The multicenter clinical trial is being conducted in the Republic of Georgia...Surface Logix, of Boston, said results of a Phase IIa clinical trial demonstrated that SLx-4090, a nonsystemically available microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor, caused clinically significant reductions in postprandial triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and was well tolerated...Tranzyme Pharma, of Research Triangle Park, N.C., said the FDA cleared its investigational new drug application for TZP-102, a second

closed an oversubscribed second round, adding £11 million (US$21.8 million) for expanding its portfolio of technologies aimed at regulating immune response and to accelerate ongoing clinical development programs in allergy...Kamada, which develops products based on its chromatographic purification technologies, recently concluded Phase I studies of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin, using the eFlow Electronic Nebulizer from PARI Pharma GmbH, in various lung diseases...Shares of Theratechnologies (TSX:TH) closed at

The Phase I study of Lipoxen's first product to enter clinical trials is being conducted in 12 healthy volunteers at the Federal State Center of Endocrinology in Moscow...N30 Pharma, of Boulder, Colo., said it successfully completed a Phase I study of N30-201, a compound being investigated to treat reactive and obstructive airway diseases, including cystic fibrosis and asthma...Trion Pharma GmbH, of Munich, Germany, said results of a Phase I trial showed that catumaxomab, a class of trifunctional

But many other biotech and big pharma options are in development, including Vivus Inc.'s Qnexa (phentermine and topiramate) and Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s lorcaserin hydrochloride, just to name a few...Net proceeds of $97.5 million will be used for clinical trials of the company's antibody-based cancer and autoimmune disease drugs. (See BioWorld Today, Jan. 22, 2008...Net proceeds of $166.7 million will be used for general corporate purposes.

LifeCycle Pharma AS, of Horsholm, Denmark, said interim results from a Phase II trial of the immunosuppressant LCP-Tacro in liver transplant patients indicated that the drug has better bioavailability and pharmacokinetics than Prograf (tacrolimus, Astellas Pharma Inc...Novagali Pharma, of Evry, France, said the FDA has approved its investigational new drug application to conduct a Phase I clinical trial of Nova63035, an ophthalmic injectable emulsion based on Eyeject technology containing a

The study also will measure the effect of Soliris on other clinical manifestations of PNH, including blood transfusion requirements, thromboses and kidney function...GTC's partner LEO Pharma A/S, of Ballerup, Denmark, has begun launching the product in Europe...MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., has initiated a Phase III clinical trial evaluating Unit Dose Budesonide (UDB), its nebulized version of budesonide, for the potential treatment of pediatric asthma

The firm kicked off a 2007 event by signing Wyeth Pharmaceuticals as its first major pharma partner to use its Alterase platform, a discovery platform designed to create engineered protease drug candidates across a range of disease areas...As part of the deal, the companies will apply the same molecular technology and clinical strategy Genomic Health used to develop its Oncotype DX breast cancer test...Ltd., of Ashiya, Japan, which was triggered when JCR filed notice to start clinical trials with

The obesity field is bursting with clinical trials, including Phase III programs for Orexigen Therapeutics Inc.'s Contrave (bupropion and naltrexone), Vivus Inc.'s Qnexa (phentermine and topiramate) and Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s lorcaserin hydrochloride, as well as several late-stage big pharma programs and a host of early- and mid-stage biotech trials...The money will allow Calistoga to advance two small-molecule, phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors into multiple clinical trials for

AspenBio Pharma Inc., of Castle Rock, Colo., closed its previously announced private placement, raising gross proceeds of $18.2 million through the sale of 2.5 million shares of common stock...Proceeds would be used for general corporate purposes, including clinical trials such as the ongoing Phase III study of recombinant plasma kallikrien inhibitor DX-88 (ecallantide) for hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Also in the works are plans to begin a Phase III clinical study of a twice-daily tramadol-acetaminophen combination formulation, a twice-daily acetaminophen formulation and a misuse-prevention platform...AspenBio Pharma Inc., of Castle Rock, Colo., entered into securities purchase agreements in connection with a private placement with a group of existing and new investors...The company said it will use the proceeds to advance its research in multiple myeloma with the goal of initiating a Phase I

