• Biogen Idec Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., and PDL BioPharma Inc., of Fremont, Calif., said the ongoing Phase II study of daclizumab, known as the CHOICE trial, met its primary endpoint in relapsing multiple sclerosis patients being treated with interferon beta. Specifically, patients receiving daclizumab 2 mg/kg subcutaneously every two weeks showed a significant reduction in the number of new or enlarged gadolinium-contrast-enhancing lesions (Gd-CELs) at week 24. Based on those data, the companies plan to begin a Phase II monotherapy trial of the humanized monoclonal antibody, which targets the IL-2 receptor on activated T cells.

• Chemokine Therapeutics Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia, reported positive preliminary data after successfully completing the dose-escalation portion of its Phase Ib/II trial of its anticancer drug CTCE-9908. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed, and two of three ovarian cancer patients responded positively and exhibited stable disease. Going forward, the company is proceeding with the remaining portion of the trial in which up to 20 additional patients will be treated at 5mg/kg/day. Chemokine, which expects to enroll them and complete the study by the end of the third quarter, has accelerated its efforts to begin a large Phase II program in the U.S. by the end of this year.

• Depomed Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., submitted an investigational new drug application with the FDA for Gabapentin GR for the treatment of postmenopausal hot flashes. The company anticipates initiating a Phase II clinical trial in the second quarter. It would be a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study in about 110 postmenopausal women experiencing recurrent moderate to severe hot flashes. Gabapentin GR is an extended-release formulation of gabapentin, an FDA-approved drug for the treatment of seizures and postherpetic neuralgia.

• Symphogen A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, and Biovitrum AB, of Stockholm, Sweden, began a Phase I trial to test the safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of Sym001 (Anti-RhD) in healthy volunteers. The recombinant, polyclonal antibody, which is comprised of 25 different anti-Rhesus D antibodies, is being developed to treat idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and prevent hemolytic disease in newborns. The partners are developing Sym001 jointly under a co-development and commercialization agreement announced a year ago.

• TorreyPines Therapeutics Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., began a Phase I multiple-dose trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of NGX267 when given once daily for four days to healthy male volunteers. NGX267 is being developed as a treatment for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. It is a functionally selective muscarinic (M1) receptor agonist. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase II trial will enroll 90 healthy males, between the ages of 18 and 55, at a center in Belgium.