Sydney biosensor specialist Ambri (ASX:ABI) appeared to hit a setback last week, when the company announced that its US partner would no longer work to develop Ambri's ion-channel switch (ICS).

John Chiplin, the new CEO of Sydney biopharma Peptech (ASX:PTD), sees strong similarities between the state of Australia's biotechnology industry and California's nascent biotechnology industry in San Diego in the mid-1980s.

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.

Donald Home has resigned as CEO and managing director of Brisbane-based Agenix (ASX:AGX, NASDAQ:OTC:AGXLY) after four and a half years with the company.

Brad Calvin is to step down as chief operating officer of Agenix (ASX:AGX) today after the company decided not to renew his employment contract.

Brisbane-based Agenix (ASX:AGX, NASDAQ:OTC:AGXLY) has raised a total of AUD$10.3 million through a non-renounceable 1:4 entitlements offer.

Brisbane-based Agenix (ASX:AGX, NASDAQ:OTC:AGXLY) has lodged a prospectus for an underwritten non-renounceable rights issue to raise $9.85 million before costs.

Agenix (ASX:AGX, NASDAQ:OTC:AGXLY) has signed a multi-million dollar contract with US company Diosynth Biotechnology to begin the process of manufacturing its ThromboView blood clot imaging product for phase III clinical trials and commercial sale.

Probiotec, which bought Agenix' Milton Pharmaceuticals division earlier this year, has relocated from Brisbane to Victoria.

Rockeby Biomed (ASX:RBY) has lodged a prospectus to raise AUD$1.78 million through a non-renounceable one-for-one share rights issue. The issue price for each share is $0.01 and the company expects the capital to see it through to the end of financial year 2006.