Australia’s adult stem cell company, Mesoblast has signed an agreement for production of specialised adult stem cells, known as Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs), to be used in human pilot clinical trials in patients with orthopaedic and cardiovascular diseases.

Psivida (ASX: PSD) has reported that the second patient cohort from its Phase IIa trial of BrachySil in inoperable primary liver cancer patients shows the product is safe and effective in prompting tumour regression. [ + ]

Life Therapeutics' (formerly Gradipore, ASX: LFE) US subsidiary Life Sera has received FDA approval to begin collecting tetanus hyperimmune serum for use as a prophylactic treatment following potential exposure to the tetanus toxin. [ + ]

Newly-listed stem cell company Mesoblast (ASX: MSB) has taken its first step toward initiating its pilot human clinical trials by appointing Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre-based company Cell Therapies to produce mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) under GMP conditions. [ + ]

Abbott Laboratories is seeking to appeal a British court ruling that granted Cambridge Antibody Technology a greater percentage of royalties on Abbott's arthritis drug Humira. [ + ]

One bio-ceramics company has succeeded where many others have failed – creating a false eye that moves naturally and bears an uncanny resemblance to the real thing.

Anti-GM campaigners Greenpeace have claimed a victory, saying that Australia's three top poultry producers have stopped feeding their chickens genetically modified feed, in response to a Greenpeace campaign highlighting the use of GM soy in chicken feed. [ + ]

GroPep (ASX: GRO) has exceeded its half-year profit forecast by AUD$0.5 million and is on track to post a $3 million profit at the end of the 2004-2005 financial year. [ + ]

For nearly three decades, immunologists have believed that specialised sentries in the surface layer of the skin, called Langerhans cells, alert hunter-killer T-cells to seek out and destroy virus-infected cells. [ + ]

A collaboration between researchers at Victoria University, the Victorian Forensic Science Centre (VFSC) and US genomics company DNAPrint Genomics will test DNAPrint's Retinome assay for iris colour for use in Australia. [ + ]

Functionally, the genomes of humans and other higher life forms have more in common with the intricate circuitry of a computer processor chip than with the simple genomes of bacteria, according to a new theory advanced by Australian researchers. [ + ]

What's New Magazines and Science Industry Australia Inc (SIA) invite entries to the Laboratory of the Year Competition.

Australian biotechnology's peak body, AusBiotech, has questioned the impartiality of Western Australia's agricultural minister Kim Chance in relation to GM crops, following the release of correspondence between the government and activitist GM groups. [ + ]

Mayne Pharma, the pharmaceuticals division of the Mayne group (ASX: MAY) has received a rap over the knuckles from the US FDA for failing to adequately report adverse events resulting from use of its drug products. [ + ]

Meditech Research (ASX: MTR) has reported that its revenues increased 90 per cent to AUD$679,495 while its net loss decreased marginally to $2.7 million during its financial year ending December 31, 2004. [ + ]