Advanced Tissue Sciences (ATS) reported at a recent Montgomery Securities meeting in New York that it plans to take its expertise in growing human skin, bone and cartilage into the realm of facial reconstruction. The La Jolla, Calif., company (NASDAQ:ATIS) plans to take "a whole new approach to wound healing" by combining its core tissue-growing technology with computer contour mapping techniques to reconstruct the faces of children born with abnormalities, said Arthur Benvenuto, ATS's chairman
SAN FRANCISCO -- Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, have developed a new analytical technique -- comparative genomic hybridization -- to identify DNA defects in breast cancer cells. Researchers Anne and Olli Kallioniemi have pinpointed chromosomal regions of abnormal DNA in breast cancer cells from 32 different tumors. Speaking today at the American Society of Human Genetics meeting here, the research team explained that the actual number of abnormal chromosomal regions
North American Biologicals Inc. (NABI) and Abbott Laboratories announced the complete transfer from Abbott to NABI of all rights and assets associated with HIV immune globulin (HIVIG), an experimental immune globulin that may prevent the transmission of AIDS from HIV-positive mothers to unborn infants. HIVIG is prepared from the plasma of HIV antibody- positive healthy donors who have a strong immune response to the virus. This completes the October transaction in which NABI (NASDAQ:NBIO) also
Published Oct. 14 & 21 (EPO) and Oct. 15 (WO ) BioWorldLs weekly European patent preview lists in alphabetical order by assignee, and briefly summarizes, all salient biotechnology patent applications as they are made public in Europe. European patent offices publish full texts of patent applications worldwide within six months of their filing, and months to years before the corresponding U.S. patent issues. Two organizations comprise the European system: -- The European Patent Office (EPO
Clonetics Corp. recently introduced its enhanced NeutralRed Bioassay for in vitro toxicity testing, a normal human cell culture method that provides an alternative to animal testing. The new version, called NeutralRed Bioassay PreSeeded (NRB- PS), used to screen for ocular irritancy, dermal irritancy and drug toxicity, can reduce assay time by 50 percent and enhances testing accuracy and economy, with less potential for user error. The PreSeeded version is an assay that comes with cells pre
Scios Nova Inc. elected Richard L. Casey chairman of its board of directors. Casey, who is president and chief executive officer of the Mountain View, Calif., company, succeeds John W. Cullingan, who is retiring from the board. Richard Mamelok was named vice president and medical director at Liposome Technology Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif. Mamelok was senior director, pharmacodynamic research at Alza Corp. Peter Hylands was named vice president and chief scientist of the Phytopharmaceuticals Inc
Bio-Technology General Corp. (BTG) announced Tuesday that it has formed a new European marketing agreement with the Ferring Group of Sweden for BTG's human growth hormone (hGH), replacing a similar agreement formed in 1988 with SmithKline Beecham (SKB). BTG of New York formally terminated its agreement with SKB on Monday following a mutual decision announced in July to end the pact. According to company spokeswoman Leah Berkovitz, SKB wanted to bring in a sublicensee to market BTG's hGH in
Gynex Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Tuesday that FDA had approved its treatment investigational new drug (IND) application for using Oxandrin to treat Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder in females that results in short stature and lack of sexual development. Published data indicate that Oxandrin (oxandrolone), used alone or in combination with growth hormone, may significantly improve the growth rate of Turner syndrome patients, the Vernon Hills, Ill., company (NASDAQ:GYNX) said. "The
Oncor Inc. said it has acquired American Innovision (AI) to develop AI's image analysis systems in conjunction with Oncor's DNA probe tests for the detection of cancer and other genetic diseases. According to Rod Dausch, Oncor's chief financial officer, the deal consisted of a stock transaction worth $3 million. Oncor (NASDAQ:ONCR) of Gaithersburg, Md., will retain AI, a privately held, San Diego-based company founded in 1984, as a wholly owned subsidiary. The combination of technologies
Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Tuesday that it will receive its U.S. patent on antisense oligonucleotide inhibitors of HIV. Patent No. 5,166,195 covers phosphorothiate oligonucleotide compositions designed to selectively bind to RNA encoding the HIV tat protein (trans-activator), whose role is to stimulate transcription. Thus, the antisense constructs block replication of the virus and the 5' leader sequence. "The tat protein ... is crucial in the life cycle of the AIDS virus," said
