Drug developer Xenome is adding UK biotech TheraSci to the list of partner firms screening Xenome's venom-based peptide molecules against validated drug targets. [ + ]

Melbourne drug discovery company Cytopia is close to selecting its first drug lead compound for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer, after getting encouraging results from pre-clinical animal studies. [ + ]

Virax Holdings has opened a new Vector Construction Unit (VCU) located in the School of Biomedical Sciences at Monash University. [ + ]

A new biotech funding initiative in South Australia, the BioCatalyst Program Fund, will provide grants of up to $250,000 to start up and early stage companies to help them commercialise their ideas. [ + ]

Genetic research will occupy the focus of two of eight new centres of excellence which together will share almost $90 million in Federal funding over the next five years. [ + ]

Several prominent bioscientists, including Prof Adrienne Clarke, Prof Peter Doherty, Cerylid's Jackie Fairley and Prof Alan Trounson, have been appointed to the Victorian government's new Innovation Economy Advisory Board, set up to drive innovation across the state's economy. [ + ]

Sydney-based Proteome Systems has sweetened its chances of cashing in on its expertise in the promising field of sugar-coated proteins by signing a research pact with the world's leading food company, Nestle. [ + ]

Eiffel Technologies has increased its cash reserves to $6.2 million following receipt of partial payment from the sale of their manufacturing operation to Cottee International and a recent share placement. [ + ]

A young Australian biotech developing anti-pain and blood-clotting drugs, QRxPharma, has successfully completed a $US5 million financing round conducted by a group of Australian and US venture funds. [ + ]

Sydney-based company Gradipore is predicting increased sales in its main US market after launching a new range of electrophoresis gels. [ + ]

Sydney biotechnology company Peptech announced today it had appointed Mel Bridges, CEO of Panbio, as chairman of its board. [ + ]

A new pathway for the invasion of red blood cells by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum has been discovered by Melbourne researchers based at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. [ + ]

A cluster of biotech-intensive entities have been created in the latest round of Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) grants, including a $17.5 million Australian biosecurity centre and a $28 million sugar industry innovation centre. [ + ]

Sirtex Medical has treated its first European patient, suffering from advanced secondary liver cancer, with its SIR-Spheres cancer treatment at the Leicester General Hospital, the principal teaching hospital at the University of Leicester in the UK. [ + ]

Gene silencing technology specialist Benitec is tidying up a corporate structure whose complexity led the company to miss an ASX reporting deadline in October. [ + ]