• Aldagen Inc., of Durham, N.C., presented data explaining the mechanism of action for its cell therapy products, which express integrins and selectins that can bind to endothelium and promote transmigration into ischemic tissues. The data were presented at the Seventh International Conference on Cell Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease in New York.

• Celator Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Princeton, N.J., got orphan status in Europe for CPX-351, a liposomal combination of cytarabine and daunorubicin for acute myeloid leukemia. The drug is in Phase II trials and also has orphan status in the U.S.

• Elite Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Northvale, N.J., gained FDA approval to commence the commercial manufacturing and packaging of the opioid analgesic hydromorphone hydrochloride USP 8 mg. Shares of Elite (OTCQB:ELTP) gained 2 cents, or 23.6 percent, to close at 13 cents Thursday.

• Hemispherx Biopharma Inc., of Philadelphia, gained regulatory approval in Argentina for genital wart drug Alferon N Injection, which will be marketed under the trade name Naturaferon. The product will be sold by Hemispherx's Latin American partner GP Pharm SA. Alferon N Injection, a natural interferon, is already FDA approved. Shares of Hemispherx (AMEX:HEB) gained 6 cents, or 22.9 percent, to close at 32 cents Thursday.

• Illumina Inc., of San Diego, adopted a shareholder rights agreement to protect itself from an attempted $5.7 billion hostile takeover by Roche AG, of Basel, Switzerland. (See BioWorld Today, Jan. 26, 2012.)

• Soligenix Inc., of Princeton, N.J., said it received $574,000 in nondilutive financing via the New Jersey's Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program. The program is designed to enable unprofitable biotech businesses to sell their unused net operating loss carryovers and unused R&D tax credits for cash. The infusion increases Soligenix's cash position to about $6.2 million.