Auckland biopharma Neuren Pharmaceuticals (ASX: NEU) has begun to recruit the 30 patients who will take part in its phase II pharmacokinetics and safety trial of its lead drug Glypromate. [ + ]

A handheld biosensor device that can immediately register food, water and blood contaminants will be developed with the help of a AU$774,000 Australian government grant, as part of a multi-million dollar R&D Start funding round recently announced by Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism & Resources, Ian Macfarlane.

Melbourne-based Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) has reported a loss of AUD$10.7 million for the year ended 30 June 2005, up 13 per cent from $9.5 million last year. [ + ]

Biota Holdings' (ASX:BTA) US-based CEO Peter Molloy has decided not to renew his contract in January 2006 following the company's decision to consolidate its operations back into its Melbourne facility. [ + ]

Unlisted imaging company XRT, an investee of BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC), has secured new investment funds from a syndicate of UK investors including an undisclosed institutional group. [ + ]

Amrad (ASX:AML) has reported a healthy cash position of AUD$51.7 million and an operating loss of AUD$1.622 million for the year ended 30 June 2005, down from $3.523 million last year. [ + ]

Singapore-based generics company SciGen (ASX:SIE) has posted a net loss of SGD$5.6 million (AUD$4.43 million) for 2004-05, up 29 per cent from the previous financial year. [ + ]

Norwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) have signed an agreement to enter into phase II development of a non-surgical mulesing technology to prevent sheep flystrike using Norwood's needle-free injection technology. [ + ]

Australian corporate leader Hugh Morgan is the new chairman of Melbourne-based flu vaccine company BioDiem (ASX:BDM) which has reported an increased loss of AUD$4.2 million in 2004-05, up 32 per cent from the last financial year. [ + ]

NeuroSolutions, the UK based subsidiary of newly listed neurology-focused biotech company NeuroDiscovery (ASX:NDL) has identified and selected Sigma Aldrich to provide scale-up and manufacturing services in relation to its lead pain drug candidate, NSL-043, which is due to enter a phase I clinical trial later this year. [ + ]

Austin Health's new movement laboratory has been opened at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Kew, Melbourne to provide a clinical movement analysis service to assist people with disabilities to become more independent. [ + ]

Melbourne-based Acrux (ASX:ACR) posted revenue of AUD$4.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2005, up $1 million from the previous financial year, but also saw an increase in its net loss from $4.2 million in the previous year to $6 million in 2004-05. [ + ]

Ambri (ASX:ABI) saw a decrease in its revenue for the 2004-05 financial year of 27 per cent to $1 million (from $1.4 million in the previous year) but the company's loss was also down 22 per cent to $9 million. [ + ]

Sydney peptide therapeutics company Peptech (ASX:PTD) has reported positive results from a trial of a prostate cancer diagnostic developed by its joint-venture partner Biosceptre International. [ + ]

Gene therapy company Benitec (ASX:BLT) has weathered a head-on challenge from US rival, Nucleonics, to its key DNA-directed RNA-interference (ddRNAi) patents. [ + ]