News

21 December 2020
With health policy top of the political agenda, now’s the time to supercharge Australia’s biotech sector says new MRCF Board member
Erica Kneipp, Head of Health and Medical Research Strategy at ANU, who was instrumental in establishing the Federally funded Australian Medical Research Future Fund and Biomedical Translation Fund, joins MRCF Board. COVID-19 has put health policy firmly at the top of the public policy agenda alongside security and finance, providing a unique opportunity to supercharge […]
21 December 2020
Erica Kneipp tapped for $700m biotech fund
Former assistant secretary of the Department of Health Erica Kneipp has been tapped to join the board of Medical Research Commercialisation Fund as the pandemic supercharges an opportunity to boost Australia’s biotech capabilities. Ms Kneipp, head of health and medical research strategy at the Australian National University, was at the centre of the creation of the […]
18 December 2020
Research on preventative nasal spray, which protects against COVID-19 and common cold, published in leading peer-reviewed academic journals
Research on preventative COVID-19 nasal spray published in prestigious, peer-reviewed academic journals: EBioMedicine and the European Respiratory Journal Novel therapy developed by Australian biotech company, Ena Respiratory, shown in animal study to reduce COVID-19 virus levels in the nose and throat by up to 96%; also found to be effective against rhinovirus (common cold), the […]
22 November 2020
Nasal spray which could fight Covid and other respiratory infections gets funding
A nasal spray with the potential to fight Covid-19 and other respiratory viral infections will be tested in the hope of manufacturing it in Australia. The INNA-051 nasal treatment, developed by the Australian biotech company Ena Respiratory, targets the primary site of most respiratory infections, including Covid, and activates immune defence mechanisms in the respiratory […]
17 November 2020
New investments for drug research
Brandon Capital, Sofinnova Partners invest $8.2 m in new UK start-up seeking novel cancer blocker. The Medical Research Commercialisation Fund and European venture capital firm, Sofinnova Partners, have co-led an initial investment of $8.2 million (£4.5 million) into Myricx Pharma, a new drug discovery company focused on developing novel treatments for cancer. The UK-based Myricx […]
16 November 2020
Myricx Pharma Launches with £4.5M (AU$8.2M) Financing to Progress its Novel NMT inhibitors in Cancer
Start-up from Imperial College London and the Francis Crick Institute brings together 15 years of world-leading research on N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) and breakthrough discoveries related to its inhibition in cancer Initial financing of £4.5M (AU$8.2M) from venture capital syndicate of experienced life sciences investors, Sofinnova Partners and Brandon Capital Partners Led by a team of world-class […]
6 November 2020
PolyActiva successfully completes initial clinical trial with Latanoprost FA SR Ocular Implant delivering glaucoma treatment to patients over a six-month period
PolyActiva Pty Ltd, a clinical-stage Australian ophthalmology biopharmaceutical company, today announced it has successfully completed its Phase I clinical study for its lead candidate, the Latanoprost FA SR Ocular Implant. The device was well tolerated in all 8 patients with no significant safety findings. The study also showed that the implant persists for the entire […]
1 November 2020
Aravax appoints Financial Executive Thomas Ulmer to Board of Directors
Aravax, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing the first safe and rapidly effective treatment for peanut allergy, announced today the appointment of Thomas Ulmer to the Board of Directors. Mr. Ulmer was previously the Chief Financial Officer of Immatics N.V., a NASDAQ-listed biopharmaceutical company and brings nearly two decades of experience serving in […]
29 October 2020
OncoRes Medical wins IGNITE Madness 2020
Perth-based medtech company, OncoRes Medical, has taken out the IGNITE Madness pitch competition in Houston, Texas, USA. In addition to the US$10,000 first prize, OncoRes Medical was awarded the prestigious Texas Medical Centre Ventures investment prize which is valued in excess of US$100,00. IGNITE is a newly organized non-profit organization comprised of a network of […]
26 October 2020
Eyeing pandemic’s silver lining for drug trials
The coronavirus pandemic has battered the smooth running of clinical trials for new drugs worldwide, but Australia has managed to pull through in a comparatively strong position, according to a biotechnology outfit researching an eye treatment. “Because Australia and New Zealand had done such a great job, with respect to managing the current rates of […]
23 October 2020
Azura Ophthalmics raises AUD$28m for registration studies for treatment of leading cause of dry eye disease
Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) in raise for registration study to treat Meibomian gland dysfunction, the leading cause of Dry Eye Disease Meibomian gland dysfunction affects more than 30 million adults in the United States alone – registration studies used to seek potential regulatory approval with the FDA Financing also will support development of pipeline […]
5 October 2020
Vaxxas Announces US$22 Million (A$30.6 Million) Award from U.S. Government to Advance Vaxxas Needle-Free HD-MAP™ Vaccine Patch Technology for Pandemic Response
Needle-free Vaxxas HD-MAP patch offers potential platform to dramatically improve vaccination in pandemic response by producing more patient-doses from limited quantities of vaccine, enabling rapid vaccine distribution without refrigeration, and creating a novel option for self-administration. Initial BARDA funding focuses on clinical demonstration using pandemic influenza vaccine; Vaxxas investigating opportunities to improve performance of other […]
28 September 2020
Preventative nasal spray shown to reduce viral replication by up to 96% in COVID-19 challenge study
New preventative nasal spray treatment that could protect people from COVID-19 infection and prevent transmission announced Novel therapy developed by Australian biotech company, Ena Respiratory, shown to significantly reduce COVID-19 virus levels in the nose and throat, in a gold-standard animal study Reduced COVID-19 replication by up to 96%, study performed by Public Health England […]
28 September 2020
Nasal spray cuts COVID-19 growth, study shows
It is unclear yet the length of protection a vaccine will provide. If it only lasted a few months the nasal spray would add another level of protection. A novel nasal treatment developed to boost the human immune system to fight common colds and flu has proved successful in reducing COVID-19 viral growth in a […]
