XRT Limited signs landmark collaboration with world leader in 3D metrology and analysis market.

March 29, 2005

Biotech

The Board of BioTech Capital Ltd (ASX:BTC) is pleased to announce that investee company, XRT Ltd, has entered into a significant commercial partnership with a global leader in inspection and analysis tools.

This arrangement will see XRT Ltd’s unique imaging technology, based around the phenomena of phase contrast, incorporated into dedicated instruments for 3D metrology and analysis. These tools will be manufactured in the northern hemisphere and distributed by the manufacturer through their worldwide network of subsidiary companies and agents.

The partnership involves XRT granting a license to its patented technology and in return XRT Ltd will be entitled to royalties on future sales of the instruments.

This agreement follows on from XRT Ltd’s recent installation and commissioning of its X-Ray UltraMicroscope platform in the prestigious Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL) in the United States.  LLNL is a US-government funded advanced research facility for science and technology applied to national security. The laboratory’s special multidisciplinary capabilities are also used to pursue programs in advanced defense technologies, energy, environment, biosciences, and basic science.

A direct consequence of this sale is an imaging project with the Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Sciences working on pilot samples for the “Stardust” program which is due to return extraterrestrial particles to Earth in January 2006. This work has resulted in the joint publication of results at the recent 36th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Huston Texas.

XRT Ltd is currently moving towards a re-location of its activities in the United Kingdom and the above agreement forms an important element of this strategy.

About BioTech Capital Ltd (www.biotechcapital.com.au)

BioTech Capital Ltd (“BTC”) is one of Australia’s largest life-science focused private equity funds.  With approximately $10 million in investment funds still available, the company is well placed to continue to develop a diversified portfolio of high quality Australian life-science investments. 

BTC currently has investments in a diverse group of Australian life-science companies including Alchemia, Biocomm, Clinical Cell Culture, Continence Control Systems, Pacific Knowledge Systems, Phylogica, Prima Biomed, Proteome Systems, Starpharma, Stem Cell Sciences and XRT.

As a registered Pooled Development Fund (PDF), investors are generally exempt from tax on capital gains and income.  

BTC is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (Code: BTC, BTCOA) and is managed externally by Titan BioVentures Management (www.titanbioventures.com)

About XRT Ltd (www.xrt.com.au)

XRT Ltd leads the world in the practical application of x-ray phase contrast imaging.

Located in Melbourne, Australia, XRT Ltd has brought together a powerful combination of scientific, technical and commercial skills to deliver innovative products for x-ray ultraMicroscopy and x-ray phase contrast radiography.

XRT Ltd’s strategic objective is to maintain and further develop a world class competence in the capture, extraction, manipulation and storage of phase contrast data from x-ray imaging.

Contact Information

PR and IR

BioTech Capital Ltd

XRT Ltd

Rebecca Christie
Buchan Consulting

Harry Karelis
Managing Director

Grant Dow
Director

XRT's Media Contact Details

Email
media@xrt.com.au
Phone
+61 3 9249 2900
Fax
+61 3 9646 3469