Victorian premier Steve Bracks has used the BIO 2004 conference, which kicked off in San Francisco on Sunday, as a platform to reiterate the state's ambitious plan to become one of the top five biotechnology locations globally by 2010. [ + ]

The Austin Health/Ludwig Institute of Cancer Research (LICR) joint oncology unit has received a grant of US$600,000 from US-based cancer charity, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), to conduct an international Phase II clinical trial that will test the effectiveness of a therapeutic vaccine for melanoma. [ + ]

A plant toxins expert from Iran is assisting CSIRO Livestock Industries' scientists in their search for the cause of a liver disease afflicting dairy cattle in southern Australia.

Research by a University of Queensland research team suggests Melbourne-based biotech ZingoTX may have a lead compound for neuropathic pain in its synthetic derivatives of the mouth-burning molecules found in ginger and chillies. [ + ]

At the last minute, Agbiotech giant Bayer CropScience has pulled the plug on its plan to conduct a 40-hectare demonstration trial of its genetically modified hybrid canolas in NSW. [ + ]

Melbourne biotech Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) has signed its first contract with New Zealand agbiotech company Ovita in Dunedin for a pilot program to DNA-test up to 20,000 sheep. [ + ]

Amrad (ASX:AML) has been dealt a blow with the news that Serono is abandoning further development of emfilermin following Phase II clinical trial results that showed the molecule was no more efficacious than the placebo. [ + ]

A new biotechnology company sprang into being yesterday -- seemingly fully-formed -- when Perth-based Revenir (ASX:REV), formerly a property management company, announced plans to merge with private British biopharmaceutical company Bone Limited. [ + ]

Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) subsidiary Oncomab has published results of an animal study demonstrating the efficacy of its anti-Cripto monoclonal antibody in a mouse model of human colon cancer. [ + ]

The news from a pre-clinical trial of Perth biopharma Solbec Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:SBP) lead anti-cancer compound SBO002 could hardly be more positive. [ + ]

Researchers at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research (QIMR) in Brisbane hope to begin human trials late this year of a vaccine that could prevent three different forms of cancer associated with infection by Epstein-Barr virus. [ + ]

Melbourne biotech Cerylid Biosciences has acquired fellow unlisted biotech Kinacia in a merger that finally puts an end to months of rumour. [ + ]

Perth-based opthamology specialist Regenera has prevailed in an increasingly tough IPO market, closing its IPO today AUD$2 million oversubscribed, having raised in excess of AUD$10 million. [ + ]

Perth-based nano-biotech company Psivida (ASX:PSD) has acquired 100 per cent ownership of its UK subsidiary PsiMedica in a AUD$57.8 million deal aimed at accelerating development of its BioSilicon technology. [ + ]

The wallaby genome project is poised to go ahead thanks to a last minute injection of $3 million into the project by the Victorian state government. [ + ]