Advances in an area widely regarded in scientific circles as the 'next big thing' - RNA interference (RNAi) - will be the major focus of a CSIRO-hosted conference on the Gold Coast in September.

AstraZeneca has received final European marketing approval for its new breast cancer drug Faslodex, following a recommendation from a European Union expert committee in November. [ + ]

The US government has launched a new web site about biotech crops as part of a special taxpayer-funded project to promote such crops worldwide -- a move criticised by some consumer and farm groups. [ + ]

Investors were spooked by uncertainty at Ventracor today, with shares dropping 6 per cent to AUD$1.50 by press time as the artificial heart maker (ASX:VCR) recommenced trading following Friday's trading halt. [ + ]

Biopharmaceutical company CoTherix has filed with US regulators for an initial public offering worth an estimated US$70 million. [ + ]

San Francisco-based Genentech says it expects annual earnings growth of 20 per cent for the next seven years on strong sales of cancer drugs, including the new medicine Avastin, and treatments for auto-immune disorders. [ + ]

Perth-based biotech-nanotech company pSivida (ASX:PSD) announced today that its UK subsidiary PsiMedica has been granted the latest in a series of European patents on its proprietary biocompatible-biodegradable silicon technology, BioSilicon. [ + ]

Hair follicles may carry a special type of cell that has the potential to grow into various types of tissue, a finding that could lead scientists closer to a cure for baldness, according to US dermatologists. [ + ]

Ventracor (ASX:VCR) called a trading halt this morning in the wake of a newspaper report the company said "could be misinterpreted" to suggest a pilot trial of its VentrAssist heart device would be delayed. [ + ]

Commercialisation proceeds apace at Prima Biomed, which today announced an agreement with Canadian cancer vaccine specialist Biomira. [ + ]

Brisbane-based biotechnology company Promics has completed a pilot study examining the safety of its lead anti-inflammatory drug PMX 53 as a topical treatment for psoriasis. [ + ]

Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) expects to be able to submit an application for a Phase I clinical trial of its marine cone shell venom-derived pain drug ACV1 by the end of the year, after pre-clinical data demonstrated the activity of the drug against neuropathic pain. [ + ]

Scientists at the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development are developing methods to screen cloned cattle embryos to identify embryos that show signs of abnormal imprinting -- a process that can lead to overgrown foetuses, placental problems and related disorders. [ + ]

A UK company has developed a device that enables vehicle engines to run at optimum conditions for fuel economy and emissions reduction, helping the environment worldwide. As well as that, the car’s performance is significantly improved.

Perth-based Stirling Products (ASX:STI) -- which debuted on the stock exchange last month via a backdoor listing -- has appointed London-based pharmacologist Prof Clive Page as non-executive chairman. [ + ]