Nereus Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,365,768 for a new class of interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha modulators.

SemBioSys Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,372,234, which ensures coverage of topical oil body formulations containing antibodies as an active agent.

Valentis Inc., of Burlingame, Calif., said Syntex Corp., of Palo Alto, Calif., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,387,395, covering the use of positively charged lipids for delivery of nucleic acids to cells. Syntex and Valentis share exclusive rights for in vivo gene delivery.

Vical Inc., of San Diego, was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,399,588, covering the gene-based delivery of interleukin-2 for the treatment of cancer.

Zygogen LLC, of Atlanta, said the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta was awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,380,458 titled "Transgenic Fish With Tissue-Specific Expression."