Australian firms in drugs successes

Biota has reported that royalties derived from global sales of its influenza drug Relenza more than doubled to A$16 million during the three months to March 31, according to a statement by ceo Peter Cook.

It marks an $8.7m improvement on the previous quarter, raising Biota's total royalties from the drug for the past three quarters to $28.7m. The new demand for Relenza has been sparked by the appearance of bird flu, with overseas health authorities creating drug stockpiles to treat future bird flu outbreaks.

In other news from the Australian pharma industry, the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil may protect against a broader range of cervical cancers than first thought, according to its manufacturer.

Gardasil is the world's first vaccine that prevents infection by human papillomavirus, which is linked to cervical cancer, but the Australian firm CSL now says that the drug may be effective against additional HPV types responsible for 10 per cent of cervical cancers.

The company's US partner, Merck and Co, has submitted a supplementary Biologics Licence Application to the US Food and Drug Administration for HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The data will show efficacy against additional HPV types, as well as against vaginal and vulvar cancers. Gardasil already has FDA approval against a range of HPV types that account for 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases.