Queensland gene-therapy company Benitec Ltd (ASX:BLT) has licensed-in a novel, non-viral new technology from Stanford University that delivers prolonged RNAi-induced gene-silencing in mammalian cells. [ + ]

This month, an international movement was quietly born -- one that aims to loosen the grip of the world's biggest life science corporations on key enabling technologies and patents for biotechnology R&D. [ + ]

The Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) and Griffith University have entered into a collaboration. [ + ]

Alzheimer's specialist Prana Biotechnology (ASX:PRR) has released data from an extension study of its Phase II PBT-1 (clioquinol) trial, showing that the drug appeared to slow the rate of decline. [ + ]

September was a kind month for the biotechnology sector -- the Intersuisse biotechnology index indicated that the sector more than made up for its loss in August, moving ahead by 4 per cent, almost 1 per cent more than both the All Ordinaries and the Nasdaq. [ + ]

Near enough isn't good enough when it comes to structure-based drug design and medicinal chemistry. That's the reasoning behind Avexa's (ASX:AVX) new collaborations with Melbourne's St Vincent's Institute of Medical Research and the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, according to CEO Julian Chick. [ + ]

Cytopia (ASX:CYT) will raise AUD$13.2 million in a fully underwritten non-renounceable rights issue. [ + ]

Brisbane company Tissue Therapies (ASX:TIS) has bolstered its cash reserves through a placement of $1.46 million before costs to institutional and sophisticated investors. [ + ]

After raising AUD$6.36 million in its IPO last month, Living Cell Technologies (ASX:LCT) has announced a successful AUD$4.8 million top-up of its cash reserves. [ + ]

BresaGen (ASX:BGN) is expected to emerge from the shadow of voluntary administration this week, after shareholders voted to approve CBio's acquisition of a 51 per cent interest in the company at a general meeting on Monday. [ + ]

Biotechnology industry association AusBiotech has signed a memorandum of understanding with its Indian counterpart, the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE). [ + ]

Helmed by a new chairman and in the middle a AUD$5-10 million capital raising, Melbourne's Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) has ticked the first of the boxes on its lengthy to-do list, announcing that its Arthron subsidiary has signed a non-exclusive license with AstraZeneca to validate its anti-inflammatory Fc receptor target. [ + ]

Imugene (ASX:IMU) has claimed a qualified success after a trial to test the ability of its receptor mimic technology (RMT) to prevent post-weaning diarrhoea in piglets. [ + ]

The lack of use of market intelligence is a key distinction between Australian biotech companies and their counterparts in the US and Europe, Teraform Ventures' Haydn Wright told attendees at a BioMelbourne BioBreakfast this morning. [ + ]

Benitec (ASX:BLT) has granted a licence to US company Revivicor to use its patented RNAi-mediated gene-silencing technology for mammalian cells to develop transgenic pigs as a source of organ transplants for humans. [ + ]