ID Biomedical Corp. is collaborating with New EnglandDeaconess Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard MedicalSchool, for development of a direct HIV test. The test wouldutilize ID Biomedical's (IDB) Cycling Probe Reaction technologyto detect the virus itself, rather than antibodies to HIV.

Under the agreement, IDB is granted an exclusive, royalty-bearing, worldwide license for technologies used in HIV assaysthat result from the research, as well as for any technologiesresulting from the research that are not specifically intended tobe used in HIV assays. New England Deaconess Hospital hasunrestricted rights to use the resulting technologies in research.

IDB of Vancouver, British Columbia, also has rights to anyimprovements made to its Cycling Probe Reaction technologyby Deaconess. The technology is being used for development ofdirect tests for tuberculosis and mycobacterium aviumintracellulare. IDB also has a tuberculosis vaccine underdevelopment at the University of California at Los Angeles. Thecompany said a TB vaccine study in guinea pigs has just beencompleted. -- Brenda Sandburg

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