• Advanced Cell Technology Inc., of Alameda, Calif., entered a sponsored research agreement with the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health and Science University to conduct preclinical studies for its retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) program. Specifically, the research team is conducting a dosage study using the company's RPE cells in a rat model and plans to conduct similar studies in other rodent models of retinal degenerative disease.

• Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp., of San Diego, announced the manufacture and release for shipment of Oxygent (perfluorochemical emulsion) for clinical trials. The clinical supplies will be used in a Phase II proof-of-concept trial in Europe, and by Alliance's partner in China, Beijing Double-Crane Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

• Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, entered an exclusive global collaboration agreement with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne, Australia, to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize a new class of broad spectrum cancer therapeutics. Much of the organization's research has focused on regulating the activity of proteins that control apoptosis. Genentech will make up-front and research program payments, with the possibility of milestone and royalty payments in the future. More specific financial terms were not disclosed.

• Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said its worldwide deal to co-develop and commercialize HuMax-CD20 (ofatumumab) with GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, received final antitrust and other government clearances, and is now final. The deal is valued at up to $2.1 billion. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 20, 2006.)

• Genta Inc., of Berkeley Heights, N.J., said it will appeal the non-approvable letter from the FDA regarding its new drug application for Genasense (oblimersen sodium) injection plus chemotherapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In September, the Oncology Drug Products Committee recommended against approval of the drug, stating that Genasense's benefit was not substantial enough, and in December the FDA ruled the drug nonapprovable. Genasense is under review in Europe for patients with advanced melanoma. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 18, 2006.)

• GenVec Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., said preclinical research demonstrates that delivery of the atonal gene (math1) can reestablish sensory cells and inner ear function in mouse vestibular models. Researchers used GenVec's adenovector technology to delivery the math1 gene to mice with damaged inner ear cells, and treatment with AdMath1 regenerated inner ear hair cells and restored lost balance function within eight weeks. Data was published in Otology & Neurotology.

• GeoVax Labs Inc., of Atlanta, said preclinical data demonstrated the effectiveness of using the company's vaccines for the treatment and prevention of AIDS in non-human primates. Results show that GeoVax's DNA/MVA vaccines were able to control the simian AIDS virus through immune responses raised by the vaccines. The company plans to conduct human studies using the AIDS vaccines, aimed at extending the length and quality of