To no one's surprise, CSL has become the dominant force in the Australian biotechnology sector. Graeme O'Neill learns from CSL's chief scientist, Andrew Cuthbertson, about the solid research that will drive the company in the next few years.

Biopharmaceutical company CSL (ASX:CSL) will invest AUD$80 million in plant and equipment to double capacity at its Melbourne facility to 40 million doses per season, making it one of the largest vaccine manufacturing plants in the world.

Federal health minister Tony Abbott was on hand to cut the ribbon for the first of two Relenza production lines at GlaxoSmithKline's manufacturing facilities in Boronia, Victoria, last week.

Norwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) has initiated animal studies for the use of its needle-free injection device for delivering virosomes, potent carriers of antigens for vaccination.

Immune therapy developer and Norwood Abbey (ASX:NAL) subsidiary Norwood Immunology (AIM:NIM) has entered into an option to acquire all the share capital of Netherlands-based Bestewil Holding, the 100 per cent owner of Virosome Biologicals Group, for up to 25 million euros (AUD$40.5 million).

Australian biotech stocks underperformed both the All Ordinaries and the Nasdaq Biotech Index in 2005, but the second half of the year was brighter with stocks gaining 23.2 per cent, according to the Intersuisse Biotechnology Index.

ASX-listed, Singapore-based Rockeby Biomed (ASX:RBY) has said it might break even in the year ending June 2007, thanks to its new bird flu test kits.

The Commonwealth government has confirmed that it will add 1.8 million courses of Relenza to the National Medical Stockpile in preparation for a possible influenza pandemic.

Melbourne-based Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA) has entered into a licensing and collaboration agreement with US company MedImmune (Nasdaq:MEDI) to develop and commercialise Biota's small molecule compounds for the prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.

The CEO of Melbourne company Biota Holdings (ASX:BTA), Peter Cook, believes GlaxoSmithKline is using delaying tactics in the current court case before the Victorian courts, in which Biota is suing GSK for up to AUD$430 million.

Graeme O'Neill reports back from the recent CSIRO Horizons in Livestock Science conference at the Gold Coast, which addressed the progress, challenges and problems associated with redesigning livestock.