Cash position: Approx. $16M at 30th December 2009.

Bionomics Limited (Bionomics) is engaged in research and development utilizing Bionomics’ technology platforms with the focus of identifying and developing therapies to treat cancer and conditions of the Central Nervous System (CNS), including anxiety, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy.

The Company operates drug discovery and development operations in Australia and France.The Company’s projects include BNC105, BNO69, Angio-genesis targets, BNC210 Anxiety, GABA-A agonists Epilepsy and Kv1.3 inhibitors Multiple Sclerosis.

Lead Product Candidate: BNC105, a dual action vascular disruption agent for the treatment of solid tumours. A two-stage, open-label, dose-escalation study in patients with advanced solid tumors for whom no standard therapy is available. Patients will be treated at 3 investigative sites in a trial conducted through Cancer Trials Australia. The trial is being conducted under a US FDA Investigational New Drug application. In July 2009 Bionomics engaged Hoosier Oncology Group headquartered in Indianapolis, IN (USA) to evaluate the efficacy of BNC105 in a Phase II clinical trial in patients with renal cell carcinoma. They anticipate initial Phase II data in Q1 claendar year 2011 for the renal cancer trial and for mesothelioma.

2nd product candidate: BNC210, an improved anxiolytic for the treatment of acute and generalised anxiety disorders. The trial will follow a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study design in healthy volunteers. Three participants in each cohort will receive drug and one will be given placebo. The number of participants per cohort may be increased if additional safety data is required. The drug will be given orally as a liquid suspension. The healthy volunteers will be dosed at the Pain and Anaesthesia Research Clinic (PARC) at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The trial is being conducted under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Clinical Trial Notification (CTN) The first trial was initiated in June 2009. Further Phase 1 data from this trail are expected in Q1 claendar year 2011.


Merck Serono Partnership: Under a 2008 agreement, Bionomics received an upfront payment of US$2 million, continuous research funding, and still stands to receive milestone payments of up to US$47 million for each compound selected by Merck Serono. Furthermore, Bionomics will be eligible to receive undisclosed royalties on the net sales of licensed products. Merck Serono bears the cost of funding all development activities, including clinical development of drug candidates. this agreement was extended in June 2010.


Related comapnies or competition:
 - Circadian, see 
        www.bioinvest.com.au/company/Circadian
 - Roche
 - Regeneron