Clinuvel (ASX:CUV) has been cleared to commence recruiting for a phase II trial of Scenesse - a subdermal implant for treating melanin-based skin disorders - in vitiligo. [ + ]

Virax Holdings (ASX:VLA) has optioned a technology to identify patients most likely to benefit from GGTI-2418, a cancer treatment candidate it plans to acquire with the purchase of Pathway Oncology. [ + ]

Australian scientists have presented data on a blood test for bowel cancer which is based on two genes that 'leak' into the blood. Developed between biotechnology company Clinical Genomics and CSIRO, the test was clinically validated in collaboration with the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer at Flinders University. [ + ]

The Children's Oncology Drug Alliance (CODA) has been formed to fast-track development of anticancer therapy for neuroblastoma - the most common form of cancer in infancy. [ + ]

Biotechnology company Admedus has revealed that CardioCel, its collagen cardiovascular scaffold used to repair heart defects, has shown no detectable calcification or any other issues in the six years following implantation. [ + ]

GI Dynamics (ASX:GID) has raised $34.3m through a placement round to help fund its US phase II trial and other commercialisation efforts for EndoBarrier, its obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment. [ + ]

Researchers have successfully used embryonic stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to repair injured primate hearts. [ + ]

This year's New Zealand International Science Festival (Scifest) will be held in Dunedin from 5-13 July. The aim of the event is to promote and celebrate science, technology and the natural environment to a wide general audience, showing that science is exciting, fun and accessible. [ + ]

QRxPharma's (ASX:QRX) long-serving CEO Dr John Holday has stepped down and been replaced by COO Dr Edward Rudnic, following its latest regulatory setback for dual-opioid drug Moxduo. [ + ]

A biomedical engineering alliance strengthens the partnership between the University of Sydney and Shanghai Jiaotong University. [ + ]

Researchers have discovered how our immune cells and gluten interact at the amino acid level to trigger coeliac disease. [ + ]

Californian researchers have recorded a new world record for the fastest running land animal - one which is no bigger than a sesame seed in size. [ + ]

MiReven has picked up its first US patent for the microRNA precursor based anticancer technology developed by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. [ + ]

Australian, US and Dutch researchers have determined the molecular details of the interaction between the immune system and gluten that triggers coeliac disease. [ + ]

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) will soon meet with the US FDA to discuss ways to accelerate the approval process for Prochymal, a stem cell-based treatment bought from Osiris Therapeutics, in GVHD. [ + ]