• Allozyne Inc., of Seattle, completed a Phase IA trial of ZA01, a pegylated interferon beta 1-b for relapsing/remitting multiple sclerosis. The drug was found to be well tolerated at all dosage levels. Drug serum levels and interferon activity biomarkers were maintained long after administration at the highest dose levels. The results suggested a possible once-a-month dosing schedule. The company is conducting a Phase IB trial with multiple administration with results due in midyear.

• Corcept Therapeutics Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., reported positive top-line results form a Phase III trial of Corlux for Cushing's syndrome. The drug achieved its primary endpoint in two groups of patients: those that were glucose intolerant and those that were hypertensive. In the glucose-intolerant group, 60 percent responded, and in the hypertensive group, 40 percent responded. Corlux was found to be well tolerated. The company plans to submit a new drug application in the first quarter. Corcept stock (NASDAQ:CORT) gained 40 cents, or 10,3 percent, to close at $4.29 Tuesday. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 23, 2010.)

• Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Berkeley Heights, N.J., opened enrollment in a pivotal Phase III trial (SEAMLESS) of sapacitabine oral capsules for acute myeloid leukemia. The trial will accept patients 70 and older who are not candidates for intensive induction chemotherapy. A special protocol assessment has been issued for the trial by the FDA. The three-arm trial will compare sapacitabine to decitabine.

• Enobia Pharma Inc., of San Francisco, completed a Phase II study of ENB-0040 for juveniles with hypophosphatasia. The drug met its primary endpoint of statistically significant improvement in rickets compared to historical matched cohort controls. Full results will be presented in March at the American College of Medical Genetics Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

• TransPharma Medical Ltd., of Lod, Israel, reported that its ViaDerm-Calcitonin for musculoskeletal disorders showed a clear response and a statistically significant reduction in bone resorption and cartilage degradation biomarkers in a Phase I trial in 12 postmenopausal women. All doses were well tolerated with a favorable safety profile.

• Vical Inc., of San Diego, reported results from a Phase II trial of Allovectin-7 in metastatic melanoma showing an 11.8 percent response rate in a group of 127 patients. There were four complete responders and 11 partial responders. Median duration of response was 13.8 months, and median survival was 18.8 months.

• XOMA Ltd., of Berkeley, Calif., presented advances in its biodefense program at the Fifth Annual Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Stakeholders Workshop and BARDA Industry Day this week in Washington. Results included successful lyophilization of XOMA 3AB and studies demonstrating stability of the formulation over time at a variety of temperatures.