ANU researchers have overturned 20 years of thinking about the powerplant which enables photosynthesis to occur, sending biologists, chemists and physicists back to the drawing board.

Beckman Coulter has announced it has entered into the strategic partnership agreement with PointCare Technologies, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Beckman Coulter has exclusive global sales and marketing responsibilities for the new PointCare system, small enough for use at the point of care for monitoring drug therapy in HIV/AIDS patients. PointCare Technologies will retain the research and development role.

GE Healthcare, a combination of the former Amersham and GE Medical Systems, has announced that Bristol-Myers Squibb and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc have each signed licensing agreements for rights to Aequorea Victoria Green Fluorescent Protein (AvGFP), a versatile, widely used and validated fluorescent protein. GE Healthcare has the rights to offer comprehensive licensing for the intellectual property necessary to make the best use of this GFP technology.

Heraeus Noblelight has taken over Cathodeon. Through this acquisition, Heraeus Noblelight strengthens its 'Lamps for Optics and Analytics' division and complements the Laser lamp technologies of its UK subsidiary Heraeus Noblelight.

Metabolic (ASX:MBP) today did its best to salvage its reputation and share price, hitting back at analyst criticism of its Phase II clinical trial results of its obesity drug AOD9604. [ + ]

Confirming its ambitions to move into drug development, Sydney-based Proteome Systems (ASX:PXL) has signed a contract to acquire US antioxidant drug-developer Eukarion. The acquisition involves a cash payment of up to AUD$150,000 in up-front consideration, and an an initial equity issue by Proteome Systems of approximately 1.7 million shares. [ + ]

US artificial heart firm Heartware will today lodge its prospectus with ASIC, for an ASX-listing schedule to take place in late January, despite rumours of a possible patent battle with Australian artificial heart firm Ventracor (ASX:VCR). [ + ]

South Australian biotech Bionomics (ASX:BNO) is to pay more than AUD$2 million in cash and kind for Neurofit, a small contract research company that specialises in testing candidate drugs for central nervous system (CNS) disorders in cellular and animals models. [ + ]

Ai Scientific has announced its partnership with Environmental Express (USA). Environmental Express produces a range of laboratory apparatus to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the laboratory.

Non-executive director Paul Grujic and chief financial officer Ian Purdy today resigned from West Australian biotech Chemeq (ASX: CMQ). [ + ]

Biotechnology industry observers have given the sector a mixed report card for 2004, pointing to highlights like a lively capital market and low points like failed mergers. [ + ]

Trapping and harnessing adult mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) - some of the rarest and most valuable cells in the body - is the game of junior biotech Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) - which listed on the ASX today at AUD$0.91, almost double its issue price of $0.50. [ + ]

Affectionately known as the father of angiogenesis, Prof Judah Folkman, from Harvard Medical School, visited Australia for the first time last month to attend the AHMRC congress at which he gave an inspiring plenary about angiogenesis and his latest foray into the emerging class of anti-cancer or anti-angiogenic drugs. [ + ]

Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) has signed its second deal -- reportedly worth as much as US$20 million -- for anti-inflammatory therapeutics which act at the FcoRIIa receptor, this time with US biopharmaceutical company Zymogenetics. [ + ]

Stirling Products (ASX:STI) has reported that its ST810 beta agonist has produced a 16 per cent improvement in weight gain in a 28-day US trial in 196 pigs. [ + ]