Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) has received the first payment of US$500,000 from Toronto-based immunology company Trillium Therapeutics following the settlement of the sale of Prima's subsidiary Arthron. [ + ]

Melbourne biopharma Anadis (ASX:ANX) has announced that antibody extracts from the colostrum of immunised dairy cows completely protects cells from the lining of the human lung against deadly anthrax toxin in vitro. [ + ]

The newly-funded Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity has announced the appointment of Dr Simon McKirdy as its chief executive officer.

Medical Therapies has completed its IPO capital raising over-subscribed and is likely to list on the ASX on December 9. This is the fourth listing date for the company which issued a replacement prospectus following an unsuccessful attempt to list on the ASX in August. [ + ]

Peter Cook is Biota Holdings' (ASX:BTA) new CEO and managing director, starting next Friday. [ + ]

Auckland biopharma Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) has raised AUD$6.36 million to fund the acceleration of the clinical trial program for Glypromate and NNZ-2566. [ + ]

Delegates to an international tissue-typing workshop in Melbourne this week were told of a remarkable discovery by the University of Perugia immunogeneticist that is beginning to revolutionise tissue- and organ transplantation -- and cure leukaemia. [ + ]

The Australian government is encouraging Australia's research and business communities to work together through 'Backing Australia's Ability (BAA) - Building Our Future through Science and Innovation'.

Research has shown the Australian public value gene technology more highly if it can save lives or significantly improve the quality of life.

Melbourne-based biopharma BioDiem (ASX:BDM) has received regulatory approval to commence a phase I/II clinical trial for its peptide BDM-E in patients with diabetic macula oedema, a leading cause of blindness. [ + ]

Perth-based bio-nanotech company Psivida (ASX:PSD, NASDAQ:PSDV, Xetra:PSI) has created a new spinout company, PsiNutria, to develop its silicon technology in the food industry. [ + ]

New research common condition known as social phobia, in which individuals show a heightened response to threatening faces, or perceive normal social situations as threatening, is associated with heightened activity of the brain's 'fear centre', the amygdala. [ + ]

Marshall Edwards, the US-based subsidiary of Australian cancer drug developer Novogen (ASX:NRT, NASDAQ:NVGN), has begun a phase Ib/IIa trial of Novogen's investigational chemotherapy re-sensitising drug phenoxodiol. [ + ]

After a sudden change of management earlier this week, Melbourne-based Epitan (ASX:EPT, ADR:EPTNY, XETRA:UR9) has entered the "final stretch" in the process of lodging an IND application with the FDA for Epitan's lead drug EPT1647, according to newly-appointed CEO Dr Philippe Wolgen. [ + ]

Melbourne gene-testing company Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG), currently engaged in a protracted court case with giant US rival Applera over licensing and royalties for GTG's controversial non-coding DNA patents, has a potential rival in its own backyard. [ + ]