The board said talks with prospective robotics and defence partners have convinced it that the sensor business is worth more than its established clinical, sport and workplace markets suggest.

Citing the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, BCAL says 48 per cent of women aged 50 to 74 skip routine breast screening. "Most cancers are still found once symptoms appear, when treatment options are narrower and costlier," the presentation says.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has granted Telix Pharmaceuticals Fast Track designation for its BiPASS program. The decision could shorten the path to market for a scan designed to help men avoid prostate biopsies they may not need.

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals has entered voluntary administration. The Melbourne drug developer made the move after an interim result halted its Phase 3 trial, and now hopes to restructure its debts while assessing what the trial data can still offer.

Dr Bremer said he was taking over at a pivotal moment. "Neurizon has established a strong foundation around NUZ-001, with an advanced clinical program and an international network spanning clinical development, regulatory, manufacturing and scientific capabilities," he said.

Chief executive Gary Phillips said the expansion would strengthen the results. "We are pleased with the strong engagement from participants and clinical sites in the SNT-9465 Phase 1b study."

Melbourne cryopreservation company Vitrafy Life Sciences has signed its third partnership with a US civilian blood network. It is the first of the three built around platelets, the fragile blood component whose seven-day shelf life leaves hospitals short of supply.

The body representing Australia's life sciences workforce says it supports the Government's push to simplify the Research and Development Tax Incentive, but also warns that one planned change could move the regulatory and safety work behind clinical trials out of the country.

AUScelerate chief executive Stuart Dignam said the grants arrived as early-stage companies struggled to raise money without giving up equity.

Nexsen has announced plans to enter the hospital market for Group B Streptococcus testing with a test that already has a European CE mark, rather than building its own molecular test.

Memphasys believes it has found a quicker, cheaper way to get its Felix sperm separation system cleared by US regulators. It could open a door to an IVF market worth about US$5.9 billion.

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals has suffered a setback after an independent monitoring board found that its Phase 3 knee osteoarthritis trial failed to meet the efficacy threshold required to continue.

Melbourne kidney disease drug developer Dimerix has drawn $17 million from a $34 million loan facility as its lead candidate goes through a pivotal Phase 3 trial.

The final visit took place in the United States this week. The company told investors that topline results from the XanaMIA phase 2b/3 trial remain on track for November.

Prescient Therapeutics has raised $6 million from shareholders and investors. The money will fund its lead cancer drug through a December dosing review and into the next stage of clinical development.

Seven Australian startups will share $15.6 million to speed up the development of new treatments, diagnostic tools and technologies for dementia and cognitive decline.

Perth company Patrys has started in-human testing of its intravenous version of the antipsychotic quetiapine. The first healthy volunteers have now been dosed in a Phase 1a trial of the drug, known as RLS-2202.