Business Corner

---

Warnex Launches New Bacterial Test Kits
Two new tests are available from Warnex Inc. (Laval, QC) for the detection of Campylobacter and Listeria species of bacteria.

Providing a result within 48 hours, the Campylobacter test detects the presence of three species of the bacterium — C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari — which account for 99 per cent of reported Campylobacter-related illness. Traditional testing for this pathogen requires five to seven days’ processing. A PCR test that quantifies the presence of Campylobacter is under development by Warnex and will be marketed in early 2006.

Warnex’s Listeria spp. test provides results within 24 hours — instead of the 48 hours needed for conventional testing — and uses a single enrichment step that simplifies the procedure.

Both new tests are intended for use in conjunction with the Warnex™ Rapid Pathogen Detection System. Bacterial illness caused by Campylobacter and Listeria species can produce serious side-effects, and possibly death, if left untreated.


New Scientific Advisory Board for Altachem Pharma
Altachem Pharma Ltd. (Edmonton, AB) has named the members of its newly formed scientific advisory board.

The two returning members are: Samuel Abraham, PhD, director of the Technology Development Office at the B.C. Cancer Agency (Vancouver, BC); and J. William Lown, PhD, emeritus professor of chemistry at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB).

New board members are Ki-Jun Hwang, PhD, director of the Research Center for Bioactive Materials at Chonbuk National University (Jeonju, South Korea); Dr. Gilles Lauzon, PhD, associate professor and director of the division of dermatology at the University of Alberta; and Dr. Ron Moore, PhD, professor of surgery and oncology at the University of Alberta.

Altachem’s product development efforts focus on cancer and other proliferative diseases, and are based on the firm’s SonoLight and CDK platforms.


$12.8M US Venture Financing Closed by OncoGenex
A new financing will support the operations of cancer biotech firm OncoGenex Technologies Inc. (Vancouver, BC) into 2008.

The firm completed a $12.8 million US oversubscribed series B2 round of private equity financing, with the participation of several existing venture capital investors, as well as new investors WHI Morula Fund LLC (Chicago, IL) and BC Advantage Funds (Vancouver, BC).

With the funding influx, OncoGenex will build the development program of its lead compound, OGX-011, in multiple cancer indications. OGX-011 works by inhibiting a cellular stress protein, called clusterin, that is associated with resistance to conventional cancer therapies. Also set to benefit from the financing is the firm’s second product candidate, OGX-427, which the firm anticipates advancing into clinical development next year.


Joint Venture for MedMira in China
A joint venture has been established between MedMira Inc. (Halifax, NS) and Tianhe Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Guilin, China).

The deal will see the opening of new market verticals in China, including over-the-counter sales of MedMira’s current and future rapid diagnostic products. Specifically, Tianhe will assist in the launch of MedMira’s next generation of rapid tests, including the newest rapid HIV test for whole blood, serum and plasma.

While the majority of R&D will remain at MedMira’s Canadian headquarters, the deal will also see some production being conducted in China.


Protox Signs Deal, Starts Preliminary Study
Vancouver, B.C.-based Protox Therapeutics Inc. has signed an exclusive licence agreement with the National Research Council of Canada’s Institute for Biological Sciences (Ottawa, ON) and the University of Victoria Innovation and Development Corp. (Victoria, BC).

Through the deal, Protox gains exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize antibody-targeted PORxin™ for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Included in the deal is an upfront fee, as well as milestone and royalty payments.

In other news, Protox has initiated a preliminary non-small lung cancer study with PORxin antibody fusion constructs at the B.C. Cancer Agency (Vancouver, BC).


New Vaccine Researcher Appointed at Antigen Express
Antigen Express Inc. (Worcester, MA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Generex Biotechnology Corp. (Toronto, ON), has strengthened its vaccine research team.

John Zinckgraf, PhD has joined Antigen Express to accelerate the development of a novel vaccine for pandemic influenza. Zinckgraf has substantial experience in advancing vaccine technologies, having worked as a vaccine researcher at the University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT), as well as at Epimmune Inc. (San Diego, CA), where he pursued preclinical development of several infectious disease vaccines.

Antigen Express is developing a series of li-Key/T-helper cell II epitope vaccines against the pandemic Asian bird flu (H5N1 strain).