Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) have unravelled some of the interactions between pro-survival and pro-apoptotic proteins, providing clues to the regulatory mechanisms that govern apoptosis. [ + ]

Peptech Animal Health, a subsidiary of Peptech (ASX:PTD), has successfully completed trials of a new formulation of its dog contraceptive Suprelorin which suppresses fertility in male dogs for at least 12 months. [ + ]

Researchers at the Monash Institute of Medical Research and Genetics Australia Co-operative have cloned a cow using the technique of serial nuclear transfer. [ + ]

AGEN Biomedical, a subsidiary of Brisbane-based biotech Agenix (ASX: AGX), is set to receive royalties from a newly launched test developed by US diagnostics company Biosite that uses AGEN's D-Dimer antibody. [ + ]

Sydney heart monitor firm USCOM (ASX:UCM) has received regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, allowing it to market its devices in the states. [ + ]

Amrad spin off Avexa (ASX: AVX) has raised $2.4 million in a private placement to institutions and sophisticated retail investors, and is aiming to raise up to $7.6 million more through a prospectus placement to new and existing retail and existing institutional shareholders. [ + ]

Australian private equity and venture capital investment in biotech was AUD$33 million in 2004, up from $16 million in 2003, according to a new report released by the Australian Venture Capital Association (AVCAL). [ + ]

Singapore-based Cygenics (ASX: CYN) has announced that the US Department of Defence had renewed its screening service contract with the company's US-based subsidiary Cytomatrix. [ + ]

Dr Glen Begley, the Australian who now heads the haematology and oncology R&D department at US biotech giant Amgen, has told a conference that the decline in new drug approvals was "alarming", and predicted major shakeouts in big pharma. [ + ]

Australia’s adult stem cell company, Mesoblast has signed an agreement for production of specialised adult stem cells, known as Mesenchymal Precursor Cells (MPCs), to be used in human pilot clinical trials in patients with orthopaedic and cardiovascular diseases.

Psivida (ASX: PSD) has reported that the second patient cohort from its Phase IIa trial of BrachySil in inoperable primary liver cancer patients shows the product is safe and effective in prompting tumour regression. [ + ]

Life Therapeutics' (formerly Gradipore, ASX: LFE) US subsidiary Life Sera has received FDA approval to begin collecting tetanus hyperimmune serum for use as a prophylactic treatment following potential exposure to the tetanus toxin. [ + ]

Newly-listed stem cell company Mesoblast (ASX: MSB) has taken its first step toward initiating its pilot human clinical trials by appointing Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre-based company Cell Therapies to produce mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) under GMP conditions. [ + ]

Abbott Laboratories is seeking to appeal a British court ruling that granted Cambridge Antibody Technology a greater percentage of royalties on Abbott's arthritis drug Humira. [ + ]

One bio-ceramics company has succeeded where many others have failed – creating a false eye that moves naturally and bears an uncanny resemblance to the real thing.