• Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, reported fourth-quarter net sales of $176.3 million for Byetta (exenatide) injection and $18.4 million for Symlin (pramlintide acetate) injection, which accounted for all of the firm's $194.7 million in net sales for the fourth quarter. Byetta and Symlin are injectable medicines used to improve glucose control in adults with diabetes. Amylin reported a net loss of $76.9 million, or 57 cents per share, which includes a full year noncash expense of about $17 million associated with the adoption of an employee stock ownership plan. For the year, Amylin posted a net loss of $211.1 million, or $1.59 per share, compared with a loss of $218.9 million, or $1.78 per share, in 2006. Total 2007 revenues were $781 million. As of Dec. 31, the company had $1.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.

• Cell Therapeutics Inc., of Seattle, said shareholders on Monday approved a proxy proposal to increase the number of authorized shares from 110 million to 210 million and to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 100 million to 200 million. The company said the increases would provide flexibility for future growth.

• Compugen Ltd., of Tel Aviv, Israel, announced results from initial in vivo validation studies of CGEN-855A and CGEN-855B, two novel peptide agonists of the FPRL1 G-protein coupled receptor, which may serve as anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective drug candidates. In a study based on an in vivo model of acute myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, CGEN-855A and CGEN-855B both were shown to afford significant dose-dependent protection against reperfusion injury and reduce infarct size by up to 36 percent. That effect was accompanied by a dose-dependent reduction of up to 50 percent in plasma levels of troponin I. In another study, both CGEN-855A and CGEN-855B showed up to 50 percent inhibition of acute inflammation in a mouse air-pouch model.

• Cryo-Cell International Inc., of Oldsmar, Fla., formalized a research and development agreement with Saneron CCEL Therapeutics Inc., of Tampa, Fla. Saneron will collaborate on research involving C'elle stem cell technology in preclinical models for certain neurological diseases and disorders. C'elle stem cells are derived from menstrual flow, which results from the shedding of the uterine lining (endometrium) during menstruation and contains millions of stem cells that have many properties and characteristics similar to those of both bone marrow and embryonic stem cells.

• DOR BioPharma Inc., of Ewing, N.J., has achieved a two-year milestone in the long-term stability program of the key ingredient of RiVax, a recombinant subunit vaccine against ricin toxin. RiVax is intended to protect against exposure to ricin toxin that might result from the purposeful release of ricin in an aerosolized form, or as a poisonous contaminant in food or water. The results of the two-year analysis showed it is stable under storage conditions for at least two years. The vaccine is considered a potential for the Strategic National Stockpile and dispensed in the event of a terrorist attack.

• Meridian Bioscience Inc., of Cincinnati, appointed Jack Kraeutler chief executive officer. Kraeutler joined the company in January 1992 as president and chief operating officer. In addition, the board of directors named Bill Motto executive chairman. Motto founded Meridian and previously held the title of chairman and chief executive officer.

• SemBioSys Genetics Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, has signed an option agreement with The Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia Rosario SA (INDEAR) in Argentina. The latter is a joint venture company formed by Bio Sidus AG SA and Bioceres SA to develop manufacturing and development capabilities for agricultural biotechnology products for South American markets. Under the terms of the agreement, INDEAR will evaluate the utility of using plant-produced chymosin for the production of cheese in South America. SemBioSys will receive an option fee and will be eligible to collect an up-front license fee, possible milestone payments and royalties or other form of profit-sharing in the event INDEAR chooses to exercise their option. Financial terms were not disclosed.

• The Medicines Co., of Parsippany, N.J., has received European Commission approval for an expanded use for Angiox (bivalirudin) in adult patients with acute coronary syndromes, specifically patients with unstable angina or non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction planned for urgent or early intervention, when used with aspirin and clopidogrel. A clinical trial of 13,819 patients with acute coronary syndromes showed that Angiox with or without a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor (GPI) resulted in similar rates of ischemic clinical outcomes compared to standard therapy of heparin (unfractionated or enoxaparin) plus a GPI.

• Vivalis, of Nantes, France, and the Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (Kaketsuken) in Kumamoto, Japan, said they are extending their collaboration in the testing of Vivalis' EBx cells for the production of human and veterinary viral vaccines. The expanded license covers two additional viruses, one in human disease and one in veterinary medicine. Vivalis previously granted Kaketsuken rights to the EBx cell lines (avian embryonic-derived stem cell lines) to evaluate the EBx platform in the production of Kaketsuken's human and animal vaccines. Terms were not disclosed.