* IDEC Pharmaceuticals Corp., of San Diego, acquired the small molecule anticancer agent 9-aminocamptothecin from Pharmacia & Upjohn, of Kalamazoo, Mich., for $3 million plus additional payments based on development milestones. Sale of the drug, which is in Phase II trials, was required by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission as a condition for the 1995 merger of Pharmacia AB and The Upjohn Co.

* Immune Response Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., began a Phase II trial of Remune, its HIV therapeutic vaccine, in combination with two reverse transcriptase inhibitors (AZT and 3TC) and a protease inhibitor (Crixivan). AZT and 3TC are sold by London-based Glaxo Wellcome plc and Crixivan is marketed by Merck & Co., of Whitehouse Station, N.J.

* Quintiles Transnational Corp., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., expanded its contract research operations in East Asia by opening offices in Hong Kong.