MGI Pharma said that irofulven already has shown “profound” antitumor activity when combined with other agents, which prompted it to launch Phase I studies of the drug candidate with other approved agents such as Campostar (irinotecan), Taxotere (docetaxel) and cisplatin...In other news, the company reported first-quarter earnings that showed its revenues decreased 23 percent to $5.8 million in the first quarter of 2002, down from $7.6 million in 2001’s first quarter

Axcan Pharma Inc., of Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, filed a marketing authorization application with the Evaluation of Medicinal Products Agency in Europe for the use of its photodynamic therapy, Photobarr (porfimer sodium), in high-grade dysplasia associated with Barrett’s esophagus...Yamanouchi Pharma America is designed to bring the parent company’s products directly into the U.S

At the same time, Elan announced that UCB Pharma Inc., of Atlanta, will co promote Frova, which is due to be launched this quarter

plc, of Dublin, Ireland, after Elan chose UCB Pharma Inc., of Smyrna, Ga., as Elan’s co-promotion partner for Frova (frovatriptan), a migraine drug, in the U.S. Vernalis will no longer be required to repay the principle and interest on the loan

Advanced Tissue also said it is exploring opportunities to create other subsidiaries and to create new alliances and initiatives to unlock longer-term product opportunities

Bioxel Pharma Inc., of Quebec, said it entered an agreement with PolyGene Ltd., of Israel, to collaborate in the development of paclitaxel-based polymer implants for treating solid tumors...Corus Pharma Inc., of Seattle, said Corus 1020 was granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for inhalation therapy to control Gram-negative bacteria in the respiratory tract of patients with cystic fibrosis

Antares Pharma Inc., of Exton, Pa., and MacroMed Inc., of Salt Lake City, entered into a technology and business development collaboration...MGI Pharma Inc., of Minneapolis, initiated a Phase I trial of irofulven, its anticancer compound, in combination with the antitumor agent cisplatin, in patients with advanced solid tumors

In the new two-year agreement, Coley will provide Aventis Pharma with CpG product candidates optimized to redirect hypersensitive immune responses into more normal responses...The CpG oligos are in addition to CpG 7929, the lead molecule licensed exclusively to Aventis Pharma in a previous agreement between the two companies. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 7, 2001.) Collateral Therapeutics Inc., of San Diego, entered an option agreement to license exclusive worldwide gene therapy rights from the

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, was paid $6 million by Royalty Pharma AG, of Schaffhausen, Switzerland, in exchange for a right to receive 0.25 percent of net sales of three late-stage selective estrogen receptor modulator products for a period of 10 years...Prescient NeuroPharma Inc., of Toronto, sold its 60 percent ownership in Precision Biochemicals Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IGT Pharma Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, to BIRC Corp., also of Vancouver

Newport Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Dublin, Ireland, agreed to extend its North American distribution agreement for Imunovir (inosine pranobex) with Rivex Pharma Inc., a subsidiary of Helix BioPharma Corp., of Aurora, Ontario

Biophage Pharma Inc., of Montreal, entered an agreement to research and commercialize pharmaceutical applications of immune modulators owned by Biopolymer Engineering Inc., of Eagan, Minn., in the prevention of a variety of biological agents, including anthrax, smallpox, plague and brucellosis

A.P. Pharma Inc., of Redwood City, Calif., said it completed its initial Phase I study with APF 112, its product for the treatment of post-surgical pain...MGI Pharma Inc., of Minneapolis, and MethylGene Inc., of Montreal, began a clinical trial of MG98, a second-generation antisense inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase

Aton Pharma Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., named Nicholas Bacopoulos its CEO and president, effective Feb. 1...Aton Pharma is a privately held drug discovery and development company looking to create therapies for cancer and other diseases

Altachem Pharma Ltd., of Edmonton, Alberta, is in negotiations with respect to a non-brokered private placement of up to 9 million units at a minimum price of C$1.10 per unit, each unit consisting of one common share and one warrant, for an aggregate consideration of C$9.9 million (US$6.2 million...NeoPharm said Pharmacia stated it “remains fully committed to the development of LEP,” and also is interested in exploring the possibility of licensing other NeoPharm products

Bioxel Pharma Inc., of Quebec, closed a private placement of 789,474 units for gross proceeds of C$600,000 (US$375,751...Other major investors were Industrial Bank of Taiwan, Chiao Tung Bank Co

baseline during treatment. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 1, 2001.) Sankyo Pharma Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., said its research and development division, Sankyo Pharma Development, and MDS Pharma Services, a part of MDS Inc., of Toronto, entered a partnership in which MDS Pharma Services will build and manage a clinical pharmacology unit for Sankyo Pharma Development

centers. • MGI Pharma Inc., of Minneapolis, expanded its ongoing Phase II trial of irofulven, its novel anticancer compound, for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (inoperable liver cancer...Nymox is working to develop treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and other indications using its drug-screening technology. • Oncolytics Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, released interim Phase I results for Reolysin, a potential cancer therapeutic for RAS-activated cancers

The agreement involves validation of MultiCell’s immortalized liver cells to predict, among other things, the toxicological and therapeutic properties of drug candidates...It also said Daniel Petree, partner and co-founder of P2 Partners LLC, joined the company’s board of directors. • Supratek Pharma Inc., of Montreal, said enrollment is under way for a Phase II trial of its lead oncology product, SP1049C, for adenocarcinoma of the esophagus

The net proceeds from this financing will be used primarily to finance scientific research and experimental development of its technologies. • MGI Pharma Inc., of Minneapolis, presented data on irofulven, the company’s anticancer compound, at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium in New York City on Wednesday...Other issues identified in the approvable letter were addressed in the company’s response submitted to the FDA on Oct. 9