Neuroscience researchers have found evidence that environmental factors play a major role in accelerating or delaying the onset and progression of the lethal brain disorder Huntington's disease in a mouse model. [ + ]

Melbourne company Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) has been cheered by news this week that Biogen Idec will file early for approval of its monoclonal antibody-based drug for multiple sclerosis. [ + ]

Melbourne drug-development company Prana Biotechnology (ASX:PBT) will turn up the wick on development of its second-generation drug candidate for Alzheimer's disease PBT-2, after receiving a $1.35 million federal government R&D Start grant. [ + ]

Amrad (ASX:AML) released its half-year results today, revealing a 10 per cent increase in revenues to AUD$8.14 million and a decrease in operating loss to $2.2 million -- down 48 per cent. [ + ]

Brisbane biotech Alchemia's (ASX:ACL) drug design program has yielded a promising molecule that significantly inhibits the growth of human prostate tumours in mice. [ + ]

Whether it refers to cause or consequence, the term 'overkill' applies: New Zealand biotechnology company PPL Therapeutics is being forced to slaughter its unique flock of 3500 transgenic sheep in the name of public safety. [ + ]

Climate forecasting is set to change forever thanks to new ground-breaking research from ANSTO’s* Director of Environment, Professor Ann Henderson-Sellers and Dr Kendal McGuffie, University of Technology Sydney.

Brisbane-based Pooled Development Fund Medica Holdings (ASX:MCA) is feeling no pain despite reporting a AUD$2.4 million loss in the six months to December 31 last year. [ + ]

A prominent cancer researcher has told the Lorne Cancer Conference that many experimental cancer drugs are being discarded as having no value in prolonging survival in cancer patients, but the problem may lie with the clinical trial process. [ + ]

Norwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) subsidiary Norwood Immunology has been granted its first patent, covering the use of GnRH analogues to increase the T cell population for the treatment of a variety of diseases. [ + ]

A pioneering project aimed at creating an interdisciplinary network to stimulate fundamental advances in biology and mathematics through national and international collaboration has been launched at the University of Sydney.

VC fund Starfish Ventures has made an investment into NeuProtect, a company spun out of the Howard Florey Institute, the University of Melbourne and Neurosciences Victoria to develop novel therapies for stroke and myocardial infarction or heart attack. [ + ]

Perth biotechnology company EqiTX (ASX:EQX) has passed the first development milestone for its gingerol project, which aims to develop drugs to treat pain and inflammation from compounds isolated from the plant Zingiber officinale. [ + ]

Axon Instruments (ASX:AXN) has sold its majority shareholding in Optiscan Imaging (ASX:OIL) to JF Asset Management, the Hong Kong-based Jardine Fleming institutional investment group, one of the largest fund managers in the Asia Pacific region. [ + ]

Acrux subsidiary FemPharm has secured a US$13.3 million deal with Californian company Vivus to develop and commercialise its transdermal spray for female sexual dysfunction and menopause. [ + ]