New Zealand Pharmaceuticals (NZP) has announced it will be involved in a phase I trial treating rare genetic disease Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (HIBM) launched by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). [ + ]

A new dual-site research centre focusing on kinomics is now open for business, focusing on developing new drugs to battle cancer and other diseases. [ + ]

A drug candidate developed by CSL (ASX:CSL) which blocks the protein VEGF-B prevented the development or progression of type-2 diabetes in three separate animal trials. [ + ]

The Federal Government said in media release this week that it is “considering tough new standards for Innovation Patents in order to discourage large companies from abusing the IP system.” [ + ]

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced the launch of its new Fisher Chemical and Fisher BioReagents Laboratory Reagents Handbook, an easy-to-use reference guide for one-stop access to the company’s comprehensive laboratory reagent ranges. [ + ]

Allied Healthcare has had a win in the step to see its congenital heart defect treatment, CardioCel, approved for use across Australia. [ + ]

A new University of Sydney exhibition chronicles some of Australia’s most significant advances in the biological sciences during the past half-century. ‘The Meaning of Life: Celebrating 50 years of Biological Sciences’ marks the anniversary of the schools of Zoology and Botany’s amalgamation into the School of Biological Sciences in 1963. [ + ]

AusBiotech has made a submission to Treasury’s Business Tax Working Group (BTWG) in response to its recent discussion paper suggesting that the 40% offset of the newly implemented R&D Tax Incentive be targeted for removal or reduction. [ + ]

French scientist Gilles-Eric Seralini caused quite a stir last week when he claimed he’d shown cancer in rats increased when they were fed genetically modified corn and/or water spiked with the herbicide Roundup. The paper, which seven of his colleagues co-authored, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology. [ + ]

Alchemia (ASX:ACL) has revealed an extra $10 million investment to reduce production costs and maximise profits after acknowledging that market competition has delayed the profitability of generic fondaparinux in the US. [ + ]

The government has invited comment from the public on “tough new” amendments to intellectual property laws to tighten up innovation patents. [ + ]

GI Dynanics (ASX:GID) continues rollout of its EndoBarrier in Australia with it now offering the weight loss and diabetes treatment in two additional locations, St Vincent's Clinic and Macquarie University Hospital. [ + ]

A systematic review of the effects of antihypertensive drug therapy on people with mild hypertension has found no benefits come with the drugs. If this review is accurate, big pharma won’t be happy and the government will be thrilled. [ + ]

Major US clinical trials of Avita Medical's (ASX:AVH) ReCell spray-on skin could provide the impetus needed to stimulate adoption of the technology in the medical community, a recent report suggests. [ + ]

A new model which reveals how the immune system functions under conditions of neutropenia may lead to safer chemotherapy and also bring us closer to the holy grail of personalised medicine. [ + ]