PERTH, Australia – The Australian Government is providing AU$13 million (US$8 million) to fast-track research into treatments for COVID-19, and a number of promising candidates are about to enter the clinic.

PERTH, Australia – Sydney-based Kazia Therapeutics Ltd. reported interim data showing that lead candidate paxalisib (formerly GDC-0084) saw a positive overall survival signal in its phase II glioblastoma trial, and the company raised AU$7.2 million (US$4.4 million) days after the data were released.

PERTH, Australia – As Australia closes its borders to all non-citizens and non-residents, it looks within the country for solutions to manage the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

PERTH, Australia – Mesoblast Ltd. plans to evaluate remestemcel-L in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) in the U.S., Australia, China and Europe.

PERTH, Australia – The FDA granted Melbourne-based Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and San Diego, California-based Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. a rare pediatric disease designation for trofinetide for treatment of Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental congenital central nervous system disorder.

PERTH, Australia – With the Brexit split now official, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration is trying to figure out the impact to its life sciences industry and the new trade relationships that will take effect after the transition period ends.

PERTH, Australia – As of Feb. 12, Australia’s Department of Health confirmed 15 cases of novel coronavirus in Australia.

PERTH, Australia – Mesoblast Ltd. has filed the final module of its rolling BLA submission for its allogeneic mesenchymal precursor cell therapy, remestemcel-L, after it showed strong survival rates in children with acute steroid-refractory graft-vs.-host disease (aGVHD).