WASHINGTON -- James Watson is on the verge of resigning as director of the National Center for Human Genome Research, in part because of allegations that his holdings in several biotechnology companies may violate conflict of interest rules, according to an article that will be published tomorrow in Science. Watson, who is not quoted in the article, was unavailable for comment. However, Leslie Fink, a spokeswoman for the genome center, told BioWorld that "I can't dispute" reports that he is
Gensia Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Wednesday that it is beginning Phase III trials of its GenESA System to diagnose patients with coronary artery disease. The trials, to be conducted at about 60 medical centers in the United States, Europe and Canada, will test the system as an adjunct to electrocardiography, echocardiography and radionuclide imaging. GenESA combines the drug arbutamine and a computer- controlled drug delivery system designed to pharmacologically stress the heart. A primary use
The AMEX Biotechnology Index lost 0.30 points Wednesday to 159.12. Centocor shares (NASDAQ:CNTO) added $3 to Tuesday's $1 gain, while units of its Tocor II R&D spinoff (NASDAQ:TOCRZ) gained $1.50 to $26.50. Genetics Institute Inc. (NASDAQ:GENIZ) fell $1.50 to $26.50 after reporting an anticipated $30 million charge related to its merger with American Home Products Corp. GI said it lost $1.73 per share in its first quarter ended Feb. 29, compared with a $1.20 loss in 1991. Other stocks were mixed
Austria has become the first country to give marketing approval to Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.'s HIVID treatment for HIV-positive, ARC and AIDS patients, the company announced Wednesday. Austria approved the use of the drug, also known as ddC (dideoxycytidine), as an alternative to AZT for patients who do not respond to AZT or who are AZT-intolerant. ddC also could be used as a first-line treatment for AIDS and ARC in combination with AZT, said company spokesman Paul Oestreicher. About 5,000 cases
A gene candidate previously linked with high blood pressure has been ruled out by research reported in a new journal, Nature Genetics. In October, researchers at Genmark Inc. and colleagues reported in Nature that they had found that a locus on chromosome 10 in rats influences blood pressure. Comparing rat and human chromosomal maps, the researchers identified the gene for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) as a candidate for the hypertension-linked gene. However, researchers at the
A potential rival to biotechnology anti-clotting agents is low- molecular weight heparin, which is as effective and possibly safer than traditional heparin, according to a large clinical trial reported today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Novo Nordisk of Denmark contributed funding for the multicenter trial of its Logiparin, an enzymatic product of conventional heparin. In a randomized study of patients with clots in leg blood vessels, the low-weight heparin showed a 60 percent lower
Centocor Inc. shares rose $1 to $30.50 on Tuesday after First Boston analyst Jeffrey Swarz predicted that FDA marketing approval of Centoxin is very near. "We strongly believe all the FDA questions have been resolved to the FDA's satisfaction and that the FDA focused on two issues: absorption of Centoxin in the blood in an animal model and enrollment of patients in the Phase III study from one medical center," Swarz wrote. "We believe that both of these issues have been resolved to the FDA's
Biotechnology stocks took a beating on Tuesday, along with the rest of the stock market. Declines in the sector were widespread, with top-tier and second- and third-tier stocks falling. The AMEX Biotechnology Stock Index fell 3.7 percent to 159.42, a loss of 6.12 points. The Dow Jones Industrials fell 61.94 points to 3213.55, a 1.9 percent decline. Among the hardest hit were Synergen Inc. (NASDAQ:SYGN), losing $4.25 to $39.25; Deprenyl USA (NASDAQ:DUSAU), whose units dropped $4 to $23; and
HemaCare Corp. on Tuesday said the FDA has approved orphan designation for its Immupath passive hyperimmune therapy, an anti-HIV therapy based on human blood plasma. Immupath is made from human blood containing large quantities of antibodies to the p24 antigen of the virus, according to company Chairman Thomas Asher. The p24-rich blood is taken from asymptomatic patients who have been infected with the virus. The blood is then sterilized, pooled and infused into patients with symptomatic AIDS
Roberta Friedman, Ph.D. Special to BioWorld Scientists at Advanced Tissue Sciences Inc. reported on Tuesday a method to isolate and propagate stem cells that involves magnetic particles coated with antibodies. Stem cells, which can generate all the cells of the blood, were isolated from rat bone marrow by a monoclonal antibody that recognizes a cell surface marker called Thy 1.1. The isolation technique involved immunomagnetic microspheres, tiny magnetic particles coated with antibodies. After
