AusBiotech is urging the Coalition government to deliver on its pro-business rhetoric and pass the R&D Tax Incentive's quarterly payments legislation. The much-anticipated measure has been earmarked as "further consultation required" in Treasurer Joe Hockey's plan to deal with the backlog of unlegislated tax measures: 'Restoring Integrity in the Australian Tax System'. [ + ]

Pharmaceutical manufacturing company IDT Australia (ASX:IDT) has filed the first of a series of planned marketing applications for generic drugs, with a US filing for chemotherapy temozolomide. [ + ]

The overriding drive for protein in our diet could play a key role in the global obesity epidemic. [ + ]

Scientists at the University of Melbourne's School of Physics have built a rotating anode source that turns ordinary X-rays into super X-rays, thus developing the world's most powerful X-ray machine. [ + ]

Novogen (ASX:NRT) has teamed with Genea biocells to test a line of compounds which are effective against cancer stem cells in a range of genetic and degenerative disorders. [ + ]

Applications are open for funding and postgraduate scholarships from Sugar Research Australia (SRA) to conduct research that supports the Australian sugar cane industry. [ + ]

Southern Cross University (SCU) has received $1.21 million in funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). This follows Minister for Education Christopher Pyne's announcement that the council will provide $522 million to fund 1177 research projects around Australia. [ + ]

UK scientists have developed tiny self-assembling transport networks, powered by nanoscale motors and controlled by DNA. The system can construct its own network of tracks spanning tens of micrometres in length, transport cargo across the network and even dismantle the tracks. [ + ]

Drug potential from Great Barrier Reef sea sponges ready for commercial development. [ + ]

The latest calendar for AusBiotech’s line-up of major life sciences events brings you all your favourites and some new additions, amounting to a broad range of networking, learning and sponsorship opportunities. Save the dates now for 2014 … [ + ]

Medical device company Simavita is planning to raise AU$15 million via an IPO, with the aim of listing on Canada’s Toronto Stock Exchange. [ + ]

A surge in diabetes is occurring in Australia, and across the world, according to the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas. [ + ]

Researchers at the Universities of Adelaide and Queensland have found that zinc can 'starve' one of the world's most deadly bacteria by preventing its uptake of an essential metal. [ + ]

iSonea (ASX:ISN) will hunt for an international sales exec to replace its outgoing CEO, while Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has named the person slated to replace its long-serving chairman. [ + ]

The TGA has approved the local availability of Gliolan, a drug for helping brain surgeons remove tumours, through licensee Specialised Therapeutics Australia. [ + ]