• AlphaVax Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., reported interim data from a Phase I trial of an influenza vaccine based on the company's replicon vector technology showing that, to date, the vaccine has been safe and well tolerated. The trial involves 216 healthy volunteers, and data comes from an analysis of samples taken four weeks after a single dose of the vaccine at one of two dosage levels. Among those subjects who had pre-vaccination influenza serum antibody titers below levels deemed protective against flu, 77 percent receiving the low dose of the vaccine and 80 percent receiving the higher dose demonstrated protective HI serum antibody titers after a single dose. Results were irrespective of the route of administration used. A trial for pandemic influenza vaccine is set to begin late this year.

• Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc., of Needham, Mass., started enrolling a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase II study of its typhoid fever vaccine candidate, Ty800, in about 180 healthy adult volunteers. The study is a dose-ranging clinical trial that will evaluate two dose levels of the single-dose, oral Ty800 vaccine and will follow each subject for six months post-vaccination. The objectives are to determine the optimal dose of Ty800 for further development based on the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the vaccine. The study is being conducted by Accelovance Inc., of Rockville, Md., at five clinical sites across the U.S.

• Cadence Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said the FDA agreed with the company's plan to increase the number of patients to be enrolled in the ongoing Phase III trial Omigard (omiganan pentahydrochloride) gel from 1,250 to 1,850. Cadence also said that in June, the firm completed enrollment of the original target of 1,250 patients in the trial, which is known as the Central Line Infection Reduction Study, or CLIRS, two months ahead of schedule. Omigard is partnered with Migenix Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia.

• Intellect Neurosciences Inc., of New York, obtained validated data and an audited report describing the results of a Phase Ia trial with Oxigon. Kendle, a global clinical research organization, conducted the trial at its Phase I Clinical Pharmacology Unit in the Netherlands under an Ethics Committee approval in Utrecht. The trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-escalating dose study in 54 elderly healthy volunteers. Intellect designed the trial to determine the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of Oxigon with and without food interactions. The results of the trial showed no serious adverse effects in any of the subjects throughout the dose levels. Oxigon is described as a chemically synthesized form of a small, naturally occurring molecule that has unique anti-fibrillogenic, neuroprotectant and antioxidant properties.

• Lipid Sciences Inc., of Hayward, Calif., said enrollment is complete for two-thirds, or 20 out of a total target of 30 patients, in the company's safety and feasibility trial of HDL Selective Delipidation at the Washington Hospital Center, and procedures continue to be well tolerated by all patients. The firm also got approval from the FDA to add three hospital sites, and aims to complete the trial by the end of the year.

• Medivation Inc., of San Francisco, has begun treatment of the first patient in its Phase II trial of Dimebon to treat Huntington's disease. Medivation has expanded patient enrollment in the trial by 20 percent - to 90 patients - to enhance the ability to detect differences between Dimebon and placebo. The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial will evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of Dimebon after three months of dosing. The primary efficacy endpoint is the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale. Results are expected in the first half of 2008.

• TargeGen Inc., of San Diego, initiated a Phase II trial of topically applied TG100801 in patients with age-related macular degeneration. The product, administered as an eye drop, is designed to suppress VEGF-mediated leakage and additional kinase targets associated with inflammation, edema and angiogenesis, which characterize AMD and other back-of-the-eye diseases, such as diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.