Recent Press Releases

ARGENTA RECIEVES NZBIO EMERGING COMPANY AWARD

The world’s first Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization dedicated to improving animal health has received the 2010 NZBIO Emerging Company of the Year Award.

Argenta works with both large multi-national pharmaceutical companies and smaller start-up firms worldwide to develop innovative products to improve the health of animals. This innovation driven company is proudly located in New Zealand and supplies animal health products and services to 59 countries globally.

Argenta's subsidiary, AlcheraBio is a clinical services provider, based in the USA. Together, they offer the full range of contract services - from discovery (R&D), including clinical trial and regulatory stability and submissions, right through to commercial product manufacture.

Award judges said Argenta was selected as a company which had grown rapidly and internationally in a sophisticated area of biotech manufacturing and R&D for animal health.

“In order to successfully work with its international clients; Argenta uses its R&D teams to create products for clients and so works with a low risk, high reward business model and is already exporting some tens of millions of dollars annually. It serves as a robust example of the potential rewards for New Zealand biotech companies when their model is correct and their business strategy is implemented effectively,” Judging Committee member Mr Doug Wilson said.

“But the choice was very tough as there are now a number of emerging companies which are not only showing promise but are carving truly unique niches internationally.”

NZBIO Chief Executive Bronwyn Dilley said the level of interest in this particular award was very strong.

“Argenta’s success in receiving this year’s NZBIO Emerging Company Award proves New Zealand can grow world first, world class companies here. With its unique business model, Argenta is attracting international clients and providing services in a key and highly regulated market,” Ms Dilley said.

Judging criteria for this award includes: vision and leadership, deals done, product pipeline, IP position and strategy.

ENDS

NZBIO CELEBRATES NEW ZEALAND’S BIOSCIENCE BRILLIANCE

New Zealand’s leading bioscientists  were celebrated last night at the 6^th annual NZBIO Conference Awards.

Three hundred New Zealand and international guests attended the NZBIO 2010 Awards Dinner. Sponsored by AgResearch, the dinner featured a live cooking demonstration by Senior Meat Scientist Dr Mustafa Farouk, who took to the stage to reveal his ‘secret recipe of a thousand years’.

John McEwan of AgResearch received the 2010 Ross Clark Distinguished Biotechnologist of the Year Award, supported by PALL Life Sciences. This award is presented to a leader in their field whose utilisation of biotechnology during their career has contributed significantly to improving quality of life. The Award is named in memory of the late Ross Clark, who received the 2008 Distinguished Biotechnologist of the Year Award.

“John McEwan has used modern genomics to develop commercial tests for identifying valuable traits in sheep which are otherwise difficult to detect. It is applied research which is having a significant financial impact on sheep farming in New Zealand and helping to and maintains the industries competitive position,” the judging committee said.

“I am very happy to accept this award, I feel it represents recognition of what the AgResearch Animal Genomics group has delivered to the sheep, cattle and deer industries over the past two decades,” Mr McEwan said.

“It demonstrates how we are now able to translate basic international science efforts like sequencing of the cattle, sheep and deer genomes into useful industry applications. This may appear to be a tough sell, but over many years I have been very strongly supported by industry organizations and especially performance recording breeders in this role and am very humbled by their support.”

Dr Wayne Patrick of Massey University is the 2010 NZBIO Young Biotechnologist of the Year. This award is supported by the Ministry of Research, Science & Technology and presented to a scientist under the age of 40 whose work demonstrates the potential for future leadership in biotechnology. The prize for this award includes participation in the MoRST Scientific Delegation to the 2010 Bio International Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

The judging committee said Wayne Patrick stood out as a candidate for this award because of his world class research and development in the field of DNA ligase enzymes. “This has attracted significant recognition from his peers and funding from key agencies.  With an outstanding academic record as well, Wayne has an exciting future in biotechnology,” the committee added. 

Dr Patrick says he is honoured to be named the NZBIO Young Biotechnologist of the Year. 

“The research in my lab group addresses fundamental questions about the evolution of enzyme structure and function, and we use that fundamental understanding to help us engineer biomolecules with new or improved functions.  This award is an acknowledgement that biotechnological innovation can come from fundamental research, and I am excited that we here in New Zealand recognize that fact. 

Dr Patrick says the experiments that he feels helped win this award – engineering improved molecular reagents for life science research – are all being conducted by a cadre of talented undergraduates.

“More than anything, the NZBIO Young Biotechnologist of the Year Award is about potential for the future.  I hope that my own best work is still to come; but thanks to my students, I am certain that the future of New Zealand biotechnology is bright.”

“NZBIO congratulates these outstanding individuals on their respective contribution to New Zealand in their chosen fields of research,” NZBIO Chief Executive Bronwyn Dilley says.

“The NZBIO Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of New Zealand’s bio-science industry leaders. The calibre of entries is always exceptionally high, which reveals the depth of talent in New Zealand’s bio-science community.”