Imugene (ASX: IMU) has reported a dramatic enhancement of poultry growth using its novel, antibiotic-free, hormone-free growth enhancer. [ + ]

Psivida (ASX: PSD) has signed its first agreement with a multinational company, partnering up with Japanese giant Itochu Corporation to develop and commercialise BioSilicon products in Japan and other Asian markets. [ + ]

The first of six human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines to be developed by Stem Cell Sciences, Melbourne IVF and the Australian Stem Cell Centre has been produced and will be made available to researchers around the world unfettered by commercial restrictions. [ + ]

Peptech (ASX:PTD) has its early Christmas present, with the successful settlement of its dispute with Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Centocor. [ + ]

Infectious disease drug-developer Avexa (ASX:AVX) is to work with researchers at the University of Leuven's Rega Institute in Belgium to develop a new HIV/AIDS therapy that will block the virus' integrase enzyme. [ + ]

Expatriate Australian immunologist Prof Jonathan Sprent will return to Australia next year from the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, California, to take up a position at Sydney's Centenary Institute after being awarded a prestigious Burnet Award from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). [ + ]

Immunologists at Melbourne's Austin Research Institute have made a major discovery about the functioning of the immune system, which could revolutionise vaccine development. [ + ]

What is said to be Australia's first semi-commercial facility for producing 'sequel drugs' -- re-engineered versions of insulin, steroids, and asthma medications among others -- was opened today in Sydney by Prof Martin Silink, president-elect of the International Diabetes Federation. [ + ]

Canberra biotech company Biotron (ASX:BIT) has published the results of its SARS virus ion channel research in the journal Virology. [ + ]

Genentech has announced that its chief financial officer, Lou Lavigne, will retire next March and will be replaced by David Ebersman, currently senior vice president of product operations. [ + ]

Results of a Phase II study have shown that a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-12 (IL-12) p40 protein is safe and may induce clinical responses and remissions in patients with active Crohn's disease. [ + ]

Sydney-based animal-health products developer Imugene (ASX:IMU) is on track to bring home the commercial bacon with its new virally-vectored vaccine against the 'mystery swine disease' that struck the US pig industry in the early 1980s. [ + ]

Sydney medical technology company Sunshine Heart Ltd (ASX:SHC) has chosen cloudy Auckland as the venue for a long-term clinical trial that should gladden -- and reinforce -- the failing hearts of six patients. [ + ]

Cygenics (ASX: CYN) subsidiary Cytomatrix has entered into a collaboration with Cell Therapies, the commercial arm of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre's Centre for Blood Cell Therapies, to test the company's T cell production technology in human clinical trials. [ + ]

Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane has warned the Australian biotechnology industry that it still has a lot of work to do to win over the public. [ + ]