In the science fiction series Star Trek, the Klingons use cloaking technology to render their spaceships invisible to the Enterprise's sophisticated sensor systems. But like many other futuristic ideas, that cloaking technology was invented by nature first. The tiny vampire Plasmodium falciparum, which causes the deadliest form of human malaria, has up to 60 ways of cloaking itself against its host's immune defences. [ + ]

Regenera (ASX:RGA) has signed deal with an affiliate of US opthamology giant Alcon, which one independent source has valued at US$100 million (AUD$130 million), for a steroid technology it licensed in only last year which is used in eye surgery. [ + ]

The opportunities for research have been widened with the recent lifting of a ban on using recently created embryos.

Sydney peptide therapeutics developer Peptech (ASX:PTD) has taken delivery of its hot new anti-inflammatory domain antibody (dAb) from UK ally Domantis, and plans to begin human clinical trials in 2007. [ + ]

Start small, but think big, could be Melissa Little's motto. The kidney disease researcher, an associate professor at the University of Queensland's Institute of Molecular Bioscience, is hunting molecules that may stimulate failing kidneys to repair themselves -- but her ultimate goal is to be able to program stem cells to grow new kidneys from scratch. [ + ]

A new technique that involves seeding 3D biodegradable polymer scaffolds with human embryonic stem (hES) cells is showing promise as a way to create human tissues for therapeutic applications, an Israeli researcher has told a workshop in Sydney. [ + ]

Some of Australia's most eminent researchers have warned that Australia must get creative to stay on top in the increasingly competitive global stem cell research and business landscape. [ + ]

RNAi specialist Benitec (ASX:BLT) has lodged a prospectus with ASIC to raise up to AUD$9.7 million in a rights issue, underwritten by Bell Potter. Capital raised will go towards clinical development and expansion of Benitec's California operations, it said. [ + ]

Unlisted Brisbane biotech Xenome has secured $2.5 million in new funding from its major shareholder, the Queensland Biocapital Fund (QBF), to accelerate development of its product pipeline, including its pain-killing peptide from cone-shell toxin, Xen2174. [ + ]

Auckland-based, Australian-listed biomedical company Living Cell Therapies (ASX:LCT) is elated at the results of a six-month preclinical trial of its DiaBCell encapsulated-cell therapy for diabetes in monkeys. [ + ]

Beleaguered biotech Chemeq (ASX:CMQ) has seen some light on the horizon, announcing it has successfully banked AUD$40 million from an issue of 40,000 convertible bonds to Japanese investment group Mizuho International and related entities of investment management group Stark Investments. [ + ]

Unlisted biotech EvoGenix and Mountain View (CA) ally Absalus have formally tied the knot after an 11-month trans-Pacific courtship. [ + ]

Although US biotechs managed to raise a healthy US$6.2 billion in capital in the first quarter of 2005, the tide has turned against IPOs, and mergers and acquisitions and partnering are gaining popularity as alternative financing methods, according to analysis by San Francisco's Burrill & Company. [ + ]

Diagnostic platform developer Medsaic has won the NSW government's inaugural BioFirst commercialisation award, at a ceremony on Monday evening. [ + ]

Feeling lousy? Unlisted Melbourne biotech HatchTech believes it may have just the remedy: a safe, potent ovicide that kills the eggs of the common head louse. [ + ]