Formatech Inc., of Andover, Mass., was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,345,093, titled "Methods for Enhancing Solubility of Compounds." It covers formulation methods to enhance the solubility of hydrophobic compounds.

Genzyme Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Carlsbad, Calif., received U.S. Patent No. 7,407,943, titled "Antisense Modulation of Apolipoprotein B Expression." It covers the use of antisense compounds targeting the apoB messenger RNA except a ribozyme.

Geron Corp., of Menlo Park, Calif., received U.S. Patent No. 7,425,448, covering cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells. Geron's GRNCM1 program is developing hESC-derived cardiomyocytes to treat heart disease.

Helix BioMedix Inc., of Bothell, Wash., received U.S. Patent No. 7,407,940, which covers a family of hexapeptide antimicrobial agents, including HB1345, for use as broad-spectrum topical anti-infectives.

Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Lexington, Mass., was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,410,978, titled "Once Daily Dosage Forms of Trospium," which covers Sanctura XR. The patent was licensed by Rockville, Md.-based Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Lipid Sciences Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif., received U.S. Patent No. 7,407,662, titled "Modified Viral Particles with Immunogenic Properties and Reduced Lipid Content," and U.S. Patent No. 7,407,663, titled "Modified Immunodeficiency Virus Particles." Both patents cover aspects of the company's Viral Immunotherapy program.

Ocimum Biosolutions, of Gaithersburg, Md., was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,415,358 B2, titled "Molecular toxicology modeling," which describes elucidation of the global changes in gene expression and identification of toxicity markers in tissues or cells exposed to a known renal toxin.

Optimata Ltd., of Ramat Gan, Israel, was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,418,374, titled "Treatment protocol generation for diseases related to angiogenesis." It protects a system and methods for modeling diseases, which relate to angiogenesis processes and optimization methods to predict improved treatment regimens.

Panacea Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., was granted U.S. Patent No. 7,413,737, which covers antibodies against human aspartyl (asparaginyl) beta-hydroxylase, a human cancer biomarker and therapeutic target.

Prometheus Laboratories Inc., of San Diego, received U.S. Patent No. 7,361,733, titled "Compositions and Methods for the Therapy and Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease." It covers a flagellin peptide useful in the detection of antibodies to the flagellin CBir1, or anti-CBir1, for determining the presence of IBD.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Rockville, Md., received U.S. Patent No. 7,405,214, titled "Nucleoside Derivatives and Therapeutic Use Thereof." It covers cancer compound RX-3117, a nucleoside chemotherapy agent.

Tobira Therapeutics Inc., of Princeton, N.J., received U.S. Patent No. 7,371,772B2, which covers the use of TBR-652, a CCR5 antagonist in Phase I development in HIV-1 infection.

Urigen Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Burlingame, Calif., received U.S. Patent No. 7,414,039, which covers the use of URG101 in painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

VioQuest Pharmaceuticals, of Basking Ridge, N.J., was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,416,723, titled "Therapeutic compositions and methods useful in modulating protein tyrosine phosphases." It encompasses compositions, including Lenocta, in cancer and other diseases.

Ziopharm Oncology Inc., of New York, received a notice of allowance for a patent covering certain methods for treating multidrug-resistant tumors or inhibiting metastasis with various compounds, including indibulin.