Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has been granted an R&D Start grant of up to AUD$2.1 million to conduct its Phase IIb clinical trial for its obesity drug AOD9604. [ + ]

Sirtex Medical has reported an increase in revenues of 1368 per cent, recording more than AUD$10 million in revenues for the 12 months ending June 30, and an after-tax profit of $3.15 million. [ + ]

Prof Alan Trounson has not resigned from the National Stem Cell Centre, contrary to a report in today's The Australian newspaper. [ + ]

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute cancer researcher Dr David Vaux has been awarded the 2003 Victoria Prize for his pioneering work on the how, when and why of cell death. [ + ]

Microscopy company Iatia has received a 'please explain' from the Australian Stock Exchange after its fourth quarter results showed the company had a net negative operating cash flow for the quarter of AUD$671,000 and $296,000 cash remaining. [ + ]

Shares in Melbourne-based Prana Biotechnology Ltd (ASX:PBT, NASDAQ:PRAN) surged 18 per cent today on news that the company had selected a new, more potent lead compound as a potential preventative therapy and treatment for Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. [ + ]

CSIRO has beefed up its board with two new non-executive members, one of whom -- Brian Keane -- is a former CEO of insurance giant AAMI. The other is Prof Alan Robson, vice-chancellor elect of the University of Western Australia. [ + ]

New Zealand biotech Virionyx has hit a rich vein with a development deal for a frontline therapy suitable for a range of high-level infections such as AIDS, SARS, West Nile virus and dengue fever -- plus bioterrorism threats. [ + ]

Cochlear implant inventor Prof Graeme Clark said today that a US study released this week on the risk of meningitis in children receiving cochlear implants confirmed his findings from many years of research. [ + ]

The NSW government has named a team responsible for reviewing the state's overall medical and health research program. [ + ]

WA based Clinical Cell Culture (C3) has signed a deal with US company Ventrex to manufacture the company’s ReCell autologous skin harvesting device, primarily for the plastic and cosmetic surgery markets. [ + ]

Starpharma has been given the all-clear from the US FDA to begin clinical trials on their dendrimer-based microcidal gel for prevention of HIV infection. [ + ]

Adelaide-based company BresaGen only has enough cash to last until December, according to figures released by the company today. [ + ]

ASX-listed Axon Instruments has picked up an R&D 100 award for its OpusExpress 6000A electrophysiology workstation. [ + ]

The Swiss-based Serono Foundation has awarded a US$90,000 postgraduate fellowship grant to an ex-Melbourne Uni PhD to pursue research into cancer biology. [ + ]