Victorian drug-developer Biota released a bombshell this morning, announcing that it was suing its marketing partner, UK-based GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), for failure to promote and support its influenza drug, Relenza in the 5 years since the drug was launched. [ + ]

A US advisory panel has voiced support for further research to determine whether widely used anaemia drugs sold by Johnson & Johnson and Amgen might stimulate tumour growth. [ + ]

Australian biotech company Norwood Immunology plans to list its shares in London in late May, which should value the company at about £115 million (AUD$283 million). [ + ]

Sydney-based biotechnology company Avastra has announced it will open its $8 million share offer this Friday. Avastra will offer eight million shares at $1 per share, equivalent to 29 per cent of the company. Managing Director Paul Ralph said that with oversubscriptions this may rise to 33 per cent. [ + ]

Sydney-based biotech Proteome Systems has appointed two non-executive directors as it prepares for a long-awaited IPO. [ + ]

Brisbane-based Progen (ASX:PGL) has earned 'orphan drug' status from the US Food and Drug Administration for its much-touted PI-88 compound, for treatment of malignant melanoma. [ + ]

Technospeak and blue sky 'biodollars' will be frowned upon and plain English encouraged under the Australian Stock Exchange's new biotechnology reporting code. [ + ]

Brisbane biotech Genetic Solutions is set to create a tidal wave in the international beef industry's gene pool, after licensing its GeneStar DNA markers to new US partner Bovigen Solutions. [ + ]

Monash University's Department of Geriatric Medicine is pioneering a high-tech way of consulting with elderly patients so they do not have to leave their nursing home beds.

Biotech veteran Bob Moses, the chairman of Melbourne biotech company Meditech (ASX:MTR), had harsh words yesterday for the shareholders whose lack of support for the re-election of CEO Chris Carter as a director on the board led to both he and Carter resigning their positions. [ + ]

Shares in Sydney animal-health biopharma Imugene Limited (ASX:IMU) soared yesterday on news that animal trials have confirmed the efficacy of the company's new vaccine for controlling one of the international pig industry's most costly diseases. [ + ]

Brisbane-based pooled development fund Medica Holdings (ASX:MCA) is committing body and spirit to the drug-discovery race by taking a 100 per cent shareholding in its Melbourne subsidiary Cytopia -- and adopting Cytopia's name. [ + ]

Sydney-based biotech Peptech (ASX:PTD) and Brisbane-based Agenix (ASX:AGX) have revealed plans to merge, creating one of Australia's largest biotechnology companies with a market capitalisation of AUD$400 million. [ + ]

Building your credibility and getting past the introductory meeting are the two goals biotech companies going to BIO should keep in mind, according to US-based biotech communications specialist Doug MacDougall. [ + ]

The thing AstraZeneca finds hardest about its relationship with the Cooperative Research Centre for Chronic Inflammatory Diseases is coping with incompatible timezones. [ + ]