• Cell Therapeutics Inc., of Seattle, said its wholly-owned subsidiary, Systems Medicine LLC, revealed preliminary data from a Phase I trial combining brostallicin with cisplatin in solid tumors. Of the first 21 patients treated in the Phase I dose-escalation trial, 14 experienced stable disease and half of those 14 patients had durable stable disease for more than six cycles of therapy. Phase II trials are planned combining Brostallicin, a synthetic, second-generation DNA minor groove binder, with cisplatin.

• GNI Ltd., of Tokyo, said Chinese regulatory authorities cleared its investigational new drug application for F351, a drug that inhibits the overproduction of collagen by liver fibroblasts in liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. GNI's affiliate Shanghai Genomics Inc. is preparing to begin a Phase I clinical trial.