Melbourne company Cytopia has teamed with the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne, the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), and New York's Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research to develop new lead drug compounds for treatment of metastatic cancers based on the Eph receptor protein. [ + ]

Sydney start-up BioSignal has appointed a CEO, Swedish entrepreneur Michael Oredsson. [ + ]

Drug development and delivery company Norwood Abbey (ASX: NAL) is seeking partners to further progress its prototype microneedle. [ + ]

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has approved three new licenses to conduct field trials of genetically modified (GM) cotton. [ + ]

Bresagen (ASX: BGN) has been granted a 10-year head start on the development of its anti-leukaemia drug E21R. [ + ]

Brisbane-based company Agenix has successfully manufactured 1.4g of its clot-binding humanised antibody under good laboratory practice (GLP) conditions in preparation for pre-clinical testing of its Thromboview blood clot imaging system, the company said. [ + ]

It might not have been quite as exhilarating as his former life as a fighter pilot, but Iatia managing director Philippe Cussinet said the float of his company today was pretty exciting nonetheless. [ + ]

Prestigious scientific journal Nature has been forced to back away from its support of a controversial study claiming that transgenic DNA sequences from GM corn contaminated native maize in Mexico. [ + ]

Tests of an Australian cancer drug intended to block angiogenesis have progressed with the announcement of a third patient commencing treatment under the phase II study. [ + ]

Australian scientists and ethicists have expressed dismay and disbelief at reports a woman is eight weeks pregnant with the world's first human clone. [ + ]

G2 Therapies, a recent spin-off company from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, will be launching into clinical trials of monoclonal targets to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer after raising $3.3 million in a first-round venture capital funding. [ + ]

Melbourne based biotech company Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) expects to turn a profit this year after securing its first license agreement with a US-based company for use of GTG's non-coding patents for genomic mapping and intron sequence analysis. [ + ]

Melbourne start-up company Acrux has signed an agreement with pharmaceutical giant Pharmacia to explore the use of Acrux's proprietary transdermal drug delivery technology for Pharmacia's drugs. [ + ]

An ANU scientist, working with the University of Newcastle, has confirmed that the male Y chromosome is under attack and will eventually self-destruct.

EU leaders gave full backing to the European Commission life sciences and biotechnology strategy at the recent Barcelona Summit.