DOR BioPharma Inc., of Miami, received a notice of allowance for a patent, titled "Ricin A chain mutants lacking enzymatic activity as vaccines to protect against aerosolized ricin." The patent includes methods of use and composition claims for RiVax, a vaccine against ricin toxin.

Endocyte Inc., of West Lafayette, Ind., received U.S. Patent No. 7,128,893, titled "Vitamin-Targeted Imaging Agents." It covers imaging agents such as EC20, a folate-targeted radiopharmaceutical used to identify folate-receptor positive cancers.

Epix Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Lexington, Mass., received U.S. Patent No. 7,153,858, titled "New Arylpiperazinyl Compounds." It covers the company's selective 5-HT1A binding compounds, including PRX-00023.

Immunomedics Inc., of Morris Plains, N.J., received U.S. Patent No. 7,151,164, covering methods for treating B-cell disorders using its monoclonal antibody, hA20, which binds to the CD20 antigen present on B-lymphocytes.

Introgen Therapeutics Inc., of Austin, Texas, was awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,125,706, titled "An Improved Method for the Production and Purification of Adenoviral Vectors." It covers purified adenoviral compositions or preparations without limitation to the type of adenovirus, its use or application.

Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Carlsbad, Calif., and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., were issued U.S. Patent No. 7,138,517, covering certain chemical modifications of oligonucleotides used to introduce drug-like properties in antisense oligonucleotides. Isis owns the patent, which is exclusively licensed to Alnylam for RNAi applications.

Isotechnika Inc., of Edmonton, Alberta, received a notice of allowance for a patent covering composition of matter and methods of use claims for TAFA93, a prodrug of rapamycin. TAFA93 is a small-molecule mTOR inhibitor in development for transplant rejection, autoimmune diseases and oncology.

IsoTis SA, of Irvine, Calif., was awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,132,110, which covers its Accell natural human BMP (bone morphogenetic protein technology. That technology forms the basis of IsoTis's Accell bone graft substitute product platform.

Marshall Edwards Inc., of Washington, received, through its licensor, Australia-based Novogen Ltd., allowance for a patent covering the composition of its cancer drug, phenoxodiol.