Acrux (ASX:ACR) has received a US$1 million milestone payment from Vivus for its estradiol transdermal spray product Evamist, currently in Phase III clinical trials to treat menopausal symptoms in the US, which was due today.

Some of Australia's most eminent researchers have warned that Australia must get creative to stay on top in the increasingly competitive global stem cell research and business landscape.

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted 'orphan drug' status to Pharmaxis (ASX:PXS) for its Bronchitol product, for treatment of bronchiectasis. Orphan status entitles Pharmaxis to seven years of market exclusivity for Bronchitol, which is currently in clinical trials.

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.

The National Stem Cell Centre has signed a collaboration agreement with Singapore-based ES Cell International (ESI) to develop new human embryonic stem cell-based treatments for diabetes and other diseases.

The Singapore and Australian biotechnology industries have synergies that should be exploited, the director of the Singapore Economic Development Board, Dr Swan-Gin Beh, has told a session at the BIO 2004 conference in San Francisco this week.

Melissa Trudinger asks industry insiders where the next big investment opportunities will come from -- and identifies a few other likely chances.

Speaking to a packed room of delegates at the Discovery Science and Biotechnology conference in Sydney last week, cloning pioneer Alan Colman described stem cell research as being in the same boat as gene therapy a decade ago.

Cloning pioneer Alan Colman, the director of research programs with Singapore company ES Cell International, will visit Sydney in May to address a conference on prospects for stem cell therapy.

Singapore-based stem cell company ES Cell International (ESI) has acquired patent rights to technology relating to the transformation of stem cells into insulin-producing cells from US company Curis.