AMPC Inc., of Ames, Iowa, is changing its name to Proliant Inc. The company manufactures and markets protein-based products for food, health and nutrition. A biologicals division manufactures products for use in biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, life science research and veterinary medicine.
Atrix Laboratories Inc., of Fort Collins, Colo., said enrollment was completed sooner than expected for Atrisone (dapsone topical gel) in Phase II trials for moderate to severe acne. The company also said it began enrollment for the Phase III 90-day sustained-release Leuprogel (leuprolide acetate) trial for prostate cancer.
BioChem Pharma Inc., of Laval, Quebec, said the European Union's Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products recommended approval of Trizivir, London-based Glaxo Wellcome plc's new triple-combination tablet for the treatment of HIV-infected adults. Trizivir incorporates BioChem's 3TC/Epivir, plus abacavir sulphate and zidovudine.
Celera Genomics, of Rockville, Md., said it is providing comprehensive multiyear subscriptions to certain Celera databases to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, the University of Cincinnati and Ohio State University. Financial details were not disclosed.
Cell Pathways Inc., of Horsham, Pa., and Glaxo Wellcome Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., are sharing the costs of a trial at the University of Wisconsin that combines Cell Pathways' Aptosyn (exisulind) and Glaxo's Navelbine (vinorelbine tartrate injection) as a first-line treatment for elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The companies will share information but maintain all rights to their respective products.
COR Therapeutics Inc., of South San Francisco, said its board approved a 2-for-1 split of its common stock. Each stockholder of record at the close of business July 31 will be entitled to receive on additional share for each share held. The stock is expected to be distributed Aug. 15.
DepoMed Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., reported positive results from a second Phase I trial comparing Metformin GR, an extended-release form of the diabetes drug metformin, with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s currently marketed immediate-release formulation, Glucophage.
Genomics Collaborative Inc. (GCI), of Cambridge, Mass., will conduct DNA analysis of tissue samples acquired through Riviera Beach, Fla.-based AmeriPath Inc.'s network of hospitals, physicians and pathologists. Under a five-year renewable agreement, the companies aim to develop databases and research materials for disease-gene discovery. GCI also has begun a new arrangement with Quiagen Genomics Inc., of Seattle, to provide an integrated solution combining GCI's sample repository and database services with Qiagen's single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping services.
Genzyme General, of Cambridge, Mass., said the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products has validated Genzyme's marketing authorization application for Fabrazyme (agalsidase beta) for Fabry disease, and that the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products has begun reviewing the submission. A decision is expected during the first half of next year. Also, the Committee of Orphan Drug Medicinal Products has recommended the product for orphan designation in Europe, which would provide 10 years of market exclusivity.
Immusol Inc., of San Diego, has discovered two new potential drug target genes for hepatitis C. The genes - eukaryotic initiation factors 2 gamma and 2B gamma - are essential for the synthesis of viral proteins, but not for the synthesis of normal cellular proteins. The data were published in the July 18 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Millennium Predictive Medicine Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., and Becton Dickinson and Co., of Franklin Lakes, N.J., signed an agreement covering colon cancer diagnostics. BD paid Millennium a licensing fee for certain diagnostic markers and related intellectual property and has an option for a commercial license. The goal of the agreement is to identify markers as the basis for tests to describe a patient's current medical condition and provide prognostic and therapeutic information.
Mycota Biosciences Inc., of Montreal, licensed from Stanford University a technology that allows for accurate screening of thousands of candidate drug targets simultaneously. Mycota will use the technology when it reaches the drug-screening phase of its work on the fungal pathogen Candida albicans.
Orchid BioSciences Inc., of Princeton, N.J., said Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., also of Princeton, signed an agreement to purchase Orchid's SNPstream 25K solution for industrial-scale scoring of single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Transkaryotic Therapies Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said its marketing authorization application for Replagel (agalsidase alfa) has been accepted for review by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency. The product is an enzyme replacement therapy for the treatment of Fabry disease. The company submitted a biologics license application in the U.S. in June.