Research by a University of Queensland research team suggests Melbourne-based biotech ZingoTX may have a lead compound for neuropathic pain in its synthetic derivatives of the mouth-burning molecules found in ginger and chillies. [ + ]

At the last minute, Agbiotech giant Bayer CropScience has pulled the plug on its plan to conduct a 40-hectare demonstration trial of its genetically modified hybrid canolas in NSW. [ + ]

Melbourne biotech Genetic Technologies (ASX:GTG) has signed its first contract with New Zealand agbiotech company Ovita in Dunedin for a pilot program to DNA-test up to 20,000 sheep. [ + ]

Amrad (ASX:AML) has been dealt a blow with the news that Serono is abandoning further development of emfilermin following Phase II clinical trial results that showed the molecule was no more efficacious than the placebo. [ + ]

A new biotechnology company sprang into being yesterday -- seemingly fully-formed -- when Perth-based Revenir (ASX:REV), formerly a property management company, announced plans to merge with private British biopharmaceutical company Bone Limited. [ + ]

Prima Biomed (ASX:PRR) subsidiary Oncomab has published results of an animal study demonstrating the efficacy of its anti-Cripto monoclonal antibody in a mouse model of human colon cancer. [ + ]

The news from a pre-clinical trial of Perth biopharma Solbec Pharmaceuticals' (ASX:SBP) lead anti-cancer compound SBO002 could hardly be more positive. [ + ]

Researchers at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research (QIMR) in Brisbane hope to begin human trials late this year of a vaccine that could prevent three different forms of cancer associated with infection by Epstein-Barr virus. [ + ]

Melbourne biotech Cerylid Biosciences has acquired fellow unlisted biotech Kinacia in a merger that finally puts an end to months of rumour. [ + ]

Perth-based opthamology specialist Regenera has prevailed in an increasingly tough IPO market, closing its IPO today AUD$2 million oversubscribed, having raised in excess of AUD$10 million. [ + ]

Perth-based nano-biotech company Psivida (ASX:PSD) has acquired 100 per cent ownership of its UK subsidiary PsiMedica in a AUD$57.8 million deal aimed at accelerating development of its BioSilicon technology. [ + ]

The wallaby genome project is poised to go ahead thanks to a last minute injection of $3 million into the project by the Victorian state government. [ + ]

Prof Doug Hilton, a researcher at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, has been awarded this year's GlaxoSmithKline award for research excellence, for his work on cell signalling. [ + ]

In future, the tooth fairy may leave children something more than a silver coin in a glass of water, in exchange for their lost milk teeth. Researchers at the Hanson Institute in Adelaide believe pluripotent stem cells from those deciduous teeth could help sustain their owners’ dental, skeletal, neural and cardiovascular health well into the autumn of their lives. [ + ]

Two Sydney cancer patients have made medical history as the first individuals to be diagnosed with cancer induced by spontaneous silencing of an otherwise normal tumour-suppressor gene. [ + ]