Brisbane biopharma CBio has broken the proverbial bottle of champagne over the bows of its new laboratory and office premises at Brisbane Technology Park, and with Commonwealth P3 grant in hand, is ready to "forge ahead" with developing its novel anti-inflammatory molecule.

A Royal Adelaide Hospital cardiovascular disease expert has told ABC-TV's current affairs program Four Corners that Merck & Co's anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx may have contributed to the deaths of many as 300 Australians from heart attack or stroke.

Clinical Cell Culture (C3, ASX:CCE) has received CE Mark approval from European certification authority and notified body SGS for its Recell medical device, clearing the way for first sales of the product to plastic and cosmetic surgeons.

Antisense Therapeutics (ASX:ANP) bowed to the inevitable today, announcing that it would halt the Phase IIa trial of its lead drug candidate for multiple sclerosis, ATL1102, following the withdrawal of Biogen Idec and Elan Pharmaceuticals' Tysabri from the market. However the Melbourne company has not yet terminated the project altogether.

Starpharma (ASX:SPL) has reported preliminary results from the Phase I clinical trial on its dendrimer-based vaginal microbicide indicate no adverse effects from the product in any of the women taking part in the trial.

The Royal Adelaide Hospital’s human ethics committee has approved an application by Perth biotech Solbec Pharmaceuticals (ASX:SBP) to conduct a Phase I clinical trial of the company’s lead anti-cancer compound, SBP002, as a potential treatment for the painful skin disorder psoriasis.

Origin Capital, an unlisted pooled development fund set up by TSL Group's Ross Dobinson and Michael Naphtali, has raised AUD$6.5 million in private equity for investment into three biotech ventures.

Melbourne immunotherapy developer Virax Holdings (ASX:VHL) has begun a pre-clinical trial of its novel candidate vaccine for late-stage prostate cancer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital Cancer Centre.

Brisbane-based biotechnology company Promics has completed a pilot study examining the safety of its lead anti-inflammatory drug PMX 53 as a topical treatment for psoriasis.

Melbourne biotech EpiTan Ltd (ASX: EPT) has announced "outstanding" results from the Phase IIb clinical of its experimental tanning drug Melanotan - and says the data could be the subject of new patent applications.

Melbourne-based biotech EpiTan has sealed a deal with stockbroking firm Intersuisse Corporate Pty Ltd to underwrite $2,500,000 worth of shares in the company.