Chemeq's bail-out deal with Japanese investment group Mizuho International has been signed off, and subject to approval from Chemeq's shareholders, the company will receive an injection of cash of at least AUD$40 million. [ + ]

The timetable for the legal fight between Biota (ASX: BTA) and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been agreed to by the companies' legal teams. [ + ]

A consortium led by Stem Cell Sciences' UK centre has been awarded £1.2 million by the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to fund a program in drug discovery for regenerative medicine. [ + ]

In the four months since it listed on the ASX, Melbourne-based Acrux (ASX: ACR) has had a busy time of it. This week the company announced successful completion of its Phase I study for a transdermal spray to deliver pain drug Fentanyl to treat severe chronic pain. CEO Igor Gonda is confident that this outcome gives the company an attractive commercial opportunity. [ + ]

Scientists have pioneered silver nanotechnology to incorporate silver directly into natural and artificial fibres. The key benefit is that it can be used to produce materials for use in the prevention of bacterial and fungal growth - in dressings for wounds, for example.

Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG, US OTC:GNTLY) has granted a license for its non-coding patents to the Australian Genome Research Facility Limited (AGRF). Part of the consideration will be paid to GTG in cash and part will be paid in the form of services which GTG will be able to access from AGRF's genetic analysis facilities. It is the sixth license GTG has granted in Australia for its non-coding DNA patents. [ + ]

Optiscan (ASX: OIL) has received an order in excess of AUD$5 million from collaborator Pentax to supply miniaturised microscope components for a flexible endo-microscope, as the Japanese company gears up to launch the new product on the market in May. [ + ]

Artificial heart company Heartware (ASX:HTW) today completed its makeover from US venture capital play to ASX-listed company, with shares debuting below their issue price at AUD$0.49. [ + ]

Monash University PhD student Dr Narges Khanjani has revealed a possible link between the use of organochlorine pesticides and breast cancer in Victoria's north-east.

The University of Sydney has been ranked among the top 20 of the world's leading research universities. Recognition of Sydney's research excellence comes from the United Nations and its Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

Research to reduce sheeps' production of methane - one of the most potent greenhouse gases - received a boost recently with the installation of four new methane chambers at CSIRO Livestock Industries'facilities in Perth.

The mists surrounding the mechanisms that switch genes on an off in higher organisms are beginning to clear, with a new study published today in Cell revealing previously unrecognised domains of chromosomes that are involved in regulating genes - even whole clusters of genes. [ + ]

The federal government is about to embark on a project to quantify the great unknown: measuring the economic impact of biotechnology on the Australian economy overall. [ + ]

Gribbles Molecular Science (GMS) has launched a new service offering genotyping, full sequencing, sequencing cleanup and separations to researchers. [ + ]

Inner Vision Biometrics (IVB), a subsidiary of Perth based Resonance Health (ASX: RHT) has received FDA marketing approval for its novel diagnostic test for liver iron concentrations. [ + ]