• Adventrx Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, presented results demonstrating synergistic HIV inhibitory activity of its broad spectrum antiviral drug candidate, ANX-201, when combined with approved nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (N(t)RTI) in preclinical tests. The results were presented at the 4th Annual International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Sydney, Australia. The preclinical results suggested that ANX-201 and commonly prescribed N(t)RTIs represent a promising combination in multidrug antiretroviral therapy, the company said.

• Affymetrix Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., and Partners HealthCare, of Boston, have extended their translational research collaboration with a new contract array manufacturing supply agreement, enabling Partners researchers to transform recent microarray discoveries into fully validated, laboratory-developed molecular diagnostic tests. Affymetrix will create custom microarrays based on the recent discovery data from Partners researchers. The arrays will be used to produce molecular diagnostic tests, which will be validated and implemented by Partners HealthCare. Partners will begin focusing on array-based tests for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and will explore many indications in a large number of diseases. Terms were not disclosed.

• Alfacell Corp., of Somerset, N.J., said a paper published in Cancer Biology & Therapy confirmed previous in vitro research that the cytotoxic effects of Onconase results from its catalytic activity. The paper is the result of preclinical research conducted by Alfacell and collaborators at Martin-Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, that investigated the relationship between the stability and ribonucleolytic activity of Onconase and several genetically engineered variants of it, and their cytostatic and cytotoxic properties in several tumor cell lines.

• Amorfix Life Sciences Ltd., of Toronto, received notice from Cambridge, Mass.-based Biogen Idec Inc. that it will be exercising the first milestone investment under the companies' August 2006 research and investment agreement. That investment allows Biogen to retain its exclusive worldwide option to license Amorfix's drug candidates for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Under the terms, Biogen will subscribe for 91,445 shares of Amorfix priced at C$1.76 (US$1.69) per share for gross proceeds of $150,000. The research collaboration is focused on the role of monoclonal antibodies targeted to misfolded superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in ALS, and to date, Amorfix has demonstrated that a targeted immunotherapy approach can diminish the motor neuron effects of ALS in animals. If Biogen chooses to exercise its option for the program, Amorfix will receive an up-front payment, potential milestones in excess of $25 million, plus royalties on any product sales.

• Arius Research Inc., of Toronto, has initiated the first study, a dose-finding toxicology study, in the formal preclinical toxicology program for its lead anti-CD44 drug candidate, which is under development for the treatment of breast, prostate and liver cancers. Arius expects to file an investigational new drug application and begin human clinical trials in 2008. ARIUS is developing its novel CD44-targeting antibody for the treatment of solid tumors such as breast, prostate and liver cancers.

• BioLineRx Ltd., of Jerusalem, and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana have entered into an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement to research, develop and commercialize BL-4030, a small molecule for treating cancer. Financial terms were not disclosed. BL-4030 is designed to induce apoptosis by activating a specific protein called procaspase 3. The compound takes advantage of the fact that procaspase 3 levels are highly elevated in certain cancers, and activation of procaspase 3 may kill only malignant cells and spare normal cells that have low levels of the apoptotic protein. Cancers with elevated levels of procaspase 3 include lung and breast cancer, certain lymphomas, melanoma and certain liver and nervous system cancers.

• Depomed Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., and Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Corona, Calif, have entered into a co-promotion agreement for ProQuin XR, Depomed's extended-release formulation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Under the agreement, Depomed granted Watson a co-exclusive right to promote ProQuin XR for the urology and long-term care specialties in the U.S. and its possessions, including Puerto Rico. Depomed will book top-line revenue and Watson will receive a portion of the profits. Watson and Depomed plan to re-launch ProQuin XR in the U.S. urology market by the end of this year. Depomed retains manufacturing and distribution rights, and Watson will be responsible for promotion to physicians in urology and long-term care.

