South Australian scientists have succeeded in extracting DNA sequences from two species of the country's extinct kangaroos - the giant short-faced kangaroo (Simosthenurus occidentalis) and the giant wallaby (Protemnodon anak). [ + ]

Orthocell (ASX:OCC) has been granted a Chinese patent for its Celgro collagen bio-scaffold platform technology, augmenting its IP protection in the APAC region.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (MHMRC) has released a draft document to inform decisions around the allocation of organs for transplantation. [ + ]

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has released a draft document to inform decisions around the allocation of organs for transplantation. [ + ]

Australia's Burnet Institute and Chinese state investment firm GuoMinXinHe have finalised a $5 million investment deal covering Nanjing BioPoint, Burnet's commercial entity in China.

Biotech start-up Solvanix was launched this week with funding from the Medical Research Commercialisation Fund (MRCF). The aim of the company is to commercialise a technology for improving stability and reducing the aggregation (stickiness) of fully human antibodies - a side effect of their purification, concentration and storage for use as therapeutic drugs. [ + ]

The Advance Global Australian Awards celebrate Australians who exhibit remarkable talent, exceptional vision, ambition, leadership and innovation in their chosen field. Nominations for the 2015 awards are now open. [ + ]

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) has presented data from its phase II trial of MPCs in lower back pain and initiated a phase III program on the strength of the results.

Analyst commentary suggests the devaluation of the Australian dollar during 2014 has left biotech in a good position for investment, as well as a target for takeovers and mergers.

German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim this week announced research collaborations with Vanderbilt and Yale universities in order to develop treatments for cancer and other diseases. [ + ]

Phosphagenics (ASX:POH) has appointed Dr Ross Murdoch as its new CEO and has received ethics approval for a pilot trial of TPM/Oxycodone in post-herpetic neuralgia.

Monash University has entered a collaborative research partnership with Janssen-Cilag to explore potential new treatments for autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis.

The 2015 Laboratory Management and Design Conferences will be held from 16-19 November at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Science Industry Australia is now calling for papers and presentations for the two conferences. [ + ]

Qiagen has announced the CE-IVD marking of its liquid biopsy-based companion diagnostic that analyses circulating nucleic acids obtained from blood samples to assess a genomic mutation in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). [ + ]

The time is here to list AusBiotech's New Year's resolutions, which will buoy and grow the Australian biotechnology industry, support your success and ensure 2015 is the best year yet.