Advanced Biotherapy Inc., of Woodland Hills, Calif., reported publication in the June issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology of clinical data related to patients with half-transparent, edematous and cloudy corneal transplants. Anti-interferon-gamma fragments were administered three times a day for seven to 10 days. In 10 of 13 patients, two to three days after the start of treatment, transplant transparency improved, edema dropped and visual acuity increased from 0.2 to 0.3.

Argenta Discovery Ltd., of Harlow, UK, entered a drug discovery collaboration with Amedis Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Cambridge, UK. Argenta will create a series of small-molecule inhibitors of a selected number of protease enzymes. The work is focused on Amedis' patent estate of protease inhibitors, generated using its chemistry technology. Amedis will apply its technology to generate molecules that selectively inhibit members of the metallo and aspartyl protease enzyme families. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Axcan Pharma Inc., of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, said it saw "excellent, long-term" results from its Phase III trial of Photofrin in patients with high-grade dysplasia associated with Barrett's esophagus. The results confirm that Photofrin photodynamic therapy has the potential to be used to prevent esophageal cancer, the company said. Axcan submitted the drug for approval in North America and Europe; it has been granted orphan drug status in both regions.

Celgene Corp., of Warren, N.J., said researchers presented preclinical data on its portfolio of ubiquitin ligases at the Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery and Development Summit in Princeton, N.J. The data indicate that Celgene's ubiquitin ligases alter the stability of cell-signaling proteins and affect tumorgenesis. Data also demonstrated that ubiquitin ligases are accessible targets for the development of selective small-molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer, the company said.

Chiron Corp., of Emeryville, Calif., granted to Merck & Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J., a nonexclusive license for the research, development and commercialization of small-molecule therapeutics against hepatitis C virus drug targets. Chiron said it would continue to license its technology and pursue its own research into agents to treat hepatitis C. Financial and other terms were not disclosed.

EpiTan Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, said its drug, Melanotan, which triggers the natural tanning process, reduces the risk of skin cancer. The company said a Phase I/II trial showed the drug to be safe. A Phase II trial, designed to measure the level of protection that increased melanin has against UV radiation, is scheduled to begin soon, the company said.

Genset SA, of Paris, said, among other things, it plans to request a suspension of trading of its American Depository Shares on Nasdaq. In addition, Genset said it is engaged in preliminary discussions concerning a possible major strategic transaction. It said no assurance could be given that the discussions would be completed or, if completed, there could be no indication of final terms. The company said it would not make any further comment until the discussions reach a later stage or are terminated.

Idec Pharmaceuticals Corp., of San Diego; Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco; and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., of Basel, Switzerland, reported positive preliminary results of a randomized, controlled and double-blind Phase II study evaluating Rituxan (Rituximab/MabThera) alone or in combination with other therapies in rheumatoid arthritis. The companies said they would release final safety and efficacy results later this year.

Immtech International Inc., of Vernon Hills, Ill., selected an independent scientific group to validate, through a full-genome test system, the activity of its lead hepatitis C drug candidates for advancement into clinical trials. The assay system selected by Immtech is designed to test the effects of its candidates on the full hepatitis C genome, in contrast to other tests that use only a portion of the genome.

Immunomedics Inc., of Morris Plains, N.J., said a preclinical study evaluated an antibody known as humanized RS7 that targets breast, lung, prostate and ovarian cancers, identifying a tumor-associated molecule named epithelial glycoprotein-1. In the study, the hRS7 antibody was labeled with iodine-131 using Immunomedics' patented method that improves the length of time I-131 stays attached to the antibody. The method resulted in four times the dose of I-131 delivered to the tumor, and the increased exposure of the tumor to the dose resulted in 75 percent of the animals being cured. The results were presented at the 49th annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine in Los Angeles.

Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Lexington, Mass., completed enrollment in its 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 524-patient Phase III trial with trospium in overactive bladder. The trial's primary endpoints compare the reduction in frequency of urination and the reduction in incontinence episodes among trospium-treated patients vs. placebo patients. Indevus said it expects to report data in the fall, and plans to file a new drug application by the end of the year.

Introgen Therapeutics Inc., of Austin, Texas, said a preclinical study published in the Journal of Immunology suggests that the MDA-7/interleukin-24 (IL-24) protein, the subject of Introgen's INGN 241 gene therapeutic candidate, plays an important role in activating the human immune system to fight cancer. The study demonstrates that MDA-7/IL-24 is expressed in immune system cells, including specific subsets of white blood cells called natural killer cells and B-lymphocytes. Treatment of human blood cells with MDA-7/IL-24 resulted in the induction of cytokine release by blood cells, the company said.

