Latest news with #Queensland-based
Sydney Morning Herald
31-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
NeuroScientific locks in deal to scale-up stem cell production
Perth-based stem cell therapy pioneer NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals has started transferring its patented StemSmart process to one of Australia's biggest and most experienced cell therapy manufacturers to scale up clinical-grade production. Queensland-based Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics will take over the manufacturing of StemSmart's specific mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC) from Royal Perth Hospital's Cell and Tissue Centre. NeuroScientific says the technology transfer will allow it to establish MSC manufacturing for its StemSmart infusions for further clinical trials and pursue commercial opportunities. The MSC technology was developed as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and inflammatory Crohn's disease. 'This relationship will allow the company to scale the manufacturing of its StemSmart technology.' NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chief executive officer Nathan Smith NeuroScientific acquired the StemSmart technology in late June via its $4.1 million acquisition of unlisted Perth-based stem cell company Isopogen. Isopogen had previously signed a manufacturing contract with QIMR Berghofer, under which Q-Gen undertook manufacturing process development to scale up clinical-grade production of the StemSmart platform. Q-Gen, located in QIMR in Brisbane, has more than 25 years of experience in cell therapy manufacturing for industry. The laboratory specialises in manufacturing cellular immunotherapies for national and international clinical trials from 13 cleanrooms dedicated to cell manufacturing and quality control. NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chief executive officer Nathan Smith said: 'We are very pleased to be partnering with Q-Gen given their extensive experience in manufacturing, process development and GMP production of biologic products for clinical trials. This relationship will allow the company to scale the manufacturing of its StemSmart technology to address substantial market opportunities.' StemSmart offers a step up from traditional MSC manufacturing in that the cells are grown in a special medium, becoming activated in the process. The platform technology was developed at Royal Perth Hospital and manufactured using the hospital's processes.
The Age
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
NeuroScientific locks in deal to scale-up stem cell production
Perth-based stem cell therapy pioneer NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals has started transferring its patented StemSmart process to one of Australia's biggest and most experienced cell therapy manufacturers to scale up clinical-grade production. Queensland-based Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics will take over the manufacturing of StemSmart's specific mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC) from Royal Perth Hospital's Cell and Tissue Centre. NeuroScientific says the technology transfer will allow it to establish MSC manufacturing for its StemSmart infusions for further clinical trials and pursue commercial opportunities. The MSC technology was developed as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and inflammatory Crohn's disease. 'This relationship will allow the company to scale the manufacturing of its StemSmart technology.' NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chief executive officer Nathan Smith NeuroScientific acquired the StemSmart technology in late June via its $4.1 million acquisition of unlisted Perth-based stem cell company Isopogen. Isopogen had previously signed a manufacturing contract with QIMR Berghofer, under which Q-Gen undertook manufacturing process development to scale up clinical-grade production of the StemSmart platform. Q-Gen, located in QIMR in Brisbane, has more than 25 years of experience in cell therapy manufacturing for industry. The laboratory specialises in manufacturing cellular immunotherapies for national and international clinical trials from 13 cleanrooms dedicated to cell manufacturing and quality control. NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chief executive officer Nathan Smith said: 'We are very pleased to be partnering with Q-Gen given their extensive experience in manufacturing, process development and GMP production of biologic products for clinical trials. This relationship will allow the company to scale the manufacturing of its StemSmart technology to address substantial market opportunities.' StemSmart offers a step up from traditional MSC manufacturing in that the cells are grown in a special medium, becoming activated in the process. The platform technology was developed at Royal Perth Hospital and manufactured using the hospital's processes.
West Australian
31-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
NeuroScientific locks in deal to scale-up stem cell production
Perth-based stem cell therapy pioneer NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals has started transferring its patented StemSmart process to one of Australia's biggest and most experienced cell therapy manufacturers to scale up clinical-grade production. Queensland-based Q-Gen Cell Therapeutics will take over the manufacturing of StemSmart's specific mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC) from Royal Perth Hospital's Cell and Tissue Centre. NeuroScientific says the technology transfer will allow it to establish MSC manufacturing for its StemSmart infusions for further clinical trials and pursue commercial opportunities. The MSC technology was developed as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and inflammatory Crohn's disease. NeuroScientific acquired the StemSmart technology in late June via its $4.1 million acquisition of unlisted Perth-based stem cell company Isopogen. Isopogen had previously signed a manufacturing contract with QIMR Berghofer, under which Q-Gen undertook manufacturing process development to scale up clinical-grade production of the StemSmart platform. Q-Gen, located in QIMR in Brisbane, has more than 25 years of experience in cell therapy manufacturing for industry. The laboratory specialises in manufacturing cellular immunotherapies for national and international clinical trials from 13 cleanrooms dedicated to cell manufacturing and quality control. StemSmart offers a step up from traditional MSC manufacturing in that the cells are grown in a special medium, becoming activated in the process. The platform technology was developed at Royal Perth Hospital and manufactured using the hospital's processes. The cells have been used many times over the years via early-phase clinical trials, studies and on compassionate grounds, with promising results. Later in the year, NeuroScientific expects