$331 million deal sees Roche move into RNAi-based therapeutics.

As the biotechnology industry matures and more companies become profitable, many are looking outside their traditional business areas to grow -- with mixed results.

Melbourne's Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has raised $3.6 million through a private placement to Australian and professional investors to fund the phase IIa trial of its antisense compound ATL1102 for patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

John Chiplin, the new CEO of Sydney biopharma Peptech (ASX:PTD), sees strong similarities between the state of Australia's biotechnology industry and California's nascent biotechnology industry in San Diego in the mid-1980s.

Melbourne's Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has been granted approval to restart the phase IIa trial of its antisense compound ATL1102 for patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

The Brain Resource Company (ASX:BRC) has been granted approval from the US FDA to market its methodology and standardised international human brain database.

Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has claimed successful results from animal studies targeting the growth hormone receptor with an antisense drug, designed to reduce the growth of new blood vessels that can lead to two eye diseases which are major causes of blindness.

Melbourne's Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) is planning to restart the phase IIa trial of its lead drug candidate for multiple sclerosis ATL1102 before the end of the year, following recommendations from its advisory board.

Big pharma is licensing new projects earlier, and that means prospective partners need to be creative, a Pfizer licensing director has told a Melbourne meeting.

Melbourne's Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has reported a full-year after-tax loss of AUD$6.2 million, up from $4.6 million from last year, in results described by CEO Mark Diamond as "good news tinged with less than positive news".

Reports that a potential blockbuster drug for multiple sclerosis, Tysabri, could be back on shelves later this year appear to have given a boost to Melbourne company Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP), which is also developing an MS drug.