Sydney's Biosignal (ASX:BOS) and its Institute for Eye Research (IER) partner have finalised a deal with an anonymous suitor - one of the world's biggest contact lens makers - to test Biosignal's novel antibacterial coating for extended-wear lenses. [ + ]

An appeals court has ruled against Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries in its bid to keep 180 days of exclusivity for its generic version of Pfizer's popular Zoloft antidepressant. [ + ]

In the lead up to the completion of the replacement nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights, the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation (ANSTO) plans to announce a name for the new reactor next week, as well as launch a new Small Tandem for Applied Research (STAR) accelerator. [ + ]

The fact that blood's not only thicker than water, but biologically "sticky", creates problems for cardiovascular surgeons replacing blocked coronary arteries. [ + ]

Epitan (ASX: EPT) has promoted its CFO Iain Kirkwood to CEO, replacing retiring CEO Wayne Millen. [ + ]

Cryptome Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CRP) is a step closer to proving the validity of its cryptomics approach to speeding up drug discovery, after animal studies of its lead antithrombotic drug CR001 produced positive results. [ + ]

Starpharma (ASX:SPL) was forced into a trading halt this morning after a report in Melbourne broadsheet The Age revealed that Starpharma's US subsidiary Dendritic Nanotechnologies (DNT) was about to consummate an intellectual property deal with US giant Dow Chemical company. [ + ]

Sydney-based Biosignal (ASX:BOS) has engaged Custom Pharmaceutical Serivces, a business unit of Indian generics-manufacturing specialist Dr Reddy's Laboratories, to develop a large-scale manufacturing procedure for Biosignal's antibacterial furanone compounds. [ + ]

The first full-scale production season for Australia's new Bollgard 2 transgenic cotton cultivars is shaping as an outstanding success, despite continuing drought in areas of NSW and southern Queensland. [ + ]

Nanotechnology company Psivida (ASX:PSD) is to join a small band of Australian biotechs on the US Nasdaq market, announcing today it had filed a registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in relation to its planned listing of American Depositary Shares (ADSs). [ + ]

French-based clinical trial contractor Cvitkovic and Associates Consultants (CAC) will take equity in Brisbane cancer-drug developer Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) and establish a 'dedicated operation' in Australia. [ + ]

Adelaide biotech company GroPep (ASX: GRO) will profit substantially from the sale of JRH Biosciences to Sigma-Aldrich -- the company has negotiated for the transfer of its marketing, sales and distribution agreement with CSL to JRH, through the life of the agreement, which expires in 2010. [ + ]

CSL (ASX: CSL) has sold its JRH Biosciences cell culture reagents division to US company Sigma-Aldrich for US$370 million (about AUD$492 million) in cash. [ + ]

John McKinley is to resign as CEO of Brisbane-base RNAi specialist Benitec (ASX:BLT) and Sydney solicitor Ray Whitten -- a 5.79 per cent shareholder through Barbary Coast Investments -- has been appointed as chairman of its board. [ + ]

Melbourne drug developer Avexa (ASX:AVX) has taken the bold step of in-licensing a promising late-stage developmental drug for HIV/AIDS from international specialty pharmaceutical company Shire Pharmaceuticals Group, seeking to create a strong revenue stream to fund its growth. [ + ]