• Access Pharmaceutials Inc., of Dallas, has begun a new clinical study of ProLindac in France. Two ovarian cancer patients have been enrolled in the study to date, and it is anticipated six to 12 patients will be enrolled this year. Later this month, an Access management and clinical development team is meeting with Access' Chinese partner, Aosaikang Medicinal Group, and several key oncology opinion leaders to finalize plans for ProLindac development in China. In addition, Access is meeting with its Korean partner, JCOM, of Seoul, South Korea to finalize development plans in that territory.

• Icagen Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., said the FDA lifted a partial clinical hold related to the development of ICA-105665, the company's small-molecule KCNQ potassium channel agonist, for the treatment of epilepsy. The hold was imposed in late March after the FDA's review of preclinical high-dose toxicity studies resulted in some abnormal movements. The company now plans to initiate a proof-of-concept study in patients with photosensitive epilepsy. In addition, Icagen said it is preparing for a proof-of-concept pain study, which also is expected to be initiated during the third quarter.

• Sinovac Biotech Ltd., of Beijing, said all the volunteers in its trial of its A/H1N1 influenza vaccine have received their first shot and preliminary tests have indicated that the vaccine is safe and reliable in humans. A total of 1,614 volunteers had received the first shot of the vaccine as of July 25, and the total adverse event rate was 11.8 percent, which is similar to seasonal influenza vaccines.