Early results from RNAi trial promising

Fuming over Commercial Ready, Gallaher moves on, Evado launches out and cash flows in.

Cytopia goes into Phase II trials for vascular disrupting agent while Benitec licensee agrees to develop RNAi-based therapy for hepatitis C.

When Merck announced last year it was buying Sirna Therapeutics for over US$1 billion, the world sat up and took notice. RNAi was now being seen as not only a revolution in our understanding but something with an unimaginable dollar value as well.

Benitec (ASX:BLT) has appointed former Axon Instruments VP Michael Catelani as executive director and Boron Molecular founder Peter Francis as non-executive director.

Gene therapy company Benitec's (ASX:BLT) shares fell on news that the US FDA investigational new drug (IND) filing for its HIV/AIDS therapeutic will be delayed.

"Seeing you all here means the company has survived," the chairman of RNAi specialist Benitec (ASX:BLT) Ray Whitten, told shareholders at today's AGM in Sydney.

The legal mists are lifting from Black Mountain in Canberra, and Mountain View in California, clarifying the ownership of key patents on RNA interference (RNAi) gene silencing technology.

UK-based NeuroSolutions, the fully owned subsidiary of NeuroDiscovery (ASX:NDL), has signed its first Australian revenue contract with Perth-based biopharmaceutical company Alzhyme. NeuroSolutions' Alzheimer models will be used to investigate the potential of three Alzhyme peptides to impede the progression of the disease.

The legal mists swirling the issue of ownership of key patents to RNA-induced (RNAi) gene silencing are lifting, with the US Patent Office granting CSIRO a patent for its Hellsgate family of vectors for exploring and manipulating gene function in plants and animals.

Licence discussions between RNAi specialist Benitec (ASX:BLT) and an undisclosed party caused Bentiec's share price to rise from $0.135 on September 8 to $0.17 on September 9, the company has told the ASX.