Dimerix is very pleased to announce that on 6 September 2011 Dimerix’s CSO, A/Prof. Kevin Pfleger, won the 2011 3M Eureka Prize for Emerging Leader in Science for his work in helping to develop better drugs with fewer side-effects in areas of high disease burden.

This recognition is part of the Australian Museum 2011 Eureka Prizes, the most prestigious awards in Australian science. ‘The Eurekas’, as they are known, have become the most coveted science awards in Australia. Receiving an Australian Museum Eureka Prize is regarded as a pinnacle achievement for any Australian scientist.

This award recognizes A/Prof. Pfleger’s leadership in the field of G protein-coupled receptors, his world-leading expertise in Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) technology and his use of the GPCR-HIT technology to find safer and more efficacious drugs.

“We are delighted that Kevin’s work and expertise in the GPCR drug discovery field has been recognized by his award of this 2011 Eureka Prize. His leadership in his field of scientific endeavor and the quality of his scientific team is outstanding,” said Tim Grogan, Chief Executive Officer of Dimerix Bioscience.

The GPCR-HIT technology was invented by A/Prof. Pfleger and co-workers at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research and the University of Western Australia. This technology, being commercialized by Dimerix Bioscience, and the group’s deep knowledge of the complexes formed by many GPCRs, known as ‘GPCR heteromers’ lies at the heart of this capability.

Details of the Australian Museum 2011 Eureka Prizes are available here.

About GPCRs and Dimerix’ GPCR-HIT Platform:
Dimerix’ proprietary G Protein-Coupled Receptor Heteromer Identification Technology (GPCR-HIT) platform is used to identify complexes formed by GPCRs known as GPCR heteromers. The platform is also used to screen for and to profile compounds that interact with GPCR heteromers resulting in heteromer-selective or biased pharmacology. Use of GPCR-HIT significantly expands the scope of GPCR-based drug discovery and development through the identification of compounds having biased intracellular signaling that is mediated through the GPCR heteromers.

About Dimerix Bioscience Pty Ltd:
Dimerix is a private Australian assay technology and drug discovery company focused on developing pharmaceutical products targeting complexes of GPCRs. Additional information about Dimerix is available through its corporate website, www.dimerix.com.

Dimerix is the recipient of a grant from Commercialisation Australia, www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au.
________________

Contact:

Dr James Williams, Executive Director (+61 409 050 519)
Dimerix Bioscience Pty Ltd
www.dimerix.com

Download a copy of this announcement:110907 Dimerix – Kevin Pfleger Eureka Prize Announcement.

###

MELBOURNE and PERTH, Australia, 6 September, 2011 – The Directors of Dimerix Bioscience Pty Ltd are pleased to advise that Dr Mark Ashton has been appointed a non-executive director of the company.

Dimerix Chairman, Dr David Fuller said: “We are pleased to welcome Dr Ashton to the Board of Dimerix.  His appointment brings a high level of expertise to the company given his extensive involvement in the pharmaceutical contract research sector internationally. Together with the company and its other directors Dr Ashton will help support Dimerix’ strategy of developing the next generation drugs targeting GPCR heteromers using its innovative GPCR-HIT technology platform.”

Dr Ashton has over 15 years experience with the European-based Biotech company Evotec, providing integrated drug discovery solutions to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry from target to clinic.  From 2004-2010, Dr Ashton led the international business development team and activities of Evotec, building up strong networks within the Pharma industry.  In October 2010, Dr Ashton moved to Australia to join UniQuest Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s leading research commercialization companies where he is currently Manager of Innovation & Commercial Development.

About GPCRs and Dimerix’ GPCR-HIT Platform:

Dimerix’ proprietary G Protein-Coupled Receptor Heteromer Identification Technology (GPCR-HIT) platform is used to identify complexes formed by GPCRs known as GPCR heteromers. The platform is also used to screen for and to profile compounds that interact with GPCR heteromers resulting in heteromer-selective or biased pharmacology. Use of GPCR-HIT significantly expands the scope of GPCR-based drug discovery and development through the identification of compounds having biased intracellular signaling that is mediated through the GPCR heteromers.

About Dimerix Bioscience Pty Ltd:

Dimerix is a private Australian assay technology and drug discovery company focused on developing pharmaceutical products targeting complexes of GPCRs.  Additional information about Dimerix is available through its corporate website, www.dimerix.com.

Dimerix is the recipient of a grant from Commercialisation Australia, www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au.

________________

Contact:

Tim Grogan, Chief Executive Officer (+61 438 655 452)

or Dr James Williams, Executive Director (+61 409 050 519)

Dimerix Bioscience Pty Ltd

www.dimerix.com

###
Download the announcement: 110906 Dimerix Board – Mark Ashton Announcement

Dimerix will be attending the Miptec Conference to be held from 19-22 September 2011 at the Congress Centre, Basel. The conference program is available from here.

A/Prof. Kevin Pfleger will be presenting in a session on ‘Biological Space: New Molecular Mechanism-based Assays’ on Thursday September 22, 2011, 14:30-16:30

Dimerix is delighted to announce that A/Prof. Kevin Pfleger, Dimerix’s CSO and Head of Molecular Endocrinology at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, has been shortlisted for an Australian Museum Eureka Prize in the category of ‘Emerging Leader in Science’.

This Eureka Prize is awarded to a young scientist who has used their leadership skills to create impact inside their institution, amongst their peers, within their discipline or in the wider community. A/Prof. Kevin Pfleger had been shortlisted because his work is focused on developing better therapeutic drugs with fewer side effects for a range of medical conditions.

The Eureka awards, which are a partnership between government organisations, institutions, companies and individuals committed to celebrating the vitality, originality and excellence of Australian science, are presented annually by the Australian Museum.

The 2011 Eureka Prize winners will be announced on 6 September in Sydney. Further details are available at: http://eureka.australianmuseum.net.au/.

Dimerix will be attending the 5th Annual ELRIG Drug Discovery Conference to be held from 7-8 September 2011 at Manchester Central, Manchester, UK. The conference program is available from here.

A/Prof. Kevin Pfleger will be presenting in the Cellular Imaging Technologies stream scheduled from 14:00 – 14:30 on Thursday 8 September on ‘G-Protein Coupled Receptor Heteromers and Drug Discovery’.

Dimerix will be attending the BIO International Convention 2011, including the BIO Business Forum One-on-One Partnering Meetings, to be held from 27-30 June 2011 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C., USA.

The conference is being arranged by the Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) and the program is available from here.

Dimerix’s CEO, Tim Grogan, will be presenting at the Australian Biotech on Show Life Science Investment Showcase – New York to be held from 15:00 to 19:00 on 23 June 2011 at Ernst & Young’s New York Headquarters in Times Square, New York, USA.

The conference is being arranged by AusBiotech and Ernst & Young and the program is available from here.