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.

Brisbane's Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) has enrolled the last of 60 Australian patients for its Phase IIa clinical trial of its topical PEP005 treatment for actinic keratoses (AKs) -- pre-cancerous, dry, scaly areas of sun-damaged skin.

Peplin Biotech's (ASX:PEP) half-year results have revealed a AUD$13 million cash balance -- enough, the company says, to complete three Phase II clinical trials of its skin cancer treatment PEP005.

French-based clinical trial contractor Cvitkovic and Associates Consultants (CAC) will take equity in Brisbane cancer-drug developer Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) and establish a 'dedicated operation' in Australia.

Shares in Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) jumped today when the company announced that full analysis of the data from its Phase I safety and tolerability trial had provided "hugely exciting" results: in 40 per cent of cases, a single application of its PEP005 topical gel for pre-cancerous skin 'sunspots' completely or substantially cleared the volunteers' actinic keratoses (AK), compared with 15 per cent for placebo patients.

Brisbane cancer-drug developer Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) is preparing to run a phase II trial of its promising skin-cancer drug PEP005 early next year, after completing a multi-centre, Phase I safety trial in US volunteers with actinic keratoses.

Brisbane based Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) has called a halt to trading shares on the ASX for at least a week, telling shareholders to expect a major announcement.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted Peplin Biotech (ASX: PEP) a patent protecting the broad anti-cancer activity of its angeloyl-substituted ingenanes - a class of molecules which includes its lead molecule PEP005.

Peplin Biotech (ASX:PEP) has claimed its lead molecule PEP005 has shown highly selective activity against acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) in pre-clinical studies.

Dr Lisa McIntyre, the head of LEK Consulting's Asia-Pacific life sciences practice, has joined the board of Sydney-based pooled development fund BioTech Capital (ASX:BTC).

Brisbane-based Peplin Biotech (ASX: PEP) announced today that its US partner Allergan had filed two amended IND applications with the FDA for Peplin's PEP005, a topical formulation for skin cancer treatment.