• Affibody AB, of Stockholm, Sweden, entered a research agreement with GE Healthcare, a division of the General Electric Co., of Fairfield, Conn. Under the agreement, Affibody will provide molecules for three disease targets as defined by GE Healthcare to allow early diagnosis of disease to optimize therapy on a personalized basis. Under the agreement, GE Healthcare has the exclusive option to take any licenses required for developing and commercializing imaging agents resulting from the collaboration.

• Amorcyte Inc., of Hackensack, N.J., concluded its first round of financing, bringing in $4.2 million to fund its initial Phase I trial of a cell therapy product for cardiovascular diseases. The ongoing 40-patient trial is designed to determine safety and measure biologic activity of the product, with results expected in about 12 to 18 months. Colt Ventures LLC, of Dallas, served as the lead investor.

• Epeius Biotechnologies Corp., of San Marino, Calif., was awarded a $400,000 grant by the Lazarex Cancer Foundation to expand and support ongoing cancer gene therapy clinical trials for advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. Rexin-GTM, an injectable gene therapy vector, recently gained orphan drug status in the U.S. for pancreatic cancer and is in clinical trials in Rochester, Minn.

• Genencor International Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., launched Fermgen, an acid fungal protease for use in the ethanol industry. Designed to offer improved benefits, Fermgen provides for faster ethanol fermentation rates and yield for corn, milo or wheat-based substrates, as compared to fermentation without acid fungal protease, and is effective at a pH of 3 to 4.5.

• Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, filed a shelf registration to offer up to $75 million of it common stock, warrants or a combination, from time to time. Hollis-Eden is developing a new class of small-molecule compounds that are metabolites or synthetic analogues of adrenal steroid hormones. The company's lead candidate, Neumune, HE2100, is entering late-stage development for acute radiation syndrome.

• Neurobiological Technologies Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., received $4 million from Celtic Pharmaceutical Holdings LP, of Bermuda, as part of the company's sale of worldwide rights to Celtic for Xerecept, a Phase III compound to treat peritumoral brain edema. The payment is part of a $33 million agreement for the sale of Xerecept, which was announced in September. NTI previously received $20 million in November and $5 million in January. It expects another $4 million payment in January 2007, and up to an additional $15 million if Xerecept meets certain regulatory milestones.

• Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., agreed to sell 9.3 million shares of common stock to one institutional investor, The Double U Master Fund LP, in exchange for net proceeds of $13 million. Under the terms, Peregrine agreed not to offer or sell its stock in private placements priced below $2.50 per share for the remainder of the year. Proceeds will be used to advance the company's lead clinical programs, including a Phase Ib repeat-dose study of bavituximab in hepatitis C, a Phase I study of bavituximab in solid tumors, and a Phase II/III study of Cotara in brain cancer. Funds also will support preclinical programs, such as assessing the potential use of bavituximab in avian flu.

• PharmaFrontiers Corp., of The Woodlands, Texas, said stockholders approved the company's name change to Opexa Therapeutics, a company PharmaFrontiers bought in 2004 and the original developer of Tovaxin, in a Phase IIb trial in multiple sclerosis. Shareholders also approved a new ticker symbol (OTC BB:OPXA), as well as a reverse stock split and a plan to apply for a Nasdaq listing. Lynne Hohlfeld was named chief financial officer, effective June 30.

• RenaMed Biologics Inc., of Lincoln, R.I., said it will receive a $2.3 million loan from the Commonwealth's Emerging Technology Fund in Massachusetts. The fund was capitalized by the Massachusetts State Legislature in 2004 and is administered by MassDevelopment to help technology-based businesses relocate and expand in the Commonwealth. RenaMed recently leased a facility in Westborough, Mass., as its corporate headquarters and commercial manufacturing facility for its Renal Bio-Replacement Therapy for acute renal failure, and is expected to move to the new location in the latter half of 2006.