Chiron Corp. tipped the scales of profitability for the first quarter of 1993. The Emeryville, Calif., company (NASDAQ:CHIR) reported a net income of about $2.5 million, or 8 cents per share. The exact amount of the earnings per share (EPS) "exceeded the majority (of analysts') expectations, but they're right on target (for turning a profit)," said Greg Brown, a biotechnology analyst at Vector Securities International. Brown said he had been "looking for a 2-cent loss this quarter." But Eric
WASHINGTON -- Bert Vogelstein of Johns Hopkins University and two other researchers announced on Wednesday the discovery of a new gene that triggers colorectal cancer at a press conference at the American Association for the Advancement of Science here. Because the gene apparently triggers mutations that lead to cancer, it may also be responsible for cancers of the uterus, stomach, ovary, small intestine, gall bladder, kidney and ureter. "This development in three different laboratories, which
Genzyme Corp. announced that its diagnostics division has acquired the business assets of Omnia Res srl to form Genzyme srl, which will remain in Milan Italy. Omnia Res has been the sole distributor of Genzyme immunobiological and research products to the Italian market. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Just last week Genzyme (NASDAQ:GENZ) of Cambridge, Mass., acquired a German diagnostics company, Virotech System- Diagnostika GmbH of Russelsheim, for about $10 million. David
Preclinical studies of a class of adenosine regulating agents (ARAs) showed inhibition of cell adhesion molecules involved in accumulation of neutrophils at sites of inflammation, scientists from Gensia Pharmaceuticals Inc. reported Tuesday at the American Society of Clinical Investigators and American Federation for Clinical Research meetings in Washington, D.C. The studies examined inhibitors of adenosine kinase. Two agents, AKI-1 and AKI-2, significantly inhibited neutrophil adhesion to
Phase I safety data on an antisense oligonucleotide for treating genital warts were presented last week at the Sixth International Conference for Antiviral Research in Venice, Italy. The compound, ISIS 2105, is an antisense construct to human papilloma virus, the cause of genital warts, being developed by Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ISIP) of Carlsbad, Calif. It was the first injectable antisense drug to gain investigational new drug approval from the FDA. In the Phase I trials, ISIS 2105
Pharmakon Research International Inc., a pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacokinetic testing service, introduced Wednesday its first animal model that can be used to screen drugs for treating the glucose intolerance associated with Type II diabetes. The transgenic mouse, called Biodigm-IGT, has been genetically engineered to express elevated levels of insulin, the presence of which makes the mouse hyperinsulinemic and glucose- intolerant. The Biodigm transgenic mouse is proprietary to DNX
Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has received a patent for the composition and use of the first antibiotic isolated from within an animal's throat. The anti-microbial peptide, separated from tissue in a cow's trachea and purified, might play a role in defending the respiratory tract from germs. The Plymouth Meeting, Pa., company (NASDAQ:MAGN) has filed more than 40 related host-defense type patents, of which six have issued. The current patent, No. 5202420, "reinforces Magainin
Immunex Corp. (NASDAQ:IMNX) announced that the Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective the joint proxy and registration statement concerning its proposed merger with the Lederle Oncology Corp. subsidiary of American Cyanamid Co. (NYSE:ACY). Immunex shareholders must still vote their approval before the merger, first announced in December 1992, is completed. Shareholders of record in the Seattle company as of April 2 will get to cast their votes at a special meeting, scheduled
Hygeia Holdings Inc. announced that it has engaged Marleau, Lumire Securities Inc. for a private placement of its stock, which trades on the Vancouver Stock Exchange under the symbol HYG. Marleau Lumire will use its best efforts to place special warrants exercisable as a total of 2 million units at C$1.50 (U.S.$1.18) per unit, with the expectation that the common stock will then be listed on the Montreal Stock Exchange, said Ronald Brown, president and chief operating officer of the San Diego
Antisense drug developer Genta Inc. and ophthalmic drug delivery specialist InSite Vision announced Tuesday that they will join forces to formulate and test antisense compounds for anti-viral or anti-inflammatory ophthalmic applications. Genta of San Diego will contribute its Anticode compounds (both antisense and triple-strand constructs), which it is already researching for applications in dermatological or systemic treatments, according to chief executive officer Thomas Adams. And InSite of
WASHINGTON -- What separates the long-term survivors with HIV from those who succumb to AIDS? Lack of a single amino acid change and a lot of CD8 cells, Jay Levy, professor of medicine at the Cancer Research Institute of the University of California, San Francisco, told an audience Monday at the annual meeting of the American Federation for Clinical Research here. The virus goes through three stages of response to the patient's antibodies. In the first stage, antibodies neutralize the virus
Embrex Inc. announced today that Tyson Foods, the leading producer of broiler chickens worldwide, will convert 23 of its largest hatcheries from vaccinating newly hatched chicks manually to inoculating them in ovo via Embrex's automated egg injection system Inovoject. Initially, Tyson Foods will inoculate its broilers with a vaccine against Marek's disease, which is a viral affliction common in the U.S. poultry industry. If left untreated, it causes nervous systems tumors that make the birds
Four San Diego area biotechnology company CEOs and the head of California's Biomedical Industry Council conferred with key administration aides and legislators in separate meetings on Tuesday, mainly to raise the issue of drug pricing. "We were received extremely well," David Hale, chief executive officer of Gensia Pharmaceuticals Inc., told BioWorld. The biotechnology company executives focused on the need to avoid price controls on drugs. Concerns about price controls have devalued companies
Enzo Therapeutics Inc. received a new antisense patent on Tuesday that the company said enhances effectiveness of antisense constructs. The Farmingdale, N.Y., company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enzo Biochem Inc. (ASE:ENZ), holds exclusive worldwide rights to antisense technology from the Research Foundation of the State University of New York. The company was issued a similar patent in March. Patent No. 5,208,149, issued Tuesday, "just adds to our proprietary position," Barry Weiner
In what may be the first reported evidence that a vaccine can be used to effectively treat a chronic viral infection, researchers using a herpes simplex vaccine made by The Biocine Company reported Saturday that the treatment can significantly reduce the frequency of genital herpes outbreaks. Biocine is a joint venture of Chiron Corp. of Emeryville, Calif., and the Swiss pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy. Chiron's stock (NASDAQ:CHIR) rose sharply on the news Monday, gaining $3.75 a share to $58
Greenwich Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Monday that it has raised nearly $6 million from the sale of its equity securities. "These additional funds will be used primarily to accelerate our strategic sales and marketing efforts for Therafectin, which is being developed as a chronic treatment for rheumatoid arthritis," said Edwin Thompson, chief executive officer of the Fort Washington, Pa., company. Greenwich Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:GRPI) submitted a new drug application (NDA) on Therafectin
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Monday that it is expanding its program to discover and develop novel anti- cancer therapeutics. Through its agreement with the National Cancer Institute, the San Diego company now has access to samples in the NCI's Natural Products Repository, a collection of about 70,000 extracts of plants, fungi, marine invertebrates and other microorganisms. Ligand (NASDAQ:LGNDA) will screen those samples for novel anti-cancer drugs. "Initially, we will use Ligand's
WASHINGTON -- In the largest study of clot-busters ever conducted, Genentech Inc.'s tissue plasminogen activator (t- PA), given in combination with heparin, statistically saved one more heart attack patient per 100 than the much less expensive streptokinase. "I think it's a wonderful day, mostly for heart attack patients," David Stump, Genentech's senior director of clinical research, told BioWorld. "We have seen a definitive result which is going to save as many as 2,000 (U.S.) lives per year
MedChem Products Inc. announced last week that common stock of its spinoff, Anika Research Inc., will begin trading today on the Nasdaq small-cap market under the symbol ANIK. As a result of the spinoff, Anika will have approximately 3.1 million shares of common stock outstanding. All shares will be distributed to MedChem shareholders on the basis of 0.3 shares of Anika for every share of MedChem (NYSE:MCH) owned. As part of the spinoff, Anika will receive approximately $5.9 million in cash as
Published March 31 & April 7 (EPO); April 7 (WO) Mass. General Hosp. Blocking T cell/ Boston B cell binding Inactivating B cells and T cells in a patient by administering a soluble protein comprising part of CD22b that binds to a T cell ligand. Mass. General Hosp. Recombinant WO 93/06230 Boston annexin XI DNA molecules, transformed hosts, which express annexin XI polypeptide, a potential anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant. Medical Res. Council Humanizing hybrid WO 93/06213 London antibodies
Chiron Corp. tipped the scales of profitability for the first quarter of 1993. The Emeryville, Calif., company (NASDAQ:CHIR) reported a net income of about $2.5 million, or 8 cents per share. The exact amount of the earnings per share (EPS) "exceeded the majority (of analysts') expectations, but they're right on target (for turning a profit)," said Greg Brown, a biotechnology analyst at Vector Securities International. Brown said he had been "looking for a 2-cent loss this quarter." But Eric