Aquila Biopharmaceuticals Inc., of Framingham, Mass., initiated the second of three planned pivotal licensing studies of Quilvax-M, a product designed for use in dairy cows to aid in the control of mastitis caused by bacterial infections. The studies are expected to be completed by early 2000.
Digene Corp., of Beltsville, Md., formed a strategic partnership with Yale University School of Medicine in the area of cervical cancer detection. The Yale Cancer Center is known for a program that educates about the clinical application of human papillomavirus DNA testing.
Neopharm Inc., of Bannockburn, Ill., initiated Phase I clinical trials of IL13 Pe38QQR for patients with renal cell carcinoma or kidney cancer. The compound is a targeted cytotoxin that uses the IL-13 receptor on the surface of cancer cells to deliver a bacterial toxin (PE38QQR), which is known for destroying cancer cells, while sparing normal cells.
NeoTherapeutics Inc., of Irvine, Calif., filed a registration statement with the SEC that will allow the company to obtain additional funds under its existing equity-based line of credit with a single institutional investor. The statement, which covers up to 925,000 shares of the company's common stock, will allow the investor to resell the public shares as the company draws funds under the equity line of credit. Funds drawn will help the company continue testing of its lead compound, Neotrofin, which is in three Phase II trials.
North American Vaccine (NAV), of Columbia, Md., said the United Kingdom National Health Services has committed to purchase 3 million doses of the company's group C meningococcal conjugate vaccine, NeisVac-C, in 2000. The contract is expected to generate more than $65 million. NAV expects to receive approval for the vaccine in the first quarter of 2000 and to start shipments in the second quarter. Later in the year, it will seek approval in other countries, including the U.S. In other news, Chiron Behring GmbH & Co., of Marburg, Germany, is seeking to terminate its marketing agreement in Germany and Austria for Certiva-IPV, NAV's diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and injectable polio vaccine. NAV is disputing the termination rights.
Paratek Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boston, appointed Thomas Bigger president and CEO, as well as a member of the board. Bigger has 20 years of experience and most recently served as senior vice president of Magainin Pharmaceuticals, of Plymouth Meeting, Pa. He is Paratek's first president and CEO.
Sangamo BioSciences Inc., of Point Richmond, Calif., has raised $7.5 million in a private placement of Series C preferred stock. Investors included JAFCO Co. Ltd., of Tokyo; Lombard Odier Zurich Ltd., of Zurich, Switzerland; the Palladin Group LP, of New York; and Stephens Inc. The company plans to use the money to expand its existing relationships for functional genomics, as well as to add new strategic partners. The company also said it has signed research agreements with Pharmacia & Upjohn, of Bridgewater, N.J., and Warner-Lambert Co., of Morris Plains, N.J. Sangamo will provide specific zinc finger DNA binding proteins, or Universal GeneTools, to both companies. AstraZeneca AB, of London, also has expressed its intent to expand an existing collaboration to explore the use of GeneTools technology against additional targets. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The Immune Response Corp. (IRC), of Carlsbad, Calif., received a $5 million payment from La Jolla, Calif.-based Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. It marks the fifth of six payments the company may receive under terms of its collaboration for development and commercialization of Remune, a therapy for HIV infection. The payment consists of $3 million for clinical and manufacturing development expenses and $2 million for the purchase of 334,589 shares of unregistered common stock. IRC also said two executives will leave the company as part of a plan to reduce 30 percent of its workforce. The company, which began its restructuring initiative in June, has released Steven Richieri, chief operating officer, executive vice president and a director, and Steven Brostoff, vice president of research and development.
Therion Biologics Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., said at the Mass Opportunities Investment Conference, sponsored by the Mass Biotech Organization, held in Cambridge, that it has initiated a Phase II clinical trial in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute to evaluate two novel therapeutic vaccines for treating melanoma. The trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant viral vectors that express tyrosinase, a melanoma-associated antigen.
Zen-Bio Inc., of Research Triangle Park, NC, has received a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate the use of adipose-derived stromal cells for treatment of bone disorders. The SBIR grant will fund ongoing research efforts to develop these cells as a means of bone repair for surgeries, fractures and other indications.