• Genzyme Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), of Brazil, have formed a research collaboration on neglected diseases, focusing initially on Chagas disease, a life-threatening infectious disease affecting millions of people in Latin America. One research program will focus on identifying novel biological targets within the parasite that causes Chagas disease and will include screening for potential compounds that affect those targets, which could be developed into drugs. A second program will test the effectiveness of using monoclonal antibodies to neutralize a protein that contributes to heart damage in Chagas disease, known as transforming growth factor-beta. Scientists from each institution will work in each other's laboratories from time to time. The collaboration includes providing Fiocruz rights to commercial uses within the field of neglected disease on a royalty-free basis. Specific terms were not disclosed.

• Grifols SA, of Barcelona, Spain, and Cerus Corp., of Concord, Calif., have entered into an agreement to commercialize Cerus' Intercept Blood System in Spain and Portugal. The system is designed to provide increased protection from a broad range of transfusion-transmitted pathogens. Under terms of the agreement, Grifols and Cerus will sell, deploy and support the system in Spanish and Portuguese blood centers. In addition, Grifols will be responsible for servicing the Intercept system illuminators and will manage the supply chain through its distribution sites in Spain and Portugal. Financial details were not disclosed.

• IDM Pharma Inc., of Irvine, Calif., said it recently informed the FDA that it intends to take immediate action to supplement the data in its current new drug application for mifamurtide (L-MTP-PE), formerly known as Junovan, which is being reviewed for the treatment of children and adolescents with non-metastatic osteosarcoma. The company plans to submit additional data on whether subjects in the Phase III trial remain alive or have died, which was not available at the time of filing of the NDA in October 2006. After the data are analyzed, the company expects to submit an amendment to the NDA by the first quarter of 2008. In May the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 12 to 2 that the data in the NDA do not provide substantial evidence of effectiveness of L-MTP-PE in the treatment of patients with non-metastatic, resectable osteosarcoma receiving combination chemotherapy. The company anticipates an FDA decision in late August.

• Illumina Inc., of San Diego, has entered into a collaboration with the Institute of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania; the Broad Institute; and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Candidate-gene Association REsource Consortium to develop a customized chip for vascular disease. Called the IBC chip, the array will be developed to analyze more than 55,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in candidate genes selected for cardiovascular and other associated phenotypes. Researchers, using Illumina's iSelect Custom Genotyping BeadChip, will assess the genetic diversity within pathways of approximately 2,100 genes believed to underpin primary and secondary vascular disease processes, such as blood pressure, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, insulin resistance, metabolic disorders, dyslipidemia and inflammation. More than 120,000 samples from large population studies and clinical trials will be analyzed for genetic links to vascular disease.

• InterMune Inc., of Brisbane, Calif., saw its shares fall nearly $2 Monday after an analyst reported possible delays in an expected Phase Ib trial of ITMN-191 in hepatitis C. Analyst Howard Liang, of Leerink, Swann & Co. wrote in a research note that there has been "at least a slight delay relative to our expectations," though he maintained an "outperform" rating on the stock and said the overall program remains on track. ITMN-191, a NS3/4 protease inhibitor, is partnered with Basel, Switzerland-based F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Shares of InterMune (NASDAQ:ITMN) lost $1.95, or 7.8 percent, to close at $22.99.

• Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, of Boca Raton, Fla., has created the second of its two planned strategic business units, called Nabi Pharmaceuticals, and has eliminated 33 positions in its Rockville, Md., research and development facility. That reduction - approximately 5 percent of the company's total current work force - is expected to yield approximately $3.3 million in savings on an annualized basis. The new unit will be responsible for the NicVAX (Nicotine Conjugate Vaccine) and StaphVAX (Staphylococcus aureus Polysaccharide Conjugate Vaccine) development programs, as well as for the continuing milestone-related development obligations following the sale of PhosLo (calcium acetate). The company previously had announced it created the Nabi Biologics unit, as well as a corporate shared services group, to support those business units.

