• Alte Biosciences Inc., of Cary, N.C., has secured exclusive rights to intellectual property developed at the Duke University Medical Center for novel therapeutics targeting late-onset depression and related disorders. The licensed technology is a patent based on findings by Ranga Krishnan on the relationship between cerebrovascular disease and the onset of depression in elderly individuals, a disease called vascular depression. Terms were not disclosed.

• Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, saw its shares slip nearly $2 Tuesday after the FDA issued a warning that Byetta (exenatide), the Type II diabetes drug partnered with Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly & Co. Inc., might be linked to pancreatitis. The agency said it reviewed 30 postmarketing reports of acute pancreatitis in patients treated with Byetta and has asked Amylin to include information about that potential risk on the product's label. Shares of Amylin (NASDAQ:AMLN) fell $2.45 to close at $45.41.

• BioLineRx Ltd., of Jerusalem, said its board of directors has directed company management to investigate various alternatives for raising additional capital and a Nasdaq listing. The company plans to hold a special shareholders meeting to approve a reverse split of its ordinary shares to reduce the number of shares outstanding, which should have the effect of increasing the price per share of the company's ordinary shares.

• Exelixis Inc., of South San Francisco, said a recently completed Phase II study of XL784, a small-molecule inhibitor of the metalloprotease enzymes MMP2 and ADAM10, failed to meet its primary endpoint of reducing proteinuria compared to placebo in patients with proteinuria associated with diabetic nephropathy. The company is continuing to analyze the data to determine whether further evaluation of the compound is warranted. The news caused Exelixis' shares (NASDAQ:EXEL) to dip 10 percent, losing $1.18 Tuesday to close at $10.79. However, analyst Joel Sendek, of Lazard Capital Markets, maintained a "buy" rating and highlighted the fact that XL784 has been found to be well tolerated to date, while many other metalloproteinase-targeted compounds have stumbled in the clinic due to toxicity. The company expects to release further data from the Phase II trial at a scientific meeting next month. XL784 is included in Exelixis' ongoing collaboration with London-based GlaxoSmithKline, which calls for Exelixis to submit data for up to 10 programs, three of which can be selected by GSK. In July, GSK passed on XL647, a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor in development for non-small-cell lung cancer, and Exelixis is moving forward with that program on its own. Exelixis anticipates submitting the data package for XL784 for GSK's consideration by the end of October, after which GSK will have 90 days to review the information and decide whether to license the compound for further development. XL784 also is part of Exelixis' financing arrangement with Symphony Evolution Inc., which provided the company with $80 million in funding to develop three compounds, with an exclusive option for Exelixis to reacquire the compounds. (See BioWorld Today, June 14, 2005, and July 27, 2007.)

• Galapagos NV, of Mechelen, Belguim, has been awarded €5.2 million (US$7.37 million) in grants from the Netherlands and the European Union. The grants support the development of candidate drugs for various indications, including Galapagos' core programs in bone and joint diseases. Under the grants, Galapagos and BioFocus DPI, of Saffron Walden, UK, will collaborate with academia, R&D institutes and companies. Galapagos will receive €2.9 million from the SmartMix program through the Dutch Ministries of Economic Affairs and Education, Culture and Science to develop new disease models; €1.5 million from the Dutch foundation Top Institute Pharma to identify novel cancer drugs; and €0.8 million for two programs to develop high-throughput assays to study cancer progression.

• Metastatix Inc., of Atlanta, has named Carol G. Gallagher president and CEO. Gallagher joins Metastatix from Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc., where she served as senior vice president of corporate development and commercial affairs.

• Perlegen Sciences Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., has obtained an exclusive commercial license from Cambridge Enterprise Ltd., a division of Cambridge University, to the breast cancer markers identified through collaborative research between the parties that previously was announced in February 2005. The study identified novel breast cancer susceptibility markers that are present in approximately 20 percent of UK breast cancer cases. By comparison, previously identified genetic variants, for example, in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, are much rarer, occurring in less than 5 percent of breast cancer cases. Perlegen will commercialize a diagnostic test, either directly or through a sublicense agreement with a third party. Cambridge University will share in any financial returns. In addition, Cambridge University may provide noncommercial licenses to academic researchers. No financial terms were disclosed.

• Regenetech Inc., of Houston, has augmented its cell multiplication capabilities for CD34+38- peripheral blood progenitor cells (adult stem cells). The new results were achieved through development of cell culture conditions for its Intrifuge cellXpansion technology. Under the new, improved growth conditions, the number of adult stem cells increased by 50-200 times the original number, an achievement accomplished in as few as six days.

• Starpharma Holdings Ltd., of Sydney, Australia, has signed an agreement with condom-maker SSL International plc for a co-development program for condoms with a VivaGel coating. Undisclosed fees are payable to Starpharma under the agreement, which also provides for the commencement of regulatory and market development activities by the two parties. VivaGel has been shown to have contraceptive and microbicidal properties in animal studies, and also is under development as a stand-alone gel to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.