australian Research andDevelopment Directory. The Directory is a valuable reference toresearch and development policy at Federal and State levels, providingdetails of funding programs, research agencies and science policyadvisory bodies. It also provides the most comprehensive guide topublic sector research organisation, including university researchcentres, Cooperative Research Centres, Major National ResearchFacilities, collaborative research organisations and independentresearch institutes. Rich's California Bio-Science Directory TheCalifornia Bio-Science Guide covers bio-science in all of California,from San Francisco to San Diego. The directory includes pharmaceuticalfirms, bio-medical manufacturers, research and development and medicaldevice manufacturers. Phytochemical Dictionary edited by Jeffrey B.Harborne FRS, Herbert Baxter and Gerard P. Moss The purpose of thisdictionary is to provide basic information, including structuralformulae, on the most widely encountered plant constituents, withemphasis on those which are biologically active. MEETINGS ABA OFFICEBEARERS Copyright 1999 Australian Biotechnology Association Ltd.