• Nuon Therapeutics Inc., of San Francisco, completed its licensing, supply and collaboration agreement with Kissei Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Matsumoto City, Japan, for tranilast, a product marketed in Japan and Korea for bronchial asthma. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the agreement gives Nuon worldwide rights to develop tranilast in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, pain and other indications. Kissei retains the exclusive option right for research, development and marketing of the drug in Japan and Korea in the field of autoimmune diseases, and the agreement establishes a collaborative relationship between the companies for the development of additional portfolio products.

• Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., said its proposal to investigate bavituximab and other anti-phosphotidylserine antibodies as potential therapies for hemorrhagic fever virus (HFV) infections was selected for a contract award by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), pending negotiation of a final contract, expected to be awarded within the next few months. In its proposal, Peregrine outlined a five-year program to assess the use of bavituximab, a monoclonal antibody that has shown promising antiviral activity in preclinical studies, and other anti-PS antibodies, and called for funding to support preclinical studies to confirm activity against HFV infections, manufacturing and product scale-up and initiation of clinical trials. Peregrine has sought funding of about $44.5 million over the course of the program, and DTRA accepted Peregrine's full proposal as the basis of contract negotiations.

• Pluristem Life Systems Inc., of New York, said favorable results have been obtained in preclinical testing using the its proprietary PLX cells to treat limb ischemia, a potential market of more than $1 billion. Scientists administered Pluristem's PLX cells in vivo to one set of ischemic mice. Post-treatment evaluation using Doppler technology indicated revascularization of the limb treated with PLX cells but not in those that were not treated with PLX. The hind legs of mice were rendered ischemic using standard industry methodologies.

• Pro-Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Newton, Mass., has entered into a research agreement with an unnamed bio-pharmaceutical company to enhance the efficacy and safety of its chemotherapeutic drug utilizing, Davanat, its proprietary target delivery compound. The goal of the research agreement is to investigate the application of Davanat to the partner's chemotherapy to improve its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile to enhance treatment against cancer. In addition, the company said it has submitted data to the FDA seeking marketing approval for Davanat to be used as a functional excipient with 5-FU and Irinotecan, for cancer applications. A new drug application is planned when clinical trials for first-line treatment of advanced biliary and colorectal cancers are completed. While the partner was not named, the company described it as "one of the world's largest biopharmaceutical companies." Financial details were not disclosed.

• Qiagen NV, of Venlo, the Netherlands, said its offer to exchange cash and stock for all outstanding shares of Digene Corp., of Gaithersburg, Md., expired as scheduled Friday. All conditions of the exchange offer have either been satisfied or waived, and Qiagen intends to accept all tendered shares. Preliminary tabulations indicated that the number of shares tendered constituted well in excess of 90 percent of the outstanding stock. Accordingly, Qiagen intends to complete its acquisition of Digene by merger without the approval of the Digene stockholders, promptly after its acceptance of the shares. Pro-ration calculations will be announced when completed, and payment for the Digene shares will be made as soon as practicable.

• QLT Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said the FDA has accepted for filing and review its labeling supplement for Aczone, requesting the removal of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) screening and blood monitoring requirements from its current label. A decision by the FDA on the label revision is expected by the end of March 2008. The sNDA is primarily based on the Phase IV clinical trial completed in 56 safety-evaluable G6PD-deficient patients, which demonstrated no clinical evidence of hemolytic anemia in that patient population.

• Xencor Inc., of Monrovia, Calif., said a first-in-class protein therapeutic drug candidate has been shown to selectively inhibit its therapeutic target, according its research, which is being published in the Aug. 1, 2007 issue of the Journal of Immunology. The data indicated that this new class of therapeutics may offer an alternative to nonselective therapeutics, which currently are used to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Target selectivity has the potential to significantly enhance efficacy of therapeutics while limiting their toxicity and side effects. In the published research, clinical candidate XPro 1595 DN-TNF, was shown to selectively inhibit the soluble form of Tumor Necrosis Factor in both human and animal cell lines and blocked inflammation in animal models.