• Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., completed patient enrollment in its Phase IIa trial of AZ-004 (Staccato loxapine), an inhalation candidate for acute treatment of agitation in schizophrenic patients. The study involved 120 subjects, with the primary aim of assessing the safety and efficacy of a single dose, as determined by the change in the PANSS Excited Component scale. Initial results from the trial are expected in the second quarter.

• Anesiva Inc., of South San Francisco, said data from a Phase I study of 1207, a topical anesthetic for neuropathic patients, achieved the primary endpoint of safety and tolerability in a healthy volunteer population, though no clear anesthetic effect was demonstrated. The company said it will no longer pursue clinical development of that drug.

• Barrier Therapeutics Inc., of Princeton, N.J., said results of a Phase IIa proof-of-concept study of oral Hivenyl in moderate to severe itching related to atopic dermatitis indicates that the product significantly reduces itch symptoms without signs of sedation. Hivenyl is an oral formulation of vapitadine dihydrochloride in development for allergic reactions of the skin, such as those associated with hives and atopic dermatitis.

• Computer Sciences Corp., of El Segundo, Calif., said that a CSC company, DynPort Vaccine Co. LLC, in conjunction with Deerfield, Ill.-based Baxter Healthcare Corp., initiated a Phase I trial for plasma-derived butyrylcholinesterase, or BioScavanger, which is being developed to prevent and possibly treat the effects of exposure to certain chemical nerve agents. The trial will evaluate the product's safety in 40 healthy volunteers.

MGI Pharma Inc., of Minneapolis, said data from a Phase III trial of Saforis (glutamine powder in UpTec) for Oral Suspension indicate that the drug significantly reduced the incidence of severe oral mucositis when compared to placebo. Results were published in Cancer. The company received an approvable letter for Saforis in October requesting an additional Phase III study, and MGI is evaluating options for proceeding with Saforis.

Protox Therapeutics Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said interim results from its ongoing Phase I trial of PRX302 in patients with localized, recurrent prostate cancer indicate that the drug is well tolerated and that it shows encouraging signs of therapeutic activity following a single intraprostatic injection. Data show that eight of nine patients for whom 90-day data are available reported a decrease in PSA levels compared to baseline during at least one of the 14-, 30-, 60- or 90-day follow-up intervals. For six out of the nine patients, reductions in PSA levels continue to be observed through day 90 or longer, with PSA levels falling by 6 percent to 42 percent compared to baseline. Protox expects to complete the study by mid-year, with plans for a Phase II study to start by year-end.