After reviewing the compulsory licensing provisions in the patents system, the Productivity Commission has released a draft report, which is now open for comment until 8 February 2013. [ + ]

A study has shown Allied Healthcare’s (ASX:AHZ) tissue engineering technology has potential applications in hernia repair and pelvic floor reconstruction. [ + ]

Sirtex Medical (ASX:SRX) CEO Gilman Wong is confident the company will continue to grow at a similar rate to the last five years, with it announcing its 34th consecutive quarter of growth. [ + ]

Atoms at negative absolute temperature are the hottest systems in the world. [ + ]

Nadolol is known for its role in treating blood pressure, but now Invion is conducting a phase II trial to assess its effects on asthma and chronic bronchitis. [ + ]

Abbott Laboratories is now two companies, with it spinning-off its pharmaceutical business into a new company, AbbVie. [ + ]

As the year commences, Sirtex Medical is being hailed a stand-out performer for 2012 and some analysts are tipping the biotech sector to be a “hot space” in 2013. [ + ]

After reclaiming the rights to its bladder cancer treatment, Urocidin, Bioniche (ASX:BNC) is now considering seeking approval in the Canadian market. [ + ]

Post-Christmas and most of us are feeling the overindulgence. But take heart - experts at Newcastle University, UK, have shown even the kilogram itself has put on weight. [ + ]

Diffuse Pontine Glioma (DIPG) may not be particularly well known, but according to oncologist Dr David Ziegler, it is “one of the most common and the most aggressive brain tumours we see in kids”. Now, Dr Ziegler and colleagues from the Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA) have set out to grow their own tumours in the institute’s ACRF Drug Discovery Centre. [ + ]

This year Australia’s biotechnology industry can celebrate Christmas knowing that despite the challenges in the sector, companies in Australia can be proud of the year’s achievements. [ + ]

Clinuvel (ASX:CUV) has shown in a phase IIa trial that its Scenesse implant in combination with UV therapy can aid in the treatment if skin pigmentation condition vitiligo. [ + ]

Biopharmaceutical manufacturers and contract manufacturing organisations (CMOs) are invited to participate in the bio-industry's most in-depth, global study: the 10th Annual Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Report and Survey. [ + ]

A decade ago, a British philosopher put forth the notion that the universe we live in might in fact be a computer simulation run by our descendants. While that seems far-fetched, perhaps even incomprehensible, a team of physicists at the University of Washington has come up with a potential test to see if the idea holds water. [ + ]

Is homosexuality genetic? It’s a long-running debate. [ + ]