• Abgenix Inc., of Fremont, Calif., said it will receive a milestone payment from CuraGen Corp., of New Haven, Conn., triggered by the advancement of CR002, a fully human monoclonal antibody created using Abgenix's XenoMouse technology, into a Phase I trial. CR002 targets PDGF-D, a mediator known to stimulate mesangial-cell proliferation.

• Antisense Therapeutics Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, will conduct a proof-of-concept study of ATL1101 in patients with psoriasis. ATL1101 is a second-generation antisense drug designed to block the synthesis of the IGF-1 receptor, a protein involved in the regulation of cell overgrowth in psoriasis. ATL1101 is based on Carlsbad, Calif.-based Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s second-generation antisense chemistry, called 2-0-methoxyethyl, and is being developed as a cream for the topical treatment of mild to moderate cases of psoriasis.

• Bioenvision Inc., of New York, said that its board adopted a stockholder rights plan under which all stockholders of record as of Nov. 29 will receive rights to purchase shares of a new series of preferred stock. The effect will be to discourage acquisitions of Bioenvision's common stock without first negotiating with the board. The rights will be exercisable only if a person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15 percent or more of the outstanding common stock or announces a tender offer for more than 15 percent of the stock.

• Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., of Belleville, Ontario, presented positive data at the 98th annual meeting of l'Association Francaise d'Urologie in Paris, demonstrating the anticancer-activity profile of its Mycobacterial Cell Wall-DNA Complex (MCC) to treat bladder cancer. Results showed MCC's ability to induce urinary cytokines and apoptotic markers following intravesical administration. The company is preparing to move MCC, also called Urocidin, into a Phase III trial in North America and Europe comparing it directly with the standard therapy BCG.

• Celgene Corp., of Warren, N.J., entered a multiyear target-discovery collaboration with Galapagos Genomics NV, of Mechelen, Belgium. Galapagos' wholly owned services unit, Galadeno, will provide Celgene with its adenoviral siRNA and cDNA libraries, SilenceSelect and FLeXSelect. Celgene will use the libraries across research programs to study disease pathways and identify new drug targets. Financial terms were not disclosed.

• Cell Genesys Inc., of South San Francisco, said the initial purchasers in its private placement of $110 million of 3.125 percent convertible senior notes due 2011 have elected to exercise in full their option to purchase an additional $35 million in notes. The notes will be convertible into Cell Genesys common stock at a conversion price of $9.10 per share. The exercise of the option will bring the gross proceeds of the private placement to $145 million, upon closing.

• CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Newtown, Pa., completed patient screening and enrollment of more than 240 patients in its multicenter, placebo-controlled Phase III study of Periostat MR for adult periodontitis. Designed to last nine months, it will evaluate clinical attachment levels and periodontal pocket depths. The compound is a once-daily, modified-release formulation of Periostat, the company's lead product in the same indication. CollaGenex expects the study to complete in the third quarter.

• CytImmune Sciences Inc., of Rockville, Md., said the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology granted the company a $2 million Advanced Technology Program award. With the award, CytImmune will use its colloidal gold nanoparticles to develop a semi-synthetic human immune system in vitro to produce wholly human monoclonal antibody therapeutics. The company said the award, along with sponsorship from the National Cancer Institute, provides it with the resources necessary to begin a Phase I trial in 2005 of its first colloidal gold-based product, Aurimune-T.

• Elan Corp. plc, of Dublin, Ireland, received a positive recommendation from the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for Prialt to be indicated to treat severe chronic pain in patients who require intrathecal analgesia. The recommendation is proposed for final marketing approval by the European Commission, which typically makes its decision within three months.

• Exact Sciences Corp., of Marlborough, Mass., amended its exclusive licensing agreement with the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to include the PIK3CA gene. Researchers have identified the link between mutations in PIK3CA and colon and other cancers. The company gained exclusive, long-term rights to the PIK3CA gene for use in connection with colorectal cancer screening from stool samples. Exact Sciences said the addition of the gene to a re-configured PreGen-Plus assay might result in greater assay sensitivity.

• Genomatix Corp., of Roanoke, Va., expanded its kinase knockdown solutions to include custom multigenic vectors designed to cause the concurrent knockdown of specific kinases across micro-domains. Kinase knockdown vectors can be ordered with multiple transgenes integrated into a single insert, the company said.

