Roche now offers an updated portfolio for the early detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and personalised disease management. Its improved diagnostics and patient monitoring tools allow for HCV testing with high performance in early infection and ease of use, allowing clinicians to work efficiently and to suit individual patient treatment. [ + ]

Lonza has launched its new global company website which will provide users with the company's complete life science market representation. [ + ]

A study has revealed that injectable contraceptives that are widely used around the world influence the risk of developing several types of cancer. The study builds on previous research which found that women using oral contraception have a temporarily increased risk of breast cancer and cervical cancer and a decreased risk of ovarian cancer and cancer of the lining of the womb. [ + ]

United Bioresearch has been appointed Australian distributor for the full range of ACTGene products. [ + ]

AusBiotech has announced the final chance for biotech business development professionals to attend the annual dedicated Business Development Forum and Workshop (BD Forum) in Queensland. [ + ]

Japan's Nippon Zoki Pharmaceutical has agreed to assess Phosphagenics' (ASX:POH) TPM/diclofenac pain patch for its suitability in the Japan and US markets. [ + ]

Drug discovery can be enormously expensive when a drug becomes a disaster. Professor Susan Charman’s team is working to fix potential problems early in the drug-development process. [ + ]

Australian research into shark antibodies that holds out the potential for new drugs and diagnostic agents is a step closer to realising its goal following an agreement with international diagnostic and pharmaceutical giant Roche. The pioneering work, which has attracted worldwide interest, is based on research led by Associate Professor Michael Foley at the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Science (LIMS). [ + ]

DuPont subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Breed and agricultural research body ACPFG have expanded a longstanding agreement to collaborate on agricultural biotechnology R&D. [ + ]

An international consortium comprising around 100 scientists and mathematicians, including Australian researchers, has for the first time pooled shared knowledge and data to deliver a holistic understanding of the biological changes in a cell. The findings of the Bacillus Systems Biology (BaSysBio) project, published in leading journal Science, will ultimately lead to the development of new drugs to protect people against antibiotic-resistant infections, including golden staph. [ + ]

AusBiotech invites you to take part in the BIO International Convention, the largest global event for the biotechnology industry, attracting the biggest names in biotech. [ + ]

Sirtex Medical (ASX:SRX) has reported a 69.7% increase in 1H profit, due in part to accelerating sales of its radioactive microsphere treatments for liver cancer. [ + ]

Alchemia Limited (ASX:ACL) has been granted the second of four US patents it has applied for to protect its manufacturing process for the fondaparinux blood clot treatment. [ + ]

Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) swung to an $8.1m profit in 1H12, after selling its DIABECELL assets to its new 50/50 joint venture. [ + ]

A substantial validation of the power of dye solar cell (DSC) technology to significantly impact the world’s renewable energy supply has come from the World Cultural Council, which has awarded Professor Michael Grätzel the prestigious 2012 Albert Einstein World Award of Science for his outstanding achievements in inventing and developing the Grätzel Cell, the Dye-sensitised Solar Cell. [ + ]