Melbourne company Genetic Technologies (GTG) has introduced a twist in its licensing strategy by offering companies the chance to be forgiven for past transgressions of GTG's non-coding DNA patents. [ + ]

EvoGenix has won $900,000 from the latest round of federal government R&D Start grant awards, adding a major boost to its R&D program over the next two years. [ + ]

Researchers at the University of Technology, Sydney have undertaken the first comprehensive and scientifically rigorous research into the effects of acupuncture on pain threshold, clarifying some of the basic assumptions about traditional Chinese acupuncture.

Sirtex shareholders watched their stocks slump today as potential takeover candidate Cephalon pulled out after acceptance had not reached the stated 90 per cent condition. [ + ]

Melbourne drug discovery company Cytopia has claimed its lead anti-cancer compounds were active in vitro against a common form of childhood cancer. [ + ]

Sydney biotech Peptech has reported "outstanding" results from a cut-down experimental antibody molecule as potential treatment for the crippling autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis. [ + ]

Healthcare giant Mayne has filed a Victorian Supreme Court claim against troubled manufacturer Pan Pharmaceuticals, following an estimated $AUD25 million-plus loss of revenue and recall costs. [ + ]

Discovery biotech Progen has snapped up one of the casualties of last month's Alchemia implosion, in the form of business development manager Dr Darren Schliebs, previously employed at Alchemia's San Francisco office. [ + ]

Anti-cancer biotech Solbec Pharmaceuticals has committed to abandoning its mining roots with a penultimate sell-off of several mineral leases, and a pledge to sell the remainder soon. [ + ]

Australia needs to be vigilant about ensuring its current high level of scientific expertise in animal disease prevention and control is maintained in the future, according to speakers at CSIRO's Horizons in Livestock Sciences conference.

An Australian-US study has shown it may be possible to develop a 'firewall' vaccine against the world's most dangerous human pathogen, the influenza virus. [ + ]

US-based pharma Cephalon has pushed its share interest in drug delivery company Sirtex over the 85 per cent level, and so looks set to complete its intended takeover. [ + ]

A claim from Virax Holdings that it had been approached by Melbourne company Institute of Drug Technology with a view to a full takeover, has taken IDT managing director Graeme Blackman by surprise. [ + ]

US giant Dow Corning's investment in Australian nanotechnology has deepend with a series of high-profile Dow-related appointments to the board and management of Starpharma's US subsidiary Dendritic Nanotechnologies. [ + ]

Biota has signed a letter of intent with Japanese pharma Sankyo to collaborate on the development of small molecule long-acting neuraminidase inhibitor (LANI) drugs. [ + ]