AlbudAbs - the latest invention of Cambridge (UK) antibody-therapeutics developer Domantis, a 36-per cent owned ally of Sydney biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD)- were yesterday launched on the market, with the promise that they can extend the half-life of protein therapeutics. [ + ]

Bresagen (ASX:BGN) has ended its annus horribilus -- having spent much of the year in voluntary administration -- with the reinstatement of its securities to official quotation today. [ + ]

Norwood Immunology (AIM:NIM) is almost ready to take its GnRH analogue technology, designed to 'reboot' the immune system, into US clinical trials, having just completed a Phase II protocol with US partner TAP Pharmaceuticals. [ + ]

US lawmakers and health officials are moving to give more independence to an office that reviews drug safety, but some experts say ensuring medicines are studied after they hit the market is more important than the bureaucratic pecking order. [ + ]

Sydney-based biosensor developer Ambri (ASX:ABI) has made chief financial officer Jeff Carter redundant, citing a drive to redirect resources towards its biosensor platform. Ambri's current financial controller, Phillip Camilleri, will assume the role of company secretary, and take over responsibility of all financial matters. [ + ]

Following its ban on xenotransplantation earlier this year, The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has made a surprise announcement of a five-year moratorium on clinical trials in Australia using animal cellular therapies or animal external therapies. [ + ]

Smaller countries like Australia should implement a well-defined strategy for the development of small technologies including micro- and nanotechnology, according to small technology commercialisation expert Kees Eijkel, in Melbourne to participate in the Healthy Opportunities from Small Technologies conference this week. [ + ]

Metabolic Pharmaceuticals (ASX:MBP) is to look for a partnering opportunity with a major pharmaceutical company after it successfully completed its Phase IIb clinical trial on obesity drug AOD9604 showing the drug induced weight loss without side-effects. [ + ]

Research by CSIRO Livestock Industries is moving closer to identifying plants which can be more successfully grown as feed for livestock in salt-affected areas.

The Photonics Manufacturing Technology Access Program is an initiative of Australian Photonics and AusIndustry with the goal of diffusing state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques to Australian businesses. Regular hands-on workshops in the fields of industrial robotics, microfabrication, photonic sensor technology, and an introduction to photonics will be held over the next two years in Sydney and Melbourne locations.

It pays for a company to consider using alternative technologies as a stepping stone while it continues to develop innovative new technologies, a European technology executive told a conference in Melbourne this week. [ + ]

Prof Judith Whitworth - a specialist in hypertension, and current director of the John Curtin School of Medical Research - has been appointed for a three-year term as chair of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Advisory Committee on Health Research. [ + ]

A new government review has reported that investment in health and medical research delivered excellent returns and benefits to the community, and has recommended that overall Commonwealth government investment be increased to AUD$1.8 billion by 2008/9. [ + ]

Peptech Animal Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sydney-based Peptech (ASX:PTD) has begun to market its slow-release canine contraceptive, Suprelorin, to Australian veterinarians. [ + ]

A joint venture between Massachusetts pharmaceutical services company Charles River Laboratories (NYSE:CRL) and Sydney's Proteome Systems (ASX:PXL) has been wound up, a victim of the US company's recent $1.5 billion merger with the Inveresk Group. [ + ]