Last month, Ardea also announced a clinical program testing RDEA806 in gout...Akela Pharma Inc., of St-Laurent, Quebec, said it will not go ahead with plans for a U.S...Proceeds will support clinical trials of the company's topical interferon-alpha-2b program as well as research on its urease-based lung cancer candidate

BioWorld Today Correspondent Santaris Pharma AS raised €20.4 million (US$29.4 million) in an investment round led by Gilde Healthcare Partners BV, which contributed €7.5 million to the total...Proceeds will be used to advance clinical and preclinical development of Deltanoid's vitamin D analogues...Titan is developing a pipeline of mid- to late-stage drugs for neurological and other disorders.

Clinical Data Inc., of Newton, Mass., said it started a long-term safety study ahead of schedule for vilazodone, a treatment for depression that acts both as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a 5-HT1A partial agonist...Nutra Pharma Corp., of Boca Raton, Fla., said its drug discovery arm, ReceptoPharm, successfully completed its six-month patient crossover in its Phase IIb/IIIa clinical trial of RPI-78M as a therapy for adrenomyeloneuropathy, a rare inherited metabolic disorder

In its prospectus, Anesiva said funds would support development work, such as clinical trials, and the company might also earmark a portion of the proceeds for acquisition of, or investment in complementary products or businesses...In other financings news: Ascendis Pharma A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, raised €17.6 million (US$25.7 million) in a Series A round led by Sofinnova Partners, of Paris, and co-led by Gilde Healthcare Partners, of the Netherlands, with participation by Zweite TechnoStart

Here are the latest clinical developments from the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology in Atlanta...Preliminary clinical activity observed in most subjects, including: reduction in spleen size of 33 percent to 100 percent in five of six patients evaluated...MGI Pharma Inc., of Minneapolis, provided a summary of the Dacogen (decitabine) for injection presentations, including five oral presentations, 11 poster presentations, and four publications

DuoCort Pharma AB, of Helsingborg, Sweden, said enrollment is complete in the pivotal Phase II/III clinical trial evaluating 5-mg and 20-mg DuoCort dual-release hydrocortisone tablets for the treatment of adrenal insufficiency - the inability of the body to produce sufficient amounts of the essential hormone cortisol...The Phase I/II clinical trial is expected to enroll approximately 120 NHL subjects who have undergone two or more prior therapies and have relapsed or refractory disease

Astion Pharma AS, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said it has started enrolling patients for three pivotal Phase III studies of ASF-1057 for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis, an inflammatory dermatological disease affecting the upper skin layers that is characterized by a red, greasy and scaly eczema that typically occurs on the face, chest or scalp...Epiphany Biosciences, of San Francisco, has begun a Phase II clinical trial with valomaciclovir (EPB-348) for the treatment and management of acute

LifeCycle Pharma A/S, of Horsholm, Denmark, started a Phase II trial with LCP-Tacro, an immunosuppressant to prevent organ rejection in liver transplant recipients...The clinical trial is expected to enroll up to 50 patients in up to 12 centers throughout the U.S. The company expects to report clinical trial results in the first half of 2008

LifeCycle Pharma A/S, of Horsholm, Denmark, started a Phase I trial of LCP-Siro, which contains the immunosuppressant sirolimus (Rapamune, Wyeth), in healthy volunteers...Sucampo Pharma Ltd., of Tokyo, a Japanese subsidiary of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc., initiated a Phase IIb study in Japan to evaluate lubiprostone in adult chronic idiopathic constipation...Supratek Pharma Inc., of Montreal, received a special protocol assessment from the FDA for a Phase III trial to compare SP1049C plus best