Abgenix Inc., of Fremont, Calif., signed a research license and option agreement with Neuralab Ltd., which will become a subsidiary of Elan Corp. plc, of Dublin, Ireland, on Jan. 31. Elan will use Abgenix's XenoMouse technology to generate fully human monoclonal antibodies to an undisclosed antigen in the field of neurological diseases. Abgenix will receive a technology access payment and could receive additional fees and milestone payments plus royalties on future product sales. Elan will be responsible for product development, manufacturing and marketing of any products that come out of the collaboration.
Cangene Corp., of Toronto, said it intends to make a normal course issuer bid in accordance with the by-laws and policy statements of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The company may acquire for cancellation up to 680,000 of its common shares, which represent about 9.5 percent of the public float. The bid will begin Jan. 12 and terminate Dec. 30.
Aurora Biosciences Corp., of San Diego, said it received acceptance of a screening subsystem, its screen development stage (SDS) instrumentation, by Merck & Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J. The SDS develops and validates miniaturized screens and is designed as a standalone addition to Aurora's ultra-high throughput screening system platform. The company's stock (NASDAQ:ABSC) rose 26.4 percent Monday to close at $36.25, up $7.562.
Celera Genomics, of Rockville, Md., said it has DNA sequence in its database that covers 90 percent of the human genome. The company believes that greater than 97 percent of all human genes are now represented in the Celera database.
Hemosol Inc., of Toronto, said its U.S. Phase II cardiac bypass study of Hemolink showed positive results that demonstrated the drug was safe in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery who are at increased risk of blood loss and transfusion with donor blood. Results showed these patients required significantly less donor blood than patients in the control arm. A pivotal Phase III CABG trial of Hemolink in Canada and the UK is expected to be completed in the first quarter of this year, while a U.S. Phase III trial will begin enrolling patients this quarter.
Human Genome Sciences Inc., of Rockville, Md., completed its financing for an expansion to its process development and manufacturing facility. The company will lease the facility from the Maryland Economic Development Corp. under a long-term arrangement. The 43,000-square-foot expansion, which cost $17.5 million, is expected to be completed next winter. It will house a mammalian cell cGMP production line to manufacture human gene, protein and antibody-based drugs.
Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said CoPharma Inc., of Hopkinton, Mass., purchased the assets associated with the contract manufacturing business of Ligand subsidiary Marathon Biopharmacueticals Inc. for $10 million in cash. Ligand's subsidiary, Seragen Inc., entered into a long-term supply contract with CoPharma for the manufacture of Ontak, a fusion protein therapy for the treatment of persistent or recurrent cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. CoPharma will perform certain development work for Seragen for the next-generation Ontak product. The purchase allows Ligand to focus on sales and marketing of Ontak and to place manufacturing responsibilities in appropriate hands, said Ligand's chairman, president and CEO David Robinson. Ontak was FDA approved last February. In May 1998, Ligand bought out Seragen and Marathon Biopharmacueticals, which was formed when Boston University took over Seragen's manufacturing and research operations. (See BioWorld Today, Feb. 8, 1999, p. 1; and May 12, 1998, p. 1.)
Pharmacyclics Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., said Alcon Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Fort Worth, Texas, has committed to continuing clinical development of Optrin (motexafin lutetium) injection in the field of ophthalmology. Pharmacyclics has received a milestone payment based on results of Alcon's ongoing Phase II trial of Optrin in patients with age-related macular degeneration.
Qiagen NV, of Hilden, Germany, said it acquired Rapigene Inc., of Seattle, a subsidiary of Celltech Group plc, of London. Qiagen will issue about 154,000 shares of its common stock, worth about $12 million, for 100 percent of the outstanding equity in Rapigene. Rapigene has a focus in technologies and services for single nucleotide polymorphism analyses and other genomic applications.
Quintiles Transnational Corp., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., is restructuring to form two more lines of business under its three service groups in order to enhance customer focus and efficiency. The two new units will be Early Development and Laboratory Services and Quintiles Integrated Strategic Solutions.
Vical Inc., of San Diego, said Merck & Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J., initiated a Phase I trial testing a naked DNA vaccine to prevent HIV infection. Vical will receive a $1 million milestone payment for the initiation.