• Geron Corp., of Menlo Park, Calif., said studies presented at the Cell Transplant Society Meeting in Boston show that insulin-producing cells can be differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The company reported improvements in the differentiation and characterization of the cells and early engraftment results from transplant studies in animal models. Geron is focused on improving the yield and purity of hESC-derived islet cells to advance preclinical studies in models of diabetes. Geron separately announced that functional cardiomyocytes also can be differentiated from hESCs.

• Gilead Sciences Inc., of Foster City, Calif., said the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency, recommended approval for Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) in the 25 member states of the European Union. The recommended indication is for the treatment of HIV-infected adults in combination with other antiretroviral agents. Truvada combines Emtriva (emtricitabine) and Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) in one tablet taken once a day in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

• Ibex Technologies Inc., of Montreal, said its board unanimously recommended to the company's shareholders that they reject the unsolicited offer by IMI International Medical Innovations Inc., of Toronto, and not tender their shares. Orion Securities Inc. provided the board with an opinion that the $9 million offer is financially inadequate and less than Ibex's cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $10.5 million. The company also said there are prospects for a better proposal.

• Kereos Inc., of St. Louis, extended its research partnership with Washington University in St. Louis to continue ongoing development of therapeutics that target unstable plaque. They are developing a ligand-targeted product designed to locate such plaques at an early stage. The project is being funded under a new $7.3 million grant awarded to Washington University School of Medicine from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md.

• Lorus Therapeutics Inc., of Toronto, initiated a Phase II trial of its antisense drug, GTI-2040, in combination with docetaxel and prednisone in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. GTI-2040 binds to the messenger RNA that encodes the R2 component of ribonucleotide reductase.

• Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., said its researchers and colleagues in Canada and Germany discovered a gene and six mutations of it that cause symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Their discovery will be published in the Nov. 18, 2004, issue of Neuron. The team found a mutation of the gene, named LRRK2, in members of six families with many individuals affected by Parkinson's disease.

• Medicure Inc., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, started the development program for a drug combining MC-1 and an Angiotensin Receptor Blocker. The new product, MC-4262, is being developed for use in the treatment of hypertension in patients whose condition is complicated with metabolic syndrome resulting in increased cardiovascular risk.

• Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, of Boca Raton, Fla., lost 5.2 percent of its stock value Thursday after reporting inconclusive Phase II results of Altastaph (Staphylococcus aureus immune globulin intravenous [human]), its polyclonal antibody for the prevention and treatment of S. aureus infections. The trial, conducted in 200 premature, low-birth-weight neonates, demonstrated the compound was safe with a good pharmacokinetic profile and post-administration antibody levels were above the target level. However, the incident rate of infection was 3 percent vs. an expected 5 percent to 7 percent; only three infections were reported in both the placebo and treatment group. The product has orphan drug and fast-track status. Nabi plans to focus on its next-generation Altastaph product to prevent bacterial infections in neonates. Its shares (NASDAQ:NABI) fell 79 cents Thursday to close at $14.48.

• NeoPharm Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill., dosed the first patient in the Phase I study of LErafAON (liposome-entrapped c-raf antisense oligonucleotide) in advanced cancers. The primary endpoint in the dose-escalation study, which will test pharmacokinetics and tumor treatment effect, is dose-limiting toxicity and maximum tolerated dose. The compound uses the company's NeoPhectin cationic cardiolipin technology. The study is being conducted at the Arizona Cancer Center in collaboration with the Translational Genomic Research Institute.

• PowderMed Ltd., of Oxford, UK, reported positive results in a Phase I trial of a prophylactic DNA influenza vaccine. All three doses passed the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products criteria at 56 days and the maximum dose passed the criteria at 21 days and was well tolerated.

• Vaccinex Inc., of Rochester, N.Y., and Biocon Ltd., of Bangalore, India, formed a partnership to discover and co-develop at least four therapeutic antibody products. The collaboration combines Vaccinex's capabilities to discover fully human monoclonal antibodies using its antibody discovery technology and Biocon's knowledge in clinical research and biologics manufacturing. The companies will focus on antibodies directed at cancer, inflammation and autoimmune disease. Biocon also will make an equity investment in Vaccinex.

• Viral Genetics Inc., of Azusa, Calif., completed a private placement of 8 million shares of restricted common stock, and warrants to purchase 4 million additional shares, for $2 million. The warrants allow the holder to purchase 4 million additional shares at $1 per share, and are exercisable until Nov. 17, 2006. Viral Genetics will receive net proceeds of $1.85 million. The purchaser now holds 9.1 percent of the company's common shares, issued and outstanding. Viral Genetics intends to use the proceeds in pursuing an investigational new drug application in the U.S. in 2005. The company is focused on treating infectious diseases.