Austrade, in partnership with Australian federal and state government agencies, is organising the first Australian 'Innovation Week' in India and invites interested Australian companies to participate. While the entire program will run over three weeks, the life sciences component will run for one week, commencing 25 November 2013. [ + ]

Brisbane's new biomedical research institute, Translational Research Institute, has been officially opened by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce. [ + ]

A month after licensing MoxDuo IR for ANZ and Oceania to Aspen for $1.25m, QRxPharma (ASX:QRX) has expanded the deal to also cover South Africa. [ + ]

Biotech company Roche plans to invest 800 million Swiss francs within its global manufacturing network to increase production capabilities for its biologic medicines over the next five years. [ + ]

Genetic research reveals Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal cancer are more closely linked than previously thought. [ + ]

Starpharma's (ASX:SPL) DEO, a formulation of colon and colorectal cancer drug oxaliplatin, has demonstrated reduced neurotoxicity in lab trials comparing it to the original version. [ + ]

Research from the University of Melbourne and the Florey Institute could be developed into a new class of drugs for neurodegenerative diseases. [ + ]

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) will pay up to US$100m to acquire the mesenchymal precursor cell business of US-based Osiris Therapeutics. [ + ]

The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles recluse) produces superthin ribbons of silk, as opposed to the round fibres typically spun by spiders. In a world first, scientists have examined the silk and found that its properties may be suitable for a variety of applications. [ + ]

The University of Melbourne has entered into a drug development deal with Procypra Therapeutics, a US start-up company established by Collaborative Medicinal Development under the umbrella of venture capital firm Cthulhu Ventures. [ + ]

Health researchers at the University of Florida have found a quick and cheap way to test for early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The only equipment necessary is a container of peanut butter and a ruler. [ + ]

Novogen (ASX:NRT) has licensed Australian-developed drug technology with the potential to replace the popular class of chemotherapeutics that target the cytoskeleton of cancer cells. [ + ]

Professor Alan Cowman from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute has been awarded the 2013 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation in recognition of his outstanding contributions in the quest to eradicate malaria. [ + ]

Modifying baker's yeast to produce a synthetic form of the natural chemical limonene may provide a much-needed future alternative to fossil fuels. [ + ]

CSL (ASX:CSL) has negotiated a proposed settlement to a US class action antitrust lawsuit centred around the company's control of supply of plasma-derived protein therapeutics. [ + ]