to receive the interim results from its latest compassionate access program involving patients with difficult-to-treat fistulising Crohn's disease, in which an open wound develops from a gut flare-up that extends out to the skin. A successful clinical outcome will help the company validate its proprietary StemSmart technology in this patient group, which otherwise has limited treatment options. NeuroScientific is fast building towards regulatory approvals and commercialisation for StemSmart. This month, it announced two heavy-hitting appointments. The company has appointed Melbourne-based Smith's as its chief executive officer and well-regarded Perth-based paediatric haematologist and oncologist Dr Catherine Cole as its chief medical officer. Smith has extensive experience in cell and gene therapies in senior commercial, operational and strategic roles in Australia and the United States, which should prove invaluable as the company navigates the regulatory and commercial pathways for its innovative StemSmart technology. The company says Smith's deep expertise in good manufacturing practice (GMP) will be critical for converting the biotechnology startup into a scaled-up commercial stem cell company. Cole has held clinical and academic leadership roles across Australia and overseas, including head of haematology and oncology at Perth Children's Hospital and professor of paediatric haematology and oncology at The University of Western Australia. She is also the former director of stem cell transplantation at Perth Children's Hospital, placing her front and centre in NeuroScientific's race to employ stem cell therapy to treat some of the most debilitating transplant complications and autoimmune diseases. The high-level executive duo join a strong leadership team, which also includes Perth-based haematology medical scientist Dr Marian Sturm as NeuroScientific's chief scientific officer. Sturm pioneered the use of the MSC used in StemSmart over the past 20 years in her former role as facility director of Royal Perth Hospital's Cell and Tissue Therapies centre. While competition in the stem cell space is fierce, the upside is enormous. StemSmart's progress and results over decades of development position the product closer to near-term commercialisation than some others also in the pipeline, which will be helped along by NeuroScientific's healthy bank balance. A $3.5 million capital raise handed the company a $7.5 million war chest to support further trials and development and help it generate plenty of momentum towards its long-term goal of partial or full registration for StemSmart, first up as a Crohn's treatment. NeuroScientific's progress in the field of stem cell therapy has certainly got the tongues wagging recently. The soaring share price has hardly taken a breather, clocking in with an eye-watering 360 per cent rise to 23.5 cent a share in the last two months alone. As StemSmart edges closer to regulatory approval and potential commercial rollout starts to take shape - starting with the pressing need in Crohn's disease - NeuroScientific appears poised to carve out a meaningful niche in the high-stakes world of advanced cell therapies. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact:
AU Financial Review
29-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Ship-in homes receive show of faith from big four bank
Commonwealth Bank has partnered with Queensland-based modular home builder Oly Homes to triple its output of prefabricated residential dwellings in a show of faith for the sector and as state and federal government housing targets hang in the balance. Australia's largest mortgage lender is funding the construction of a new 21,900 square metre factory on the Sunshine Coast for Oly Homes – set to be built in the second half of 2026. Once built, the factory will help lift Oly Homes' annual average from 200 homes to about 550 a year.
The Age
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Firehouse pub sale to raze the roof as long-time owner sounds siren for last drinks
Motel Molly, at 2 Shepherd Street, is a boutique, near-beachfront accommodation hotel featuring 16 rooms. The previous owners, the Knox Group, opened the doors in the past few months of 2022 after a comprehensive refurbishment. In Sydney's eastern suburbs, the 42-room, six-storey boutique accommodation asset, UME Potts Point at 39A Elizabeth Bay Road, has been sold to Carpe Diem Partners, which recently bought the sister boutique site, UME Potts Point, for about $7.98 million. The private fund is run by former Goldman Sachs banker Simon Wheatley and will add to its growing portfolio, which has a focus on developing more assets in the burgeoning co-living property sector. The combined Mollymook and Potts Point sales were worth about $20 million. HTL Property's Andrew Jolliffe and Andrew Jackson advised on the sales, while Ray White Commercial also worked on the Potts Point deal. Ampol HQ Fuel refiner and retailer Ampol is raising cash through the sale of headquarters in the heart of Sydney's south with a price tag of about $100 million. The 9475-square-metre site at 29 Bourke Street, Alexandria, covers four levels with a six-year lease to the group. There is an architecturally designed atrium, advanced end-of-trip facilities and a six-star NABERS Energy rating. The Colliers team of Michael Crombie, Adam Woodward, James Mitchell and Gillian Kaplan are advising on the sale. Ampol is also selling a portfolio of 13 development sites around the country. Included is a mix of metropolitan and regional locations, spanning five states with sites ranging from 1265 sq m to 3073 sq m. Included are properties Tumbarumba, NSW, and Portland, Victoria. They are undeveloped and come with flexible zoning in many locations. The ASX-listed group told investors on Wednesday that its first-half earnings before interest and taxes were expected to total $400 million, compared with $502.1 million reported last year. It said tighter refining margins and a 6.1 per cent fall in first-half sales volumes during the period were partly offset by stronger sales in its convenience retail operations. The portfolio is being sold by Cushman & Wakefield's Queensland-based Daniel Cullinane. Area 53 deal Known as Area 53, the 6.5-hectare site dedicated to life science and innovations in Sydney's north has been bought by joint-venture partners Wentworth Capital and BlackRock for $200 million. The property at 5-11 and 14 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, was the former home to CSIRO for nearly 60 years and other government tenants and is located within the Macquarie Park Innovation district, which is home to medical/pharma businesses including AstraZeneca and Cochlear. It comprises 12,000 square meters of purpose-built laboratory space alongside 40,000 square meters of surplus developable land. There is a 95 per cent occupancy of which government tenants account for 70 per cent of rental income.
