CathRx (ASX:CXD) has taken the first step in the CE Mark approval process for its cardiac diagnostic catheters. [ + ]

Melbourne's Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CUV), formerly Epitan, has begun a trial in Adelaide of its lead drug CUV1647 in a controlled-release pellet form. [ + ]

Milestone payments from partner Nobilon led to Melbourne's BioDiem (ASX:BDM) posting strong results for the half year ending December 31, 2005 with revenue up 88 per cent to $2.9 million and a loss of only $96,000 compared with the previous corresponding half. [ + ]

Pioneering CSIRO plant molecular geneticist Dr Jim Peacock, has been appointed Australia's chief scientist, in the wake of the resignation of Dr Robin Batterham after six years in the job. [ + ]

The Australian life sciences industry has grown significantly in the past five years and shows signs of a positive future, according to the 15th edition of PricewaterhouseCoopers' quarterly BioForum report. [ + ]

Denmark's Bavarian Nordic is actively seeking to be part of the consolidation process now underway in the international vaccine industry, and would not turn down a takeover offer if the price were right, company chairman Asgar Aamund said on Tuesday. [ + ]

Peplin (ASX:PEP) has reported preliminary results of its US-based phase IIa dose escalation clinical trial to establish the maximum tolerated dose of PEP005 in actinic keratosis (AK), also known as solar keratosis, a skin condition which can develop into skin cancer. [ + ]

Singapore-based Rockeby Biomed (ASX:RBY) has signed an exclusive deal to supply its avian flu kits to the Turkish Poultry Industry, an organisation which represents 90 per cent of the poultry industry in Turkey. [ + ]

A team of 12 students from the Bio21 and Howard Florey Institutes scooped the pool at an awards ceremony held last week in Melbourne for the 2005 Young Achievers Australia Biotechnology Entrepreneur program. [ + ]

In the lead up to the BIO Conference 2006, delegates are being invited to attend Bootcamp, a series of full-day workshops being held around Australia on negotiating technology deals. [ + ]

As the biotechnology industry matures and more companies become profitable, many are looking outside their traditional business areas to grow -- with mixed results. [ + ]

AgResearch, the largest of New Zealand's crown research institutes, has formed a new company with San Diego venture capital firm Finistere Partners, to commercialise its plant genome technology in the US. [ + ]

Cancer drug developer Novogen's (ASX:NRT, Nasdaq:NVGN) revenue was down 10 per cent for the half year to December 31, 2005 compared with the previous corresponding period, due to a decrease in sales of its over-the-counter (OTC) natural products for menopause following a resurgence in rival prescribed drugs. [ + ]

Industrial biotech will eclipse its so-called 'red' and 'green' cousins, as industries are forced to adapt to environmental pressure, the head of global biosciences at the giant Proctor & Gamble corporation has predicted. [ + ]

Melbourne scientists have identified a new method of detecting abnormal embryonic stem (ES) cells before they change into cancerous cells. [ + ]