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

division, Yamanouchi Pharma America Inc., of Paramus, N.J., to further advance the company’s global strategy for growth by increasing its presence in the U.S...Yamanouchi Pharma America is designed to bring the parent company’s products directly into the U.S

Thioplatin, licensed from the German Cancer Research Center, is designed to be more active than other platins in the more acidic environment found around tumors...CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc, of Cambridge, UK, and Bioglan Pharma plc, of Hertfordshire, UK, agreed to the termination of their collaboration in pain control and drug delivery, first agreed to in January 2000 and extended in April 2000

The study aims to use gene transfer technologies to provide a normal copy of the CF gene to correct the underlying defect of the disease

MediGene now plans to develop novel and more effective drugs for the treatment of specific cardiac diseases...The company plans to present its results at the World Congress of Dermatology in Paris in July...At the same time, Elan announced that UCB Pharma Inc., of Atlanta, will co promote Frova, which is due to be launched this quarter

to April 26. (See BioWorld Today, March 12, 2002.) Cephalon Inc., of West Chester, Pa., filed a marketing authorization application in the UK to expand the label of Provigil (modafinil) to treat excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea...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

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

Amgen expects to use proceeds to fund the purchase of approximately $650 million of its common stock and for general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, additional share repurchases, capital expenditures and working capital...Amgen may choose to pay the redemption purchase price in cash and/or common shares

BiTEs bind with one arm to a target cell, such as a cancer cell, and the other arm to a T cell, a “killer” cell from the patient’s own immune system...Compared to traditional antibodies, BiTE molecules are at least 10,000 times more efficient in target cell elimination,” Micromet Chief Scientific Officer Patrick Baeuerle said

Trials to evaluate the vaccine in humans are expected to begin next year...CollaGenex International Ltd., of Newton, Pa., a wholly owned subsidiary of CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc., appointed Dexcel-Dental, a division of Dexcel-Pharma Ltd., to handle selling Periostat tablets to the dental profession in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

Aventis Pharma, in turn, will provide funding for the Morphochem project team, as well as complementary research and preclinical development...The race to sequence the human genome generated fierce rivalry between the publicly funded HGP and Celera, but the two eventually agreed to a truce and declared a dead heat...Xerion plans to validate the protein’s function by knocking it out

4SC plans to build and screen virtual combinatorial libraries for novel compounds based on Wilex’s urokinase inhibitor, WX-293...Atugen expects to receive up-front and annual payments, as well as potential milestones and royalties...The company expects to employ more than 300 in the facility, which would be operated by Qiagen Sciences Inc., the company’s wholly owned U.S

In other news, ILEX completed the previously announced acquisition of the equity interests held by Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., in the companies’ 50-50 Campath joint venture, Millennium & ILEX Partners LP...It said in its prospectus it plans to use proceeds for research and development activities, including clinical studies, milestone and other payments payable under its strategic agreements, working capital and other general corporate purposes

Alkermes has the option to redeem preferred stock in cash or common stock at any time (4/15) AntexBiologics Inc...Hoechst Marion Roussel Inc. (subsidiary of Hoechst AG; Germany) 2 Achievement of 2nd milestone The companies entered an agreement in 11/95 to develop small-molecule drugs that block the activity of the Src protein for treating osteoporosis and other bone diseases...Abbott Laboratories 6.3 Milestone related to clinical development of Nyotran (injectable formulation of nystatin) Abbott made

Medarex plans to generate fully human antibodies to these GPCRs using its UltiMAb Human Antibody Development SystemSM...Scil in this field collaborates with academic partners from Halle University and with Halle-based ACGT ProGenomics AG, which was granted an additional DM1 million by the ministry. • SR Pharma plc, of London, entered a deal with Genesis Research and Development Co., of Auckland, New Zealand, to merge their existing eczema programs...Separately, SR Pharma is extending its neuroscience

and other national and international research agencies. • Hybridon Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said a study conducted by both itself and the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows antisense therapy can attack breast cancer and enhance the effects of standard chemotherapy...Financial details were not disclosed. • SkyePharma plc, of London, served notice to terminate all agreements with Bioglan Pharma plc, of Hertfordshire, UK, concerning the license of the product Solaraze for marketing in

LymphoStat-B, claimed to be the first antibody to a genomics-derived target to enter the clinic, was discovered and optimized as part of the CAT/HGS alliance agreement in 1999...The trial will be a multicenter, dose-escalation study in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and HGS said the drug might also be tested in other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. • CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc, of Cambridge, UK, said it is terminating the development and license agreement with

Changes to DNA methylation patterns may indicate, in advance, which patients could respond to treatment by MG98, Epigenomics said...Switch in this project plans to collaborate with the Ludwigs Maximilians University of Munich and Munich Technical University. • U3 Pharma AG, of Martinsried, Germany, said it is ready to start operations following a EUR5 million (US$4.53 million) first financing round

Atugen is expected to use its proprietary antisense technology, GeneBloc, to validate gene targets selected by AstraZeneca...The companies plan to jointly analyze the effects of the GeneBlocs in assays and animal models...Pharmacopeia will screen its chemical library of small molecules to identify compounds that will be effective in pre-expression inhibition of AChE-R. Pharmacopeia will receive funding for providing its research activities and will be entitled to additional payments upon