to the HIV drug Norvir (ritonavir), which is made by Abbott Laboratories, of Abbott Park, Ill. Norvir, the first HIV protease inhibitor to receive such scientific approval, would be indicated for use in combination with nucleoside analogues for adults with advanced or progressive disease. * Alkermes Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, of Beerse, Belgium, agreed to continue development of an injectable sustained release formulation of an undisclosed Janssen product using

Safety data from the 96-patient study showed the drug was well tolerated with mild to moderate side effects based on dosage...Gilead's most advanced drug is an injectable form of cidofovir, called Vistide, which is under review by the FDA and European Union for cytomegalovirus retinitis in AIDS patients. * SangStat Medical Corp., of Menlo Park, Calif., reacquired rights to pre-transplant monitoring products from Baxter Healthcare Corp., of Deerfield, Ill. Financial details were not disclosed

The company said the seven patients continued to receive the treatments for another month...The privately held start-up uses combinatorial biosynthesis to generate genetically engineered chemicals related to polypeptides, which are found in soil bacteria and are used to make antibiotics. * Novopharm Biotech Inc., of Toronto, received FDA approval to begin Phase I trials of NOVOMAb-G2, a human monoclonal antibody to an antigen present in numerous cancers...RILON technology targets messenger RNA to

COR is seeking approval to market the drug to help prevent acute cardiac ischemic complications in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. (See BioWorld Today, April 4, 1996, p. 1.) (c) 1997 American Health Consultants

HNK20 is designed to prevent RSV from progressing to viral pneumonia or bronchiolitis...COR is seeking approval to market the drug to help prevent acute cardiac ischemic complications in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. (See BioWorld Today, April 4, 1996, p.1.) (c) 1997 American Health Consultants

Neurex expects to file a new drug application for Corlopam during the second quarter of 1996 for blood pressure control in surgical procedures and for malignant hypertension...HNK20 is designed to prevent RSV from progressing to viral pneumonia or bronchiolitis

The company is developing anti-rejection drugs and organ transplantation systems. * Oxis International Inc., of Portland, Ore., raised $2 million through a private placement of two million shares of Series D preferred stock, together with warrants to purchase another 810,000 shares...The company is developing drugs and diagnostics to combat diseases associated with free radicals and reactive oxygen species. * The Liposome Co., of Princeton, N.J., received approval to market Abelcet (amphotericin

Immunex Corp., of Seattle, filed an application with the FDA to expand use of its chemotherapeutic agent, Novantrone (mitoxanthrone), for hormone-refractory prostate cancer

The drug is in Phase III trials and the equity investment, originally scheduled to coincide with presentation of clinical study results in December 1996, was part of a broader March 1995 agreement worth a potential $57 million to IDEC...The stock purchase completes Genentech's equity investment commitment under the collaboration. (See BioWorld Today, March 17, 1995 p. 1.) * Immunex Corp., of Seattle, filed an application with the FDA to expand use of its chemotherapeutic agent, Novantrone

Cambridge Biotech Corp., of Worcester, Mass., sold its reference laboratory business to Boston Biomedica Inc., of West Bridgewater, Mass...The laboratory provides confirmation testing for disorders, including HIV and Lyme disease, to hospitals, blood centers and other labs...for genital warts and is being evaluated for treatment of other diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis. (c) 1997 American Health Consultants

The company also received approval to market Abelcet in Ireland as a first-line treatment for systemic candidiasis and other fungal infections. * Tital Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., said its Theracell Inc...Theracell will obtain an exclusive license to the technology and invest at least $1.5 million over two years. * Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., signed an exclusive license and supply agreement with BioChem Therapeutic Inc., of Laval, Quebec, for development and

The company also received approval to market Abelcet in Ireland as a first-line treatment for systemic candidiasis and other fungal infections. * Tital Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., said its Theracell Inc...Theracell will obtain an exclusive license to the technology and investment at least $1.5 million over two years. * Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., signed an exclusive license and supply agreement with BioChem Therapeutic Inc., of Laval, Quebec, for development

The company is using an adenovirus vector modified to carry the cytosine deaminase gene, which expresses an enzyme that converts an antifungal agent into an antitumor agent at the site of expression. * HemaSure Inc., of Marlborough, Mass., acquired the plasma pharmaceutical business of Bagsvaerd, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk A/S. Raw materials will be paid for in cash or stock worth $1.8 million...NTC plans to make the technology available to companies on a non-exclusive basis. * OncoGenetics Inc

The company plans to discuss Phase III trial plans with the FDA. * GelTex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Waltham, Mass., proposed a public offering of 2.5 million shares at $22.75 each...Each partner retains rights to technology contributed and they have co-exclusive rights to data generated during the partnership. * ImmunoGen Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said data published in Blood showed its lead product, Oncolysin B, overcomes and eliminates multidrug resistance in tumors...Insmed is developing products

Since Biogen continued to receive the higher rate during the arbitration process it will not receive any payments as a result of the decision. * Chiron Corp., of Emeryville, Calif...Each partner retains rights to technology contributed and they have co-exclusive rights to data generated during the partnership. * ImmunoGen Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said data published in Blood showed its lead product, Oncolysin B, overcomes and eliminates multidrug resistance in tumors...Insmed is developing

Privately held Synteni was formed in 1994 to commercialize the technology under a license from Stanford University. * T Cell Sciences Inc., of Needham, Mass., licensed rights to portions of its complement receptor 1 technology to CytoTherapeutics Inc., of Providence, R.I., for use in CytoTherapeutics' cell-based products for delivery of substances to the central nervous system...CytoTherapeutics has non-exclusive rights to use CR1 in encapsulated-cell products

206 OTHER NEWS TO NOTE * NeoPharm Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill., said it received orphan drug status from the FDA for Idoxuridinc for treatment of cancers of the soft connective tissues around bones and organs

for genital warts and is in clinical development for other indications, such as HIV and hepatitis. * Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, settled its lawsuit with Pfizer Inc., of New York, over the former's claims to milestone payments and royalties associated with development of droloxifene for breast cancer and osteoporosis...New York University, which will contribute its biological discoveries on skin and hair problems, will have an option to acquire the other 4 percent of Anaderm and

for genital warts and is in clinical development for other indications, such as HIV and hepatitis. * Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, settled its lawsuit with Pfizer Inc., of New York, over the former's claims to milestone payments and royalties associated with development of droloxifene for breast cancer and osteoporosis...New York University, which will contribute its biological discoveries on skin and hair problems, will have an option to acquire the other 4 percent of Anaderm and