Shaman Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, will have a one-for-twenty reverse stock split of its common stock. The company also approved the increase of an additional 10 million shares of preferred stock.
Trimeris Inc., of Durham, N.C., started patient selection and dosing in its Phase II trial for T20-206 to access the antiviral activity and long-term safety when used in combination with other anti-HIV drugs.
Apoptogen Inc., of Ottawa, Ontario, and academic collaborators reported the discovery and characterization of the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein, which protects the cells from programmed cell death. The in vitro studies were presented in Nature Cell Biology.
CV Therapeutics Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., said safety and tolerability data from a Phase I study of CVT-510 support initiation of a Phase II trial. CV-510 is a selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist that may be useful in providing control of emergent atrial arrythmias.
Diatide Inc., of Londonderry, N.H., and the Brookhaven National Laboratory, of Brookhaven, N.Y., were awarded a $750,000 grant over three years from the Department of Energy to develop Stanamet (tin-117m DTPA) technology for treating bone cancer. Diatide already is developing it as therapy to relieve pain from cancer.
EntreMed Inc., of Rockville, Md., signed a non-exclusive worldwide license agreement with Calbiochem-Novabiochem Corp., of San Diego, under which Calbiochem will have the right to sell research-grade endostatin and angiostatin for non-commercial research purposes. EntreMed will receive royalties from sales of both murine and human products.
Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Baltimore, and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., of Collegeville, Pa., said the Gliadel implant, which delivers chemotherapy to the site of a brain tumor, successfully completed the Mutual Recognition Procedure in 10 European countries. Those countries, then, are expected to grant national marketing authorizations within six months.
ICAgen Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., got an exclusive license from the State University of New York for novel ion channel genes, which are specific to certain regions of the brain and may be relevant to the treatment of central nervous system disorders.
Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., began a Phase II trial of squalamine, an angiogenesis inhibitor, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. About 35 patients are expected in the trial, which will combine squalamine with paclitaxel and carboplatin.
Medinox Inc., of San Diego, closed on a $7.4 million Series D round of private equity financing. The company, founded in May 1995, has raised $13.3 million to date. Proceeds will be used to fund a Phase I/II trial of NOX-100 for intradialytic hypotension. The company focuses on developing small-molecule drugs that bind and neutralize nitrous oxide.
SangStat Medical Corp., of Menlo Park, Calif., moved to Fremont, Calif., on June 25. The Transplant Pharmacy is staying in Menlo Park.
Sibia Neurosciences Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., entered into a non-exclusive license agreement for its transcription-based assay patent portfolio with American Home Products Corp., of Madison, N.J. Sibia will get annual license fee and royalties on any commercialized products.
Synsorb Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, said it received an additional $2.36 million following underwriters' exercise of their overallotment option to buy 1.35 million shares at $1.75 each. The offering grossed $15.75 million.