• Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., reported clinical data from a Phase Ib pilot trial showing that its antiphosphatidylserine monoclonal antibody bavituximab, in combination with chemotherapy, appeared to have a safety profile consistent with chemotherapy alone and showed positive signs of clinical activity in a number of tumor types, achieving objective response or disease stabilization in 50 percent of the evaluable patients. Those data were presented at the International Symposium on Anti-Angiogenic Agents in La Jolla, Calif. Peregrine recently received regulatory approval to start three Phase II trial of bavituximab plus chemotherapy in breast cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer.

• Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Irvine, Calif., said the first patients received SPI-1620 in a Phase I study in recurrent or progressive carcinoma. SPI-1620 is a selective endothelin-B agonist in development as an adjunct to cancer chemotherapy. In preclinical studies, administration of the drug 15 minutes prior to chemotherapy demonstrated an up to 400 percent increase in drug concentration in the tumors.

• Symbollon Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Framingham, Mass., completed its IoGen Phase III pivotal trial and anticipates locking the database in March 2008, with trial results released at that time. The 140-patient study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of IoGen, a nonhormonal therapy aimed at treating moderate to severe cyclic pain and tenderness associated with fibrocystic breast disease.

• Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corp., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., reported results from a Phase III study in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy showing that Gamunex (immune globulin intravenous [human] 10 percent caprylate/chromatography purified) was able to reduce functional disability, while also demonstrating a prolonged time to relapse and a decreased probability of relapse longer term (up to one year). The primary endpoint, response in functional disability, was observed in 54 percent of subjects treated with Gamunex compared to 21 percent on placebo at six months. Longer term, the probability of relapse was lower with Gamunex, 13 percent vs. 45 percent on placebo. Results of the study were published in The Lancet Neurology.

• VGX Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Blue Bell, Pa., submitted an investigational new drug application for Phase I studies of VGX-3200 in late-stage cancer patients. VGX-3200 is an injectable DNA plasmid-based therapeutic that expresses human growth hormone-releasing hormone protein. In preclinical studies, administration of GHRH plasmid with VGX's Cellectra electroporation device was shown to increase insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels, ameliorate cachexia, improve anemia, prolong survival and improve quality of life in dogs with cancer.