Greg Collier ChemGenex CEO Awarded at AusBiotech

28 October 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ChemGenex CEO Dr Greg Collier was today recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Australian biotech sector, receiving the AusBiotech 2009 Chairman’s Excellence Award for outstanding contribution by an individual within a company.

Dr Collier has played a significant role internationally and domestically in promoting Australia’s leadership in biotechnology development and commercialisation. Under Dr Collier’s leadership ChemGenex has emerged as an Australian success story, being the first Australian company to submit a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration for a cancer medicine.

ChemGenex has submitted its NDA for Omapro™ (omacetaxine mepesuccinate), for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have failed treatment with the drug imatinib and who have developed the T315I mutation. Patients with this mutation do not respond to existing therapies, and in clinical trials Omapro has been shown to be effective in 85% of patients with chronic phase CML.

ChemGenex also recently discovered in preclinical testing that Omapro kills human leukemic stem cells - a significant development with research showing stem cells appear to fuel the growth of several kinds of cancers including leukemia and are resistant to standard cancer therapy.

With stem cell therapies being hailed by many as the silver bullet in cancer treatment, this discovery is an interesting development for the Company and expands potential new and wide ranging avenues for the use of Omapro.

Dr Collier has more than 20 years’ experience spanning commercial, operational, clinical and scientific aspects of pharmaceutical research and development. He has been CEO of ChemGenex for seven years.

In presenting the awards, AusBiotech Chairman Dr Deborah Rathjen said: “Dr Collier has made a sustained and significant contribution to the Australian biotechnology industry not only through his achievements at ChemGenex but in his general pursuits in the discovery and commercialisation of Australian research in the important area of cancer therapies.”

AusBiotech is the national body for the biotechnology and life sciences industry, hosting AusBiotech 2009 – the premier Australasian biotechnology conference from 27 – 30 October in Melbourne.

About AusBiotech

AusBiotech is Australia’s voice on biotechnology, and represents more than 3,000 members, encompassing medicines, medical diagnostics and devices, agriculture, alternative fuels and climate change.

For additional event information visit the conference website at: http://www.ausbiotech2009.com.au/

ENDS

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