BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC) has reduced its shareholding in Clinical Cell Culture (ASX:CCE, C3) from about 19 per cent to 12 per cent.

The Australian Stock Exchange has created a market that attracts not only local biotechnology companies, but also gives opportunities to foreign companies that would be unable to attract capital in their own markets. Helen Schuller reports.

Prof Vicki Sara has been appointed as director of the Australian Stem Cell Centre and will replace inaugural chairman Robert Moses when he relinquishes the role he has held for three years at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 22. Sara is the chancellor of the University of Technology, Sydney, a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering and a former head of the Australian Research Council.

Stem Cell Sciences (AIM:STEM, SCS) has signed a licensing agreement with US-based drug discovery tools and services provider Deltagen for use of its patented internal ribosome entry sites (IRES) technology.

Unlisted imaging company XRT, an investee of BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC), has secured new investment funds from a syndicate of UK investors including an undisclosed institutional group.

BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC) investee Stem Cell Sciences has been awarded an exclusive license to a new patented technology to derive and grow neural stem cells.

BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC) investee Stem Cell Sciences (SCS) has been granted additional claims to the 'stem cell selection' patented technology by the US Patent and Trademark Office.

BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC) investee company Continence Control Systems International (CCS) has commenced patient recruitment for its severe urinary incontinence treatment, following completion of pre-clinical studies and human ethics approval for human implants.

Business development and seed finance company Biocomm Services and Monash University, through Monash Commercial, have established CNSBio -- a new Melbourne-based company focused on the research and treatment of pain associated with cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Despite terrorist attacks in London last week, BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC) investee company Stem Cell Sciences has raised £6 million (approximately AUD$14 million) as part of its initial public offering and listing on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

Biotech Capital (ASX:BTC) investee company Stem Cell Sciences is looking to raise up to £10 million on London's Alternative Investment Market (AIM).