Medical Scientists Inc., of Boston, secured $2.3 million in private financing from unnamed investors. The predictive modeling software firm said it would use the proceeds to finance the expansion of its sales and marketing programs and to invest in research and development for its MediSave and Hybrid software.

Neurochem Inc., of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, said that Picchio Pharma Inc., of Montreal, agreed to make an initial investment in Neurochem of C$7 million (US$4.5 million) through the purchase of 2.8 million units of Neurochem at C$2.50 per unit. The units are comprised of one Neurochem common share and one warrant exercisable anytime within a three-year period with a 25 percent premium to the issue price, for a total possible investment of C$15.75 million. Following the transaction and exercise of all warrants, Picchio Pharma would hold about 24 percent of the common shares of Neurochem. The proceeds of the investment will be used for working capital purposes, the company said. Also, Picchio's chairman, Francesco Bellini, will join Neurochem's board as chairman.

Oncolytics Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, completed its acquisition of about 6.9 million, or 15 percent, of the total issued and outstanding common shares of Transition Therapeutics Inc., of Toronto. The shares are worth about C$4.8 million (US$3.1 million). Oncolytics issued about 1.9 million common shares from treasury, which are subject to a four-month hold provision. Oncolytics focuses on the development of Reolysin, its formulation of the human reovirus, as a cancer therapeutic.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., said detailed results from clinical research conducted in China show 56 percent efficacy was achieved when patients with inoperable lung cancer were treated with the company's 131iodine labeled chimeric tumor necrosis therapy antibody drug using an innovative method of intratumoral injection. Patients treated by this method had a disease control rate of 100 percent, demonstrating 131I-chTNT can achieve therapeutic effects in late-stage lung cancer.

Plexxus Vaccine Inc., of San Diego, established a subsidiary in Copenhagen, Denmark, under the name Plexus Denmark Aps. The subsidiary will assist Plexus in developing new vaccines based on a combination of advanced computational and experimental biochemical methods. Through a license agreement with scientists Soeren Brunak and Soeren Buus, Plexus has secured exclusive access to technology that will constitute a cornerstone in the activities of Plexus Denmark, the company said.

Texas Biotechnology Corp., of Houston, said it received an undisclosed milestone payment from Schering-Plough Corp., of Madison, N.J. The companies signed an agreement in July 2000 to discover and develop VLA-4 antagonist drugs to treat asthma. Texas Biotechnology also said that Schering-Plough's support was being extended through June 30, 2003. Schering-Plough would make additional payments as milestones are reached and would pay royalties on the sale of any products.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta will oversee a federally funded AIDS program. President George Bush on Wednesday announced a $500 million initiative on Global AIDS intended to reduce mother-to-child AIDS transmission among people living in 12 African and two Caribbean countries. The initial emphasis of the program will focus on developing and improving basic health care infrastructure to assist in preventing transmission of the virus from pregnant or nursing mothers to their babies. President Bush credited the original idea for the proposal to sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), who last year said they would seek funding for such an initiative.

Vernalis Group plc, of Cambridge, UK, said it launched Frova (frovatriptan succinate) in the U.S. The product is an oral migraine treatment and is marketed by UCB Pharma Inc., of Brussels, Belgium, and Elan Corp. plc, of Dublin, Ireland. The Frova launch triggers a milestone payment of more than $5 million to Vernalis from Elan.

The Immune Response Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., entered an agreement with Transamerica Technology Finance Corp., of San Francisco, to restructure existing equipment loans to cure default and limit circumstances that can serve result in future default. Immune Response will pay Transamerica milestone payments after receiving proceeds from a certain number of financing activities. Immune Response also must make its scheduled debt payments to Transamerica until all the debt and interest have been paid. Immune Response granted Transamerica a security interest in its assets, including its intellectual property, subject to an existing security interest.

The National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., said that in the most recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, scientists reported that patterns of genes active in tumor cells can predict whether patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are likely to be cured by chemotherapy. Researchers found that the activity of as few as 17 genes could be used to predict patients' response to treatment.

Tosk Inc., of Santa Cruz, Calif., said it created the first genetically engineered Cichlid fish by inserting a bacterial gene into an adult fish using its transposon-based StealthGene vector. The process required one injection of the vector into the adult fish - 20 percent to 30 percent of the first generation of progeny carried the bacterial gene, indicating that the germ line cells of the adult had integrated the bacterial gene. Tosk said it is collaborating with the FDA to test the StealthGene vector's efficiency in creating transgenic frogs.

Xenerex Biosciences, a subsidiary of Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, was notified it will receive $75,000 from the Center for Commercialization of Advanced Technology. The award will be used to fund the initial development of a treatment that is intended to reduce the potentially damaging effects of exposure to anthrax toxins in humans.