Antibody therapeutics company EvoGenix will open its initial public offering within a week and list on the ASX in early to mid-August, with the aim of raising AUD$9 million. [ + ]

Bionic ears that connect directly to hearing nerves and provide near-normal hearing capability may soon become reality. Along with other research areas like renewable energy and sustainable industries, the advances to be achieved by the recently established Australian Centre of Electromaterials Science are expected to be particularly valuable to the manufacturing industry.

University of Queensland parasitologist Prof Scott O'Neill has won a prestigious grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the US to work on a remarkable symbiotic bacteria that induces sterility in insects. [ + ]

CSL (ASX:CSL) will be conducting a further on-market buyback of up to 8 million shares during a 12-month period commencing July 12. [ + ]

Patients suffering from severe depression who have not responded to other treatments may be helped by deep brain stimulation, researchers said. [ + ]

The FDA, as expected, has followed the recommendation of an advisory panel last week and approved the heart drug BiDil, which clinical data have shown works well in African-Americans but poorly in other populations. [ + ]

Melbourne based Medical Developments International (ASX:MVP) believes the launch of its Penthrox Inhaler into the Australian dentistry market caused a share price rise from $0.745 on June 24, to $0.87 on June 27, prompting the ASX to issue the company with a 'speeding ticket'. [ + ]

Melbourne- and Californian-based ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CXS) has formed an international alliance with Geneva-based Stragen Pharma to accelerate the clinical development of ChemGenex's lead anti-cancer therapeutic, Ceflatonin. [ + ]

The main message to come out of a survey of Australian genomics and proteomics companies, conducted by health care analysts Frost and Sullivan, was that the industry needs more collaboration between academia, companies and those providing funding to engender investor confidence. [ + ]

A new gene suspected to contribute to autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes and lupus – a condition in which the body’s own immune system attacks organs such as the kidneys and skin – has been discovered by immunologists at the Australian National University.

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CXS) has received approval to list on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market under the ticker CXSP. [ + ]

EU environment ministers dealt a blow to efforts to get more GMO crops grown in Europe as they agreed to uphold eight national bans on genetically modified maize and rapeseed types. [ + ]

Brisbane-based clinical automation systems manufacturer, Ai Scientific, has secured a multi-million dollar order from Italian distributor, Medical Systems. [ + ]

Perth-based biomedical devices developer, Visiomed Group (ASX:VSG) and ophthalmic surgical laser group, CustomVis (AIM:CUS), also based in Perth, have begun a clinical evaluation trial on their ophthalmic imaging system, microEYE. [ + ]

There is a relatively new approach to addressing large, complex problems - 'network science'.