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

* Sequus Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., said Amphocil, which is a combination of the anti-fungal amphotericin B and the company's lipid-based drug delivery system, was cleared for marketing in Sweden as a second-line treatment for systemic mycoses. Amphocil is approved in 10 countries outside the U.S. and is under review by the FDA. * U.S. Bioscience Inc., of West Conshohocken, Pa., said stockholders approved a one-for-two reverse split of the company's stock. (c) 1997 American

Terms were not disclosed. * Genetrix Inc., of Phoenix, a genetic testing laboratory, voted in favor of allowing Genzyme Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., to acquire it for $36.7 million in Genzyme stock...Oncogene Science also sold 500,000 shares to BioChem Pharma Inc., of Laval, Quebec, lifting the amount of the recent financing to about $30.6 million. * Sequus Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., said Amphocil, which is a combination of the anti-fungal amphotericin B and the company's lipid

Additional analysis of the findings is being conducted to determine if some groups of patients benefited from the vaccine more than others...Oncogene Science also sold 500,000 shares to BioChem Pharma Inc., of Laval, Quebec, lifting the amount of the recent financing to about $30.6 million. * Sequus Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., said Amphocil, which is a combination of the anti-fungal amphotericin B and the company's lipid-based drug delivery system, was cleared for marketing in

MedImmune will pay license fees, make milestone payments and contribute royalties to Rockefeller in return for rights to use genes identified by the university's researchers. * Neoprobe Corp., of Dublin, Ohio, entered an agreement with Peptor Ltd., of Israel, to form a joint venture for development of radiolabeled forms of Peptor's peptide analogues for detection and treatment of cancer

MedImmune will pay license fees, make milestone payments and contribute royalties to Rockefeller in return for rights to use genes identified by the university's researchers. * Neoprobe Corp., of Dublin, Ohio, entered an agreement with Peptor Ltd., of Israel, to form a joint venture for development of radiolabeled forms of Peptor's peptide analogues for detection and treatment of cancer

and Mexico to open soon. * IMRE Corp., now of San Diego, settled a patent infringement claim regarding the Prosorba column...Also, IMRE said it received stockholder approval to change its name to Cypress Bioscience Inc. * Neomecs Inc., of Minneapolis, received a $750,000 small business innovation research grant from the National Center for Human Genome Research for a continuing study aimed at increasing the sensitivity and usefulness of DNA probes in diagnostic and research applications

Protein A is used to purify monoclonal antibodies and the Allegro unit provides preclinical and Phase I/II testing materials. * Seragen Inc., of Hopkinton, Mass., licensed patents to Sandoz Ltd., of Basel, Switzerland, covering monoclonal antibodies to the interleukin-2 receptor for treatment of organ transplant rejection and other immune system disorders