Protein chemists at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have produced a new freeze-dried form of Brisbane-based Tissue Therapies' (ASX:TIS) wound-healing technology VitroGro. [ + ]

Bermuda-based investment manager Orbis Mutual Funds has acquired a 12 per cent stake in Melbourne-based drug delivery company Acrux (ASX:ACR). [ + ]

Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has produced positive results from a 'proof-of-concept' study of its second generation antisense drug ATL1101 to suppress the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), which is under development as a cream for the topical treatment of the skin disorder psoriasis. [ + ]

Perth nano-biotech company pSivida (ASX:PSD; NASDAQ:PSDV; Xetra:PSI) has agreed to purchase privately owned US drug delivery company Control Delivery Systems (CDS) for US$104 million (AUD$139 million), as part of its on-going US growth strategy. [ + ]

Resonance Health Analysis Services (RHAS), a subsidiary of Perth-based Resonance Health (ASX:RHT), has been awarded a health supply contract from the government of Western Australia's department of health, for its FerriScan diagnostic test. [ + ]

Could 'farmer power' force Australian state governments to back down on their moratoria on GM crops? Graeme O'Neill reports. [ + ]

The full range of BDH chemicals and laboratory products including the AnalaR, ARISTAR, Spectrosol and GURR brands are now available again.

On the eve of a leading livestock conference, CSIRO Livestock Industries chief Shaun Coffey looks at why there are more questions than answers in agriculture -- and why scientists need to join in the debate. [ + ]

Victorian treasurer and minister for innovation, John Brumby, has called on the federal government to lift its ban on somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), otherwise known as therapeutic cloning. [ + ]

As part of a major scientific collaboration, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has appointed Canadian scientist, Dr Kim Lowell.

Solbec Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SBP) has been granted an Australian patent giving the company the monopoly right to prevent others from isolating the rhamnose binding protein receptor of its lead compound Coramsine. [ + ]

Perth-based Phylogica (ASX:PYC) has received formal notice of allowance from the European Patent and Trademark Office for its pending patent application entitled: "Isolating biological modulators from biodiverse gene fragment libraries". [ + ]

Melbourne's Swinburne University of Technology has developed a rapid method for the analysis of microorganisms on CD or DVD which could be used to detect bioterror agents. [ + ]

Melbourne immune therapy developer Norwood Immunology (AIM:NIL) has been granted six patents in New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore relating to its technology in key areas such as cancer and infectious diseases. [ + ]

Geelong-based disinfectant maker Citrofresh International (ASX:CTF), which caused a stock frenzy with news of a cure-all ingredient found in oranges, has dashed investors' hopes it had a vaccine against HIV, SARS, flu and the common cold. [ + ]