3 September 2020
Biomedical Translation Bridge Program grants $1m to develop a drug treatment for obesity-related health conditions
Federal Governments Medical Research Future Fund provides grant to biotech company, Cincera Therapeutics Cincera Therapeutics Pty Ltd, a biotech company with operations in Adelaide and Melbourne, has been granted $1 million by the Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) Program. The funding will progress its research in developing a drug to treat severe and life-threatening obesity-related health […]
30 July 2020
GE Healthcare to Distribute Osprey Medical’s Technology to Address Angiography Based Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
GE Healthcare and Osprey Medical Inc. (ASX:OSP) (Osprey) today announced a strategic alliance under which GE Healthcare will exclusively distribute Osprey’s product portfolio in Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Turkey. Osprey’s DyeVert™ contrast minimization devices, complemented by GE Healthcare’s range of iodinated x-ray contrast media, offer healthcare professionals a technology platform to […]
22 July 2020
OncoRes Medical awarded prestigious research funding
Perth-based medtech company, OncoRes Medical, has been awarded $1 million funding as part of the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund BioMedTech Horizons program, operated by MTPConnect. The grant will help to fund the development of a second-generation intraoperative imaging device, designed to reduce repeat operations for women with breast cancer. OncoRes Medical, together with […]
12 June 2020
Innovative type two diabetes treatment scores $29m
An early stage non-invasive treatment for type two diabetes is set to begin human trials in Adelaide in late 2020, thanks to a $29 million cash injection from Brandon Capital’s Medical Research Commercialisation Fund and US fund Santé Ventures. The treatment is being developed by US company Glyscend Therapeutics. It is the result of a […]
12 June 2020
$29M investment to develop new treatment for type 2 diabetes
An orally administered treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D), which mirrors the astonishing effect of gastric bypass surgery in improving sugar control in diabetes patients, has received a Series A investment of AU$29m. The funding round for biopharmaceutical company, Glyscend Therapeutics, was led by Brandon Capital’s Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF) and US healthcare investor, […]
29 May 2020
Vaxxas announces that MSD Exercises Option to Apply Novel Immune System Activation Platform for Vaccine Candidate
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Vaxxas, a biotechnology company commercializing a novel vaccination platform, today announced that MSD, the tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ USA, has exercised its option to utilize Vaxxas’ proprietary High Density Microarray Patch (HD‐MAP) platform for a vaccine candidate. MSD also retains an option to license the HD‐MAP technology for […]
28 May 2020
Harro Höfliger and Vaxxas Announce Alliance to Develop Industrial‐scale Aseptic Processing Line for Vaccine Products Based on Vaxxas’ High Density Microarray Patch (HD‐MAP)
Needle‐free Vaxxas HD‐MAP can enhance routine vaccination with potential to revolutionize vaccination in pandemic response; produce more patient‐doses from limited quantities of vaccine, distribution without refrigeration, and potential for self‐administration. Collaboration lays engineering groundwork for capital expenditure investments of up to $25 million over the next 3 years. Harro Höfliger and Vaxxas will develop world’s […]
25 May 2020
Nation faces ‘generational loss’ of biotechs warning
The head of Australia’s largest life science investment fund has urged the government to provide a COVID-19 support package to the $170 billion sector, including changing JobKeeper eligibility and the scrapping of controversial legislative changes to the R&D tax incentive. Dr Chris Nave – founding partner of Brandon Capital which manages the Medical Research Commercialisation […]
8 May 2020
Urgent COVID-19 response package needed to support and protect $170b life sciences sector
Potential initiatives include broadening JobKeeper eligibility, fast tracking R&D Tax Incentive payments, and diverting a proportion of MRFF funding to biotech commercialisation A COVID-19 response package to support Australia’s suffering life science sector, valued at over $170b, is urgently needed says Dr Chris Nave, CEO of Australia’s largest life science investment fund, the Medical Research […]
24 March 2020
Bill Ferris, pioneer venture capitalist, appointed Chair of the MRCF
Pioneer venture capitalist, Bill Ferris, the architect behind the Federal Government’s $500m Biomedical Translation Fund (BTF), has been appointed  Chair of the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF). Mr Ferris was former Chair of the Garvan Medical Research Institute and inaugural Chair of the Turnbull Government’s Innovation and Science Australia Board. Mr Ferris will take over […]
18 March 2020
Vaxxas High-Density Microarray Patch to Efficiently Deliver Vaccines Directly to Skin
Vaxxas, a clinical-stage biotechnology company commercializing a novel vaccination platform, today announced the publication in the journal PLoS Medicine of groundbreaking clinical research indicating the broad immunological and commercial potential of Vaxxas’ novel high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP). Using influenza vaccine, the clinical study of Vaxxas’ HD-MAP demonstrated significantly enhanced immune response compared to vaccination by needle/syringe. This is […]
18 March 2020
Vaxxas Awarded US$5 million Grant for Clinical Study of Measles and Rubella Vaccination
Vaxxas, a biotechnology company commercializing a novel vaccination platform, today announced that it has received a US$5 million [AU$7.5 million] grant to conduct initial human clinical studies using Vaxxas’ High Density Microneedle Array Patch (HD-MAP) for measles and rubella vaccination. This funding is provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and builds on an […]
10 March 2020
Multi-million-dollar mission to tackle major global health challenges
The George Institute for Global Health today announced that $53 million from three Australian investors will now support the commercialisation of its world-leading research to address some of the biggest health challenges of our time. The investments are set to fast-track the growth of George Health Enterprises, the Institute’s commercial arm, and George Medicines, its […]

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