Helminthosporium carbonum is a fussy fungus that attacks only one small, oddball proportion of Zea mays -- corn -- that happens to have no built-in resistance to the specific fungal toxin it releases. Plant pathologist Steven P. Briggs at Pioneer-Hi-Bred International Inc. of Johnston, Iowa, has uncovered the molecular genetics that drive that toxin, and the mechanism that most breeds of maize deploy to resist it. His paper in last Friday's Science tells the story: "Reductase Activity Encoded
Xenova Ltd. announced Monday that it signed two drug discovery agreements focusing on plants used in Chinese traditional medicine with the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD) in Beijing and the Institute of Botany in Kunming. Xenova will receive plant extracts and phytochemicals from both institutes for a wide range of disease-specific screening tests, and will collaborate with the researchers to evaluate promising drug leads. Trevor Twose, Xenova's director of corporate planning
ProCyte Corp. announced Tuesday that it is expanding Phase I/II clinical trials on its peptide-copper drug to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The drug, Iamin-IB, apparently promotes an anti-inflammatory response and induces growth of epithelial tissue, both of which are important to healing. In preliminary trials, Iamin-IB was administered in a retention enema to patients whose disease did not respond to conventional IBD treatments. The clinical investigator recommended expanding the
Biotech industry participants and observers are cautiously optimistic about biotech's future under the Clinton/Gore administration. But they have a host of questions waiting for answers, and numerous personal agendas. Will a change in this country's administration -- both in the White House and Congress -- mean a change in its regulatory policies on biotechnology? What effect will a Democratic regime have on biobusiness? Also to consider are issues surrounding agriculture and the environment
Athena Neurosciences Inc. said it has formed an agreement with NeuroSearch A/S of Copenhagen, Denmark, to jointly develop new treatments for neurological diseases. Under the terms of the deal, Athena will make $10 million in milestone payments to NeuroSearch over the next three years to fund the continued development of promising small molecule leads discovered by NeuroSearch, subject to certain rights of early termination and the achievement of milestones. In return, Athena will have
Scientists at Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc. have developed a recombinant process for synthesizing MSI-78, the company's anti-fungal drug being developed to treat serious infections. According to company spokesman Scott Horwitz, Magainin announced when it went public last December that it might need to consider alternative methods of producing MSI-78, assuming it is approved, because of high production costs. "We realized that the traditional way of manufacturing these peptides through chemical
After meeting with regulatory agencies, Gensia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced Monday that it plans to submit a new drug application (NDA) for Arasine to the FDA by the end of the year. The San Diego company (NASDAQ:GNSA) also plans to file in January 1993 a marketing authorization application (MAA) in Europe. Phase III trials of Arasine for its first indication in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were completed in June, and according to Gensia spokeswoman Elizabeth Gard, the
Synergen Inc. announced Monday that it has completed patient enrollment for its Phase III efficacy study of Antril (IL-1ra, or interleukin -1 receptor antagonist) in sepsis patients. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial is being conducted in more than 60 centers in eight countries and will involve 900 patients. According to Michael Catalano, vice president of clinical research for the Boulder, Colo., company (NASDAQ:SYGN), the trial will study the safety and
Top-tier biotech stocks continued to drive up the biotechnology stock indexes on Monday. The AMEX Biotechnology Stock Index gained 9.03 to close at168.38 and the Chicago Board Options Exchange BioTech stock index rose 8.14 to close at 158.13. Biotech stocks outpaced the broader indexes, as the Dow Jones average of 30 industrials was up 0.81 to 3,240.87 and the NASDAQ Composite Index gained 5.23 to 622.05. On Friday, the AMEX was up 8.14 and the CBOE gained 5.90. Individual biotech issues were
Cholestech Corp. announced Friday that it filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a secondary public offering of 2.5 million shares of common stock. Of the shares being offered, 1.25 million are being sold by Cholestech, and 1.25 million by shareholders. Underwriter Kemper Securities has an option to purchase up to an additional 375,000 shares to cover overallotments. The offering could raise up to $36 million, depending on the price of the shares, said
Advanced Tissue Sciences (ATS) reported at a recent Montgomery Securities meeting in New York that it plans to take its expertise in growing human skin, bone and cartilage into the realm of facial reconstruction. The La Jolla, Calif., company (NASDAQ:ATIS) plans to take "a whole new approach to wound healing" by combining its core tissue-growing technology with computer contour mapping techniques to reconstruct the faces of children born with abnormalities, said Arthur Benvenuto, ATS's chairman