Avanir Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, extended the expiration date of its class D warrants from June 30 to Aug. 31. The company will evaluate the need for further extensions, depending on when the FDA responds to its amended new drug application for docosanol cream.
Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Vancouver, British Columbia, got a conditional listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange, which allows for the release from escrow proceeds of $15.5 million received through an offering of special warrants. The shares are expected to begin trading on the exchange early in July.
Neurocrine Biosciences Inc., of San Diego, said government researchers reported treatment with interleukin-4 fusion toxin in preclinical models of Kaposi's sarcoma resulted in eradication of the tumors and prevented disease-related symptoms. Results were reported in the July 1 issue of Nature Medicine.
Pharmacyclics Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., said interim Phase I/II results in photodynamic therapy with age-related macular degeneration showed letetium texaphyrin localized selectively in choroidal neovascularization. At some doses and light intervals, the drug resulted in completed or partial closure of diseased vessels. Results were presented at the European Society of Ophthalmology meeting in Stockholm, Sweden.
Select Therapeutics Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said researchers used a toxin produced by the same bacteria that causes hamburger disease to completely eliminate malignant human brain tumors grown in mice. The research was published in the June issue of Oncology Research.
Valentis Inc., of Burlingame, Calif., began a multicenter Phase II trial of interleukin-2 gene therapy for treating squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The study will evaluate safety and efficacy in about 80 patients who have failed first-line chemotherapy.
Abgenix Inc., of Fremont, Calif., and Japan Tobacco Inc., of Osaka, Japan, entered a collaboration on the fully human antibody, ABX-IL8, which is in a Phase I/II psoriasis trial and a pilot study in rheumatoid arthritis. Abgenix will receive undisclosed payments for clinical trials in exchange for giving Japan Tobacco the potential to use the data for filings in Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, began a Phase II multi-dose study of AC2993 (synthetic exendin-4) in Type 2 diabetics. The placebo-controlled crossover study will focus on safety and tolerability, as well as the effect on plasma glucose. Results are expected in the fourth quarter.
Aurora Biosciences Corp., of San Diego, received site acceptance for the automated compound storage and retrieval module of its ultra-high-throughput screening system at Merck & Co. Inc.'s drug discovery facility in North Wales, Pa., triggering a delivery payment.
Cypros Pharmaceutical Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., said the FDA granted orphan status to Cerestine, covering patients with severe brain injury. The small-molecule drug, which has been evaluated in Phase II trials, is designed to reduce accumulation of lactic acid in the brain that occurs after a stroke or brain injury.