* Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., reported results of a study demonstrating the efficacy of Alexion Pharmaceuticals' apogen compound, MP4, for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) in a primate model of MS. In the four-month study, relative to untreated control animals, treatment with MP4 reduced the severity of MS-like disease symptoms as well as prolonged the time to onset of lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging. MP4 is an apogen directed against T cells believed to cause MS.

* MediChem Research Inc., of Lemont, Ill., has entered into a joint venture with the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, to form Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceuticals Inc. The new company will advance the clinical development of an anti-HIV compound, Calanolide A, which was discovered in the Sarawak rain forest. Calanolide A, the company said, is the only naturally occurring anti-HIV compound known to be at an advanced stage of testing. Calanolide A is described as a non-nucleoside inhibitor.

* TheraTech Inc., of Salt Lake City, and SmithKline Beecham plc, of London, have agreed that TheraTech will reacquire the marketing rights to its male testosterone patch in those countries where SmithKline Beecham is not currently marketing the product. SmithKline will continue to market in North America, the U.K. and Ireland while giving up its rights to the rest of Europe, Australia and New Zealand.