Norwood Abbey subsidiary's technology to be evaluated by MedImmune

Biota and partner MedImmune begin antiviral trial for respiratory virus.

Just as the HPV vaccine Gardasil receives FDA approval, an argument has broken out between the researchers involved in the vaccine's development. So who patented what?

Melbourne-based Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement with US company MedImmune (Nasdaq:MEDI) to develop and commercialise Biota's small molecule compounds for the prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.

Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has developed a new class of orally-effective antivirals against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection that the company hopes will go to Phase I trials by 2006.

Brian McNamee has been at the helm of Australia's oldest - and now biggest - life-sciences company, CSL, for 15 years. He guided the company through its public listing in 1994 and has overseen its growth to a market capitalisation of $6.8 billion. He spoke with Melissa Trudinger about CSL's research and development programs, and his vision for the company's future.

A new environment for pharmaceutical companies is on the horizon and it will be the fittest who survive, predicts Ian Nisbet.

Australia's CSL (ASX:CSL) and California's Medimmune both won a milestone and royalty bonus today when their collaborators, developers of two competing vaccines for HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines, announced they would cross-licence patents on which both vaccines were based.

The US government has announced that Medicare will test the idea of paying for antiviral drugs -- including Biota and GlaxoSmithKline's Relenza -- for some patients who catch influenza.

Maryland-based MedImmune has halted the clinical trials of its Vitaxin drug for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, blaming a lack of benefits seen with the experimental treatment.