• Aida Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Hangzhou, China, has received approval from the State Food and Drug Administration of China to begin Phase II clinical trials of the genetic cancer treatment Rh-Apo2L, the Category A biopharmaceutical currently in development phase by the Company's subsidiary Shanghai Qiaer Biotechnology Co., Ltd. of Shanghai. The Phase II trials will analyze the effect of Rh-Apo2L on two types of tumors chosen from the following cancers: advanced inert lymphoma, malignant melanoma, soft tissue sarcoma, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Aida Pharmaceuticals will continue to analyze the dosage and effectiveness of Rh-Apo2L and its interactions with other drugs. The trials will analyze the efficacy of Rh-Apo2L in 100 patients in 20 hospitals in metropolitan areas throughout China.

• AtheroGenics Inc., of Atlanta, refined its guidance on its top-line results from the ARISE (Aggressive Reduction of Inflammation Stops Events) Phase III trial, stating that data would be available on AGI-1067 no sooner than late in the first quarter. AGI-1067 is an oral drug candidate for coronary artery disease. The news caused AtheroGenics' stock (NASDAQ:AGIX) to fall 10.1 percent, or $1.26, Tuesday to close at $11.20.

• Osiris Therapeutics Inc., of Baltimore, gained clearance to conduct Phase III trials using Prochymal in patients with a resistant form of Crohn's disease that does not respond to standard therapies. Up to 258 subjects initially are set to be enrolled in each trial, and the primary endpoint will be the induction of disease remission 28 days after treatment. Patients who respond to treatment will be eligible for re-treatment under a separate study protocol. The FDA granted Prochymal, a preparation of mesenchymal stem cells formulated for intravenous infusion, fast-track designation in that indication. Osiris also is studying Prochymal in graft-vs.-host disease, and is enrolling patients in a Phase III study.

• The Medicines Co., of Parsippany, N.J., said its three Phase II safety trials of Cleviprex (clevidipine), an intravenous, ultrashort-acting calcium channel blocker, met their prespecified objectives. The company anticipates filing for marketing approval during the first half of this year to treat patients with severely elevated blood pressure in the hospital setting who are unable or do not want to take oral therapy. The ECLIPSE safety studies enrolled 1,500 patients in the perioperative treatment of hypertension and compared Cleviprex to active comparators: nitroglycerin, sodium nitroprusside and nicardipine. Investigators measured the incidence of death, stroke, myocardial infarction and renal dysfunction as the primary objectives.