Research Directions Pty Ltd.

NEWS

Added: November 2011

Research Directions has moved from Griffith University to Brisbane Technology Park. Our laboratory operations are located at Unit 4, 26 Brandl Street in the park. This location offers easy access to our clients and locates us near to enterprises with similar goals and aspirations to our own.

The move has coincided with a period of greater activity for the company. This year we have been given support from the Queensland Government for a Proof of Concept project to further develop our group of metabolic standards. The project was successfully completed and we were able to synthesize ten compounds to add to our list of standards. We are pleased to have developed a conversation with DEEDI that will assist us in gaining support for further commercially valuable projects for which we have completed the basic research.

Added: Jannuary 2010

Research Directions has been active in the provision of compounds for analytical standards in the area of inherited metabolic disease. The impact of this condition can be serious and early diagnosis is important. Diagnosis is difficult without standards of the compounds which serve as markers for the disease. Most of these compounds are not commercially available but can often be synthesized in our laboratory. (See our advertisement in the Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, Vol 32, No 6, December 2009)

Added: October 2009

Research Directions continues its operations at Nathan campus of Griffith University. Collaboration on various projects with
University staff is proseeding and the prospect of an expanded presence at the University in a purpose build facility is under
discussion.The intention of Research Directions it to proceed to a larger scale manufacture of small molecule entities and to
undertake the implementation of cGMP procedures.

The company has progressed with the development of new synthetic methods for off patent veterinary drugs. Research
Directions markets these compounds to veterinary pharmaceutical clients and new drug candidates for this activity are
constantly under review. In addition, a variety of contract work has expanded our expertise into novel synthetic methods
for crop protection products and compounds required for drug discovery efforts.

The repackaging of compounds together with provision of adequate specification documents is a new area of business for
Research Directions. This is an activity requiring knowledge of chemistry, an ability to solve the practical issues involved
in elimination of possible contamination and the establishment of adequate documented procedures.

Collaboration with a group of biologists within Griffith University has introduced Research Directions to the opportunity of provision
of specialist organic compounds required for the cutting edge biological research into cell growth.It is anticipated that this will
be a useful avenue of activity for Research Directions.

Added: November 2006

Research Directions has recently moved from the Gardens Point Campus of QUT and established operations in a research laboratory at the Nathan Campus of Griffith University. The laboratory will be used for research activities and production of API compounds.

The company is pleased to have a Memorandum of Understanding with Griffith University that defines areas of collaboration in research and production of small molecules. It is anticipated that joint research proposals will be submitted to funding agencies and that Research Directions will offer an insight into cGMP manufacture and scale-up production for Griffith students who intend to establish careers in the chemical industry.

Brisbane Innovation Park is located alongside Griffith at Nathan and offers expandable space for the benefit of the clients of Research Directions. The company is now able to offer production of small molecules at higher volumes than in the past and is able to look forward to a major expansion of activities including the establishment of a cGMP scale-up production facility.

The support of the University in allowing access to library and instruments is a valuable feature of the collaboration. In return, the company will be able to bring a commercial focus to some of the research projects that are undertaken by the university. Research Directions is very pleased to become part of the Griffith community and looks forward to a relationship that offers benefits to both parties.

Added: April 2006

The recent Informex meeting in Florida (Feb 14-17) was a stark reminder that the custom synthesis industry is a significant global industry in which Australia has very little representation.This can be demonstrated by checking the list of 3,971 registered attendees which includes five from Australia.

China, India, Ireland and Singapore are the more recent participants in an industry that began in Europe and the USA due to the presence of large pharmaceutical manufacturers.Government support has been a key driver in the success of the recent participants and will be required for the industry to grow in Australia.

Research Directions is a private company offering contract research services and developing its own niche products for sale.The company has achieved significant goals in both synthetic method development and commercial sales of generic APIs.This has been accomplished without government grants or the financial support of any research institution.The progress would be much more rapid with support.

There are significant reasons for establishing a scale-up cGMP facility for small molecules in Queensland.Some of these are:-

ŲTo offer the research community in Australia advice on synthetic processes that will be suitable for large scale production

ŲTo offer a service to Australian research institutes and biotechnology companies requiringcGMP batches of small molecule products for clinical testing thus eliminating the necessity to move offshore

ŲAustralia is a lower cost producer of chemicals than Europe or USA

ŲAustralia has language and cultural compatibility with major clients in Europe and USA

ŲAustralia is well situated to access the collaborative partners and growing markets of Asia

ŲTo provide a second supplier service to pharmaceutical manufacturers in Australia.

Research Directions continues its quest to establish a facility for small molecules in Queensland

AusBiotech 2004

Added: 20 November 2004

The CEO of Research Directions recently attended the AusBiotech 2004 conference in Brisbane. This was a three day event attended by biotechnology companies researchers and service providers to the biotechnology industry. A major debate for the attendees is the viability of the biotechnology sector in Australia. The handicaps we face are the well known factors such as - Scarcity of capital - Distance from major markets - A history of failure to commercialize our IP - Lack of supportive infrastructure In our favour we have enthusiasm, scientific excellence and a flexible approach to problem solving. Whether this is enough to ensure success is uncertain given the low hit rate for drug search, our primary biotechnology activity. Perhaps the feeling of most participants is that we will never win the prizes if we don’t enter the race and perhaps the accompanying benefits of participation will be greater than we expect. One of the clear messages for Research Directions from the conference is the need for a local GMP scale-up facility to allow drug search ventures to obtain sufficient amounts of their target for clinical trials. Research Directions has plans for a scale-up facility in Brisbane which will allow for GMP manufacture of small organic molecules. This will be of interest to research institutes and biotechnology companies who have small organics other than peptides as targets. We would be very interested to hear from any groups who have projects in this area.