Melbourne's Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has raised approximately $31 million from its share purchase plan (SPP) which closed early on October 12. [ + ]

Brad Calvin is to step down as chief operating officer of Agenix (ASX:AGX) today after the company decided not to renew his employment contract. [ + ]

Sydney-based cancer drug development company PacMab has lodged a prospectus for an IPO to raise AUD$5 million to commercialise its treatment for a fatal blood cancer and potentially other blood disorders, with listing of its shares on the ASX expected in December this year. [ + ]

Sydney-based devices company AtCor Medical has closed its initial public offering (IPO) early and oversubscribed. [ + ]

Melbourne-based Amrad (ASX:AML) will now be known as Zenyth Therapeutics, following a vote at the company's AGM today. [ + ]

UK human domain-antibody (dAb) developer Domantis has reported spectacular success in trial of an inhaled anti-inflammatory dAB in an in vivo model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). [ + ]

Industry peak body AusBiotech has urged crop growers and marketers to throw their support behind GM technology, following the release of a report that found current legal, farming and commercial systems can adequately deal with issues that may arise from the use of the technology. [ + ]

Testable genetic differences might be used to predict the effectiveness of a medication commonly prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a new study suggests.

Drug developer Phylogica (ASX:PYC) and artificial heart company Sunshine Heart (ASX:SHC) have been awarded a Commercial Ready grants from AusIndustry, worth $2.27 million and $2.223 million respectively. [ + ]

Communication technology will be a key driver of medical innovation in the future, a senior Johnson & Johnson executive told a Sydney forum this week. [ + ]

Sydney medical device company CathRx (ASX:CXD)has made a dream debut on the ASX - after opening at AUD$1.11, shares in the company have traded hands today at up to $1.35, a premium of 35 per cent. [ + ]

A technique used to detect land mines could soon help rheumatologists and radiologists diagnose osteoarthritis and cervical cancer, thanks in part to the efforts of a University of Missouri-Rolla researcher.

Monash University researchers have determined the structure of a key oncoprotein, JAK2, being targeted by Melbourne oncology drug developer Cytopia (ASX:CYT). [ + ]

Australian pharma Novogen has received further positive news from a US trial of its experimental cancer-resensitising agent phenoxodiol. [ + ]

It's hardly surprising that one of the Australian biotechnology industry's biggest bugbears is a communication gap between companies and their investors. [ + ]