• Allon Therapeutics Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, presented Phase IIa data confirming that intranasal davunetide did not achieve its primary endpoint of significantly improving MATRICS scores for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia, but a positive trend was seen in specific tests measuring visual learning and working memory. The trial achieved a statistically significant positive treatment effect on a secondary endpoint of UCSD-UPSA scores. Allon said it intends to conduct a larger trial.

• BioAlliance Pharma SA, of Paris, reported positive survival data in its Phase II trial with doxorubicin Transdrug in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Results showed a 88.9 percent survival rate after 18 months of treatment in patients who received three intra-arterial doxorubicin Transdrug injections. The increased survival rate is relevant compared to the 54.5 percent rate observed in patients with the current standard of care (usually transarterial chemoembolization with acytotoxic drug). Based on those data, BioAlliance Pharma said it will design new approaches using doxorubicin Transdrug while reducing pulmonary adverse events that led to the suspension of the trial.

• ChemoCentryx Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., reported additional data from its Phase II/III study of Traficet-EN (CCX282-B) in Crohn's disease. While initial data showed a reduction of disease severity in the induction portion of the trial, the new data showed a statistically significant improvement in remission rates during the maintenance period. The data were presented at the 2009 Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's Clinical & Research Conference.

• Cytheris SA, of Paris, started a Phase I/IIa trial of CYT107 (recombinant interleukin-7, or IL-7) in combination with either antiviral treatment alone or antiviral treatment and vaccination for chronic hepatitis B. The treatment regimen is expected to restore immune responses and translate into HBsAg seroconversion along with direct elimination of residual viral DNA.

• Hemodynamic Therapeutics Inc., of Durham, N.C., met its primary endpoint in a Phase II trial of HTI-101, a low-dose combination of amiloride HCl and spironolactone for treatment-resistant hypertension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased. Hemodynamic Therapeutics is a majority-owned portfolio company of Cato BioVentures.

• Neovacs SA, of Paris, initiated a Phase IIa trial of TNF-alpha Kinoid for rheumatoid arthritis. The drug is an immunotherapy targeting TNF-alpha-mediated autoimmune diseases. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, 48-patient European trial will focus on patients who have failed anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibody therapy and test positive for antidrug antibodies.

• Ohr Pharmaceutical Inc., of Dover, Del., presented interim Phase II data showing that OHR/AVR118 stabilized the weight and increased the appetite of patients with cachexia. The data were presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Cachexia and Wasting Disorders, in Barcelona, Spain. Final data for the anti-inflammatory drug, which Ohr acquired from Advanced Viral Research Corp., of Yonkers, N.Y., are expected in the fall of 2010. Shares of Ohr (OTC BB:OHRP) jumped 41 cents, or 68 percent, to close at $1.01. (See BioWorld Today, Nov. 25, 2009.)