Perth based BioPharmica (ASX:BPH) has opened a share purchase plan to raise AUD$2.5 million to fund the development of its portfolio of biomedical research.

Artificial heart firm HeartWare (ASX:HTW) has been granted its first regulatory approval to commence human implants of the HVAD left ventricular assist device from the Austrian Ministry of Health.

Narhex Life Sciences (ASX:NLS) has formed a new scientific advisory board, following Prof John Mills' appointment last week as managing director, replacing founder John Majewski, and the relocation of the company's head office to Melbourne.

The 'H' in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) could stand just as well for Hydra, the multi-headed monster of Greek myth. By the time the human immune system has decapitated one strain of the virus, it has spawned a host of novel mutants. Mutants proliferate because natural selection endowed the virus with a dodgy reverse transcriptase enzyme that introduces random errors into the genetic blueprints of newly replicated virus particle.

Bioengineers at Royal Perth Hospital, in Western Australia, are part of an international team using computer algorithms developed for fighting spam at a very different enemy: HIV, the forerunner of AIDS.

Plastic surgeon Prof Fiona Wood, co-founder of Perth-based biotech Clinical Cell Culture (ASX:CCE), has been honoured for her role in developing a living spray-on skin to treat burns victims by being named the 2005 Australian of the Year.

Ventracor (ASX:VCR) has begun a global trial of its VentrAssist device, with the implant of a patient suffering congestive heart failure at Royal Perth Hospital.