Sydney biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD) has signed up with its 36.1 per cent owned UK partner Domantis to develop a domain antibody (dAb) for the cancer target identified by its Sydney joint venture partner Biosceptre. [ + ]

Chemeq (ASX:CMQ) is in a trading halt in the lead-up to an announcement concerning the underwriting of AUD$20 million convertible bonds to Mizuho International, Stark Trading and Shephard Investments International, to which it committed itself in April. [ + ]

Fellowship grants of more than AUD$270,000 have been awarded to seven Australian scientists to pursue research and studies at American Institutions courtesy, of the American Australian Association. [ + ]

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals (ASX:CXS) has outlined its accelerated clinical development plan for its lead anti-cancer therapeutic Ceflatonin, following positive results from initial trials. [ + ]

Researchers at the University of Queensland's Brain Research Institute have identified a protein expressed in the amygdala, a region of the brain that mediates the formation of fearful memories, that could be a target for new drugs to treat anxiety, panic attacks, phobias and some mental disorders. [ + ]

Genesis Biomedical (ASX:GBL) has been granted an option to purchase 100 per cent of the issued capital of privately owned New Zealand based Manawatu Biotech Investments (MBI). [ + ]

Victorian cancer biopharma Meditech Research (ASX:MTR) claims to have identified a hot new target for breast cancer therapy -- an enzyme called hyaluronic synthase 2 (HAS2), found in vesicles in cell membranes. [ + ]

Sydney anti-microbial developer Biosignal (ASX:BOS) has linked up with a major US-based technology evaluation corporation to assess the market potential of its furanone anti-biofilm technology. [ + ]

There is a relatively new approach to addressing large, complex problems - 'network science'. Dr John Finnigan at CSIRO Atmospheric Research says network science is gaining recognition as a more efficient and productive means of solving complicated problems than the traditional 'examine-one-aspect-at-a-time' approach.

Scientists need to stand up and be counted in the review of cloning legislation to be undertaken by the Lockhart Committee, writes the leader of the National Party in the Senate, Senator Ron Boswell. [ + ]

Sydney anti-viral drug developer Narhex Life Sciences (ASX:NLS) has signed separate manufacturing research agreements with two Polish organisations to reduce the cost and complexity of manufacturing its HIV protease inhibitor DG-35. [ + ]

In five years time, biomarker analysis will deliver inexpensive, reliable tests for disease prognosis, delegates at a joint BioMelbourne and Australian Genome Research Facility event heard last week. [ + ]

Canadian-based cancer vaccine company Biomira has exercised its put option to take up equity in Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) by swapping its 10 per cent equity in Prima's subsidiary company CancerVac for approximately 1.62 per cent equity in Prima. [ + ]

The Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies (FASTS) has criticised a decision by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson, to dissolve the board of the Australian Research Council from early next year. [ + ]

Sydney-based Ventracor (ASX:VCR) has implanted its first VentrAssist left ventricular assist system (LVAS) in the United States. [ + ]