Human Genetic Signatures has acquired the intellectual property and activities relating to intercalating nucleic acids (INAs) from Unest, a Danish company it helped to found. [ + ]

An undisclosed amount of new funding will be made available under the sixth round of the federal Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF), newly rebadged as part of the $1 billion, five-year Commercial Ready program. [ + ]

Hearing aid software developer Dynamic Hearing has entered into a licensing agreement with German hearing aid manufacturer Interton Hoergeraete. [ + ]

Brisbane RNA-interference (RNAi) technology specialist Benitec Ltd (ASX: BLT) has made a key strategic play in the US market by acquiring RNAi therapeutics pioneer Avocel Inc of Sunnivale, California. [ + ]

Melbourne-based proteomics researcher Cryptome Pharmaceuticals has lured Dr Paul Cossum, an Australian who for the last 20 years has worked in American biopharmas, to join the company. As a scientific consultant, Cossum will provide advice on drug development and regulatory affairs. [ + ]

The Australian biotechnology industry comes sixth in the world when ranked by number of biotech companies, according to ‘On the Threshold’, an Ernst and Young report released today. [ + ]

Diagnostics company Panbio (ASX: PBO) has raised AUD$3 million in a placement to existing and new shareholders at a price of $0.42 per share, and plans to raise a further $4.2 million through a share purchase plan to existing shareholders at the same price. [ + ]

Researchers at the Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) in Adelaide have identified variations in an ion channel gene that increases susceptibility to the most common form of epilepsy. [ + ]

Monsanto Australia will make no further investment in efforts to commercialise its genetically modified (GM) herbicide-tolerant Roundup Ready canola in Australia for at least 12 months. [ + ]

Swiss drug maker Roche says it has achieved its goals in a phase 111 study of its cancer drug Xeloda used to treat colon cancer. [ + ]

VRI BioMedical announced today that its probiotics range for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhoea and general intestinal health, is due to hit pharmacy shelves. [ + ]

Novogen (ASX: NRT) has been approved to commence a Phase I clinical trial at Sydney's St George Hospital of its second anti-cancer drug NV-18, a derivative of the company's first generation drug phenoxodiol. [ + ]

Sydney-based biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD) is enjoying halcyon days, today revealing an after-tax profit of AUD$29.5 million for the half-year to March 31, on total revenues of $45.5 million. [ + ]

Adelaide epilepsy specialist Bionomics (ASX:BNO) has announced a yin-yang collaboration with international drug-discovery, life-science research and analytical solutions company PerkinElmer. [ + ]

A discovery by United Kingdom Medical Research Council (MRC) scientists, working with colleagues at Oxford University, provides a promising platform for research into the development of new treatments for inflammatory diseases, including arthritis and asthma, and cancer.