Bionic ear specialist Cochlear (ASX:COH) has announced an upgrade of its guidance on core earnings for the 2005-06 financial year to AUD$80 million. [ + ]

Sydney-based drug developer Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) has enrolled the first patients in a US-based phase III trial of its asthma diagnostic and treatment management tool Aridol -- the first of three phase III clinical trials the company is planning to undertake in 2006. [ + ]

Following poor efficacy in preclinical testing of its T-cell peptide drug candidate in psoriasis models, Adelaide biopharma GroPep (ASX:GRO) will undertake a market feasibility assessment for use of the drug in asthma. [ + ]

Brisbane start-up Cleveland Biosensors has attracted investment capital from New Zealand-based VC BioPacific Ventures. [ + ]

Alexanders Securities (ASX:ALE), a financial services firm previously focused on investments in shares and providing venture capital to companies, is re-positioning itself as a consumer healthcare and biotechnology company. [ + ]

Sunshine Heart (ASX:SHC) has raised AUD$3.3 million through a private placement to fund the development of its C-Pulse heart assist device. [ + ]

While many companies are preparing to shut down for the festive season, parts of the Australian biotech sector show no signs of getting into holiday mode. [ + ]

Animal health biotech Imugene (ASX:IMU) has signed an agreement with Abic Biological Laboratories Teva, the animal health division of Israeli-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, to develop and evaluate a new vaccine for the prevention of poultry coccidiosis. [ + ]

A major court victory against US firm Applera will put Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) in a leadership position in Australian biotechnology, the firm's CEO has predicted. [ + ]

An elated Dr Mervyn Jacobson, CEO of Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG, NASDAQ:GENE), flew back to Melbourne from San Francisco this morning after slaying his company's most reluctant dragon, giant US rival Applera. [ + ]

Scientists in Sydney have developed a new blood test to detect regulatory T cells, a subset of white cells that protect against the development of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. [ + ]

Molecular Pharmacology, a US company which recently backdoor-listed on Nasdaq through former exploration mining firm Blue Hawk Ventures, has acquired Perth-based Pharmanet Group's (ASX:PNO) wholly-owned subsidiary Molecular Pharmacology (MPL Australia). [ + ]

Sydney-based Peptech (ASX:PTD) has invested more than AUD$10 million in Domantis, as part of a £17 million (AUD$39.5 million) capital raising by the UK drug development firm, which attracted two new significant shareholders. [ + ]

Perth-based Phylogica (ASX:PYC) and the McComb Foundation are jointly developing a potential new drug to speed up the healing process and reduce the scarring caused by burns. [ + ]

Premier Bionics (ASX:PBI) has raised AUD$1.25 million in a placement to provide capital to accelerate the development of a mass trauma simulator in Israel. [ + ]