• Carrington Laboratories Inc., of Irving, Texas, said its DelSite Biotechnologies Inc. subsidiary initiated animal toxicology studies of the GelVac nasal powder influenza vaccine, incorporating an H5N1 (bird flu) antigen. Pending successful results and discussions with the antigen supplier, DelSite would expect to apply late this year to begin a Phase I human safety study.

• Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc., of Cumberland, R.I., provided an update on its Tri-Nasal (triamcinolone acetonide) nasal spray product that was acquired from Muro Pharmaceutical Inc., of Norwell, Mass. The product had been approved for treating allergic rhinitis before being subject to a Class III voluntary recall for low potency found in certain lots. Collegium expects to file a supplement to the NDA by the end of 2007 on the reformulated product, renamed AllerNase. The company, in cooperation with Accentia Biopharmaceuticals Inc., of Tampa, Fla., which currently holds U.S. commercial rights, is exploring options with other potential U.S. partners for commercialization of the product.

• CombiMatrix Corp., of Mukilteo, Wash., and Acacia Research Corp., of Newport Beach, Calif., said CombiMatrix completed the split-off from Acacia through the redemption of all outstanding shares of Acacia Research-CombiMatrix common stock. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 28, 2006.)

• CytoGenix Inc., of Houston, said it completed the first supply agreement to provide DNA products to one of its customers. The customer will purchase its entire requirements of DNA products from CytoGenix for the term of the agreement.

• Novavax Inc., of Rockville, Md., announced publication of research findings in the Aug. 1, 2007 online issue of the Journal of Virology. Results demonstrated the potential of its virus-like particle technology to create a vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS. The paper described new ways to maximize the incorporation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 into VLPs.

• Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Miami, said it completed the previously announced acquisition of JDS Pharmaceuticals LLC, of New York. JDS markets two branded prescription psychiatry products through a targeted sales force and is advancing a pipeline of products in psychiatry and women's health. Noven paid $125 million cash for JDS, and assumed about $10 million in liabilities.

• Omicia Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., received a $182,732 grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for a project with Johns Hopkins University to identify genes whose variants increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Researchers will develop data-mining algorithms to select sets of genes, or modules, that give rise to similar phenotypes across the range of model organisms.

• PharmAthene Inc., of Annapolis, Md., said proceedings have been initiated with the Delaware Chancery Court to affirm the validity of the merger between Healthcare Acquisition Corp. and PharmAthene. The court's determination that the merger was validly approved and consummated would give PharmAthene access to funds held in escrow. The certificate of merger was filed Aug. 3. Shares of PharmAthene began trading on the American Stock Exchange Aug. 7.

• Progen Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Brisbane, Australia, said the Committee for Orphan Medical Products of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products adopted a positive opinion on granting orphan medicinal product designation to PI-88 for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, or primary liver cancer. The opinion will be submitted to the European Commission for orphan designation determination. PI-88 is an agent designed to inhibit both angiogenesis factors and heparanase. Progen this year plans to launch a Phase III trial to evaluate disease-free survival in patients with post-operative primary liver cancer.

• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Jerusalem, and MediWound Ltd., of Yavne, Israel, formed a commercialization agreement regarding MediWound's Phase III burn debridement product, Debrase. Teva gained commercialization rights to the drug in certain countries in exchange for purchasing $10 million in shares from MediWound's shareholders and $5 million in newly issued shares. Teva retains an option to acquire commercialization rights in Europe and North America by purchasing 51 percent of MediWound's shares. Concurrently, MediWound sold $15 million in newly issued shares to certain institutional and private investors.