* Applied DNA Systems Inc., of Warwick, R.I., has registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell 700,000 shares of common stock. The public offering will be underwritten by Starr Securities. Applied DNA is a subsidiary of Analytical Biosystems Corp., also of Warwick, R.I. * Therion Biologics Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., has signed a five- year collaborative research and development agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to develop cancer vaccines. Therion's research involves creating vaccines based on live swinepox and vaccinia viruses that express genes encoding tumor- associated antigens, cytokines and T cell co-stimulatory factors. Under the agreement, NCI will supply Therion with the genes. * Hycor Biomedical Inc., of Irvine Calif., has paid $2 million to acquire Medical Specialties International Inc., of South Plainfield, N.J. The purchase agreement included 200,000 shares of Hycor stock, plus additional payments based on performance. * Mycogen Corp., of San Diego, has applied with the Environmental Protection Agency for approval to market genetically engineered corn seeds which are resistant to insect damage. The hybrid seeds produce a protein that is designed to protect against European corn borers. * Xenometrix Inc., of Boulder, Colo., has licensed tests based on its stress gene assay and genotoxicity assay systems to Funakoshi Ltd., of Tokyo, for marketing in Japan. Xenometrix retains worldwide marketing rights outside Japan. * Epigen Inc., of Wellesley, Mass., said the American Stock Exchange halted trading of the company Sept. 28. on the Emerging Company Marketplace. Epigen said it is seeking a private stock placement of between $1.2 million and $7 million in an effort to resume trading on the AMEX. * Parcelsian Inc., of Ithaca, N.Y., has signed an agreement with Idexx Laboratories Corp., of Westport, Maine, to develop a cancer test for animals. * Medarex Inc., of Annandale, N.J., said its MDX-210 bispecific antibody therapy for treatment of prostate cancer will be evaluated in a clinical trial conducted by researchers at Dartmouth University Medical School, in Hanover, N.H. The study is being funded by the Association for the Cure of Cancer of the Prostate. * CSL Ltd., of Victoria, Australia, has acquired a majority interest in Sweden-based Iscotec AB, a research and development company specializing in vaccine adjuvants. CSL is expected to launch clinical trials of an Iscotec-developed adjuvanted influenza vaccine in early 1995. * Ribi ImmunoChem Research Inc., of Hamilton, Mont., and SmithKline Beecham Corp., of Philadelphia, reported that Phase II trials of the former's MPL immunomodulator, a vaccine adjuvant, enhanced the affect of SmithKline's genital herpes vaccine in a study of 80 patients. A Phase III trial of the herpes vaccine with MPL is expected to begin this month. Vaccines will be given to uninfected people who are in steady sexual relationships with infected partners.

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