Sydney monoclonal antibody therapeutics developer PacMab - which this week raised AUD$700,000 in equity funding -- is in the late stages of clinical pre-testing of a humanised monoclonal antibodies that binds to an antigen expressed exclusively by multiple myeloma cells. [ + ]

Melbourne anti-viral drug developer Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has signed an agreement with American company Aerogen (NASDAQ:AEGN) to use Aerogen's Aeroneb nebuliser in clinical trials of new, long-acting anti-viral compounds for influenza developed by Biota and its Japanese partner Sankyo. [ + ]

Cytopia (ASX:CYT) today filed an Investigational New Drug Application with the US Food and Drug Administration, seeking approval to test its cancer drug candidate CYT997 in the clinic. [ + ]

Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) bowed to the inevitable today, announcing that it would halt the Phase IIa trial of its lead drug candidate for multiple sclerosis, ATL1102, following the withdrawal of Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals' Tysabri from the market. However the Melbourne company has not yet terminated the project altogether. [ + ]

RNA-interference therapeutics company Nucleonics has announced that IP Australia has granted the Medical College of Georgia Research Institute (MCGRI) two patents covering an RNAi gene-silencing technique. Nucleonics is a licensee to both patents. [ + ]

The University of Surrey’s expertise in nanotechnology research is a key contributor to an exhibition entitled ‘Nanotechnology: small science‚ big deal’, showing at the Science Museum in London.

As a new self-designated "shaker" of the Australian biotechnology sector, Polish-born medico and property investor Richard Opara is almost rueful about the two board spills he is orchestrating at Australian Cancer Technologies (ASX:ACU) and Polartechnics (ASX:PLT). But he is adamant that there is "no substance" to the speculation that the companies will merge. [ + ]

Chemeq's (ASX:CMQ) company secretary Adam Deane has advised the company that he intends to step down. He is the third person from the company's executive team to leave since mid-December. [ + ]

Eighteen years ago CSIRO biochemist Dr Robin Holliday first advanced the radical idea that that perfectly normal genes inactivated by hypermethylation played a role in the onset of cancer. Today, specific, sensitive tests for methylation are being developed which could play a role in early detection of cancer. [ + ]

VRI Biomedical (ASX:VRI) has reported success in the first stage of a drug discovery program to identify the molecule responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of its probiotic bacterial strain PCC. [ + ]

Biotechnology stocks fell 7 per cent in February, dropping below their August 2003 levels, according to stockbroker Intersuisse. [ + ]

Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has confirmed that it will perform a further dosing study of its anti-obesity drug AOD9604, but a final decision on the protocol must await the outcome of partnering discussions [ + ]

Novogen (ASX:NRT) subsidiary Marshall Edwards (NSDQ:MSHL; MSE-AIM:MSH) has outlined its plans for Phase IIb and Phase III studies of its anti-cancer drug phenoxodiol for treatment of recurrent, chemo-refractory ovarian cancer, which received fast-track status from the FDA late last year. [ + ]

Chemeq (ASX:CMQ) has clarified its current and future production capabilities after questions were raised in a research report about the ability of the company to produce the levels of product required by new investment partner Mizuho. [ + ]

Stirling Products (ASX:STI) will extend its proof-of-concept studies to include a more direct delivery method after analysis of levels of its beta agonist ST810, a single enantiomer form of salbutamol, in the bloodstream of merino lambs showed that the growth promoter was not getting into the bloodstream. [ + ]