Cephalon Inc. on Tuesday said it has started Phase I European trials of Myotrophin, its recombinant insulin-like growth factor treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Preclinical studies indicate that Myotrophin IGF-1 stimulates the growth of and enhances the survival and/or functioning of spinal cord motor neurons, said spokeswoman Nicole Vitullo. The protein, normally found in muscle, is supplied to Cephalon by Sibia Inc. Cephalon hopes to submit Phase I data and an investigational new
Immunomedics Inc. on Tuesday said it has been issued U.S. patent No. 5,101,827 for methods of imaging normal organs and lymph nodes with a radioactively labelled antibody or antibody fragment in order to detect tumors or infectious lesions. Unlike imaging techniques that use antibodies targeted to specific tumor, cancer or infected cells, the patented hybridoma technique selects antibodies that target certain normal organs or tissue cells, said spokesman Joe Schepers. Once these antibodies
ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corp. on Monday announced that Merck & Co. has opted to extend a collaborative research program aimed at identifying and designing HLA blockers as potential treatments for autoimmune diseases. The initial agreement, which committed Merck to fund the ImmuLogic research effort through this September, with options for two one-year extensions, has been renewed through September 1993. Under the agreement, Merck retains the option to extend the program for an additional year
The European Patent Office has rejected a challenge to a patent covering non-radioactively labeled nucleic acids that underlies many of Enzo Biochem Inc.'s DNA-based probe products, Enzo announced on Monday. Amersham International plc lodged its opposition to Enzo's European Patent No. 0 063 879 last May, claiming that the invention had already been disclosed in scientific literature, according to Enzo spokeswoman Carol Dempster. Enzo received the patent in 1989. With the decision, Enzo has
Organogenesis Inc. announced on Monday that it has signed a letter of understanding for an exclusive marketing agreement for its Testskin in vitro testing products with Toyobo Co. Ltd. of Japan. The agreement grants Toyobo exclusive marketing rights to sell Testskin and related contract testing services in Japan. Organogenesis will get undisclosed royalty payments. The understanding includes an initial test marketing phase, after which the companies will enter into a long-term marketing
A human protein that regulates blood clotting, usually present in trace amounts, is being secreted in quantity in the milk of transgenic pigs, a Virginia Polytechnic Institute scientist reported Monday. The American Red Cross is collaborating on the transgenic pig work and will help the Institute commercialize Protein C, chemical engineer William Velander told BioWorld. Protein C, discovered in the 1970s, is a complicated protein that depends on the liver's adequate supply of vitamin K for
Immunex Corp. reported Monday that two of its soluble cytokine receptors were found to work better than either alone in a rat model of arthritis. Soluble TNF receptor and the receptor for IL-1 reduced histopathology indices of joint swelling, and in combination reduced the index even further, the Seattle-based company told BioWorld. Cindy Jacobs, assistant director for clinical affairs, said the control score of 17 to 18 for pathologic changes in the animals' joints was lowered to 12 or 13 by
Gynex Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday that it will begin within 30 days Phase II trials of Oxandrin to treat AIDS patients suffering from HIV-associated muscle weakness. Both the virus and AZT, a drug commonly used to treat AIDS patients, can cause muscle weakness. Oxandrin (oxandrolone) is a testosterone analog that acts on androgenic receptor sites on muscle cells, causing growth of muscle cells, said Stephen Simes, president of the Vernon Hills, Ill., company. The drug also has anti
A new method to detect colon cancer may be the first fruit of a three-way collaboration among Pharmagenics Inc., Hoffmann LaRoche and cancer gene researchers at Johns Hopkins University. The Hopkins researchers reported last week in Science that they have identified in fecal samples the altered DNA that is associated with half of colon cancers. The feat is remarkable given the vast amount of bacterial DNA that is found in the feces, said Michael I. Sherman, president and CEO of Pharmagenics
Transkaryotic Therapies Inc. on Monday said it has received a non-exclusive license for the gene for a blood clotting protein, Factor IX, from British Technology Group plc. The license covers use of the gene in non-viral DNA gene transfer, according to K. Michael Forrest, Transkaryotic president and chief executive officer. The privately held Cambridge, Mass., company will make undisclosed up-front and royalty payments. Forrest said Transkaryotic will incorporate the gene into its proprietary
WASHINGTON -- James Watson is on the verge of resigning as director of the National Center for Human Genome Research, in part because of allegations that his holdings in several biotechnology companies may violate conflict of interest rules, according to an article that will be published tomorrow in Science. Watson, who is not quoted in the article, was unavailable for comment. However, Leslie Fink, a spokeswoman for the genome center, told BioWorld that "I can't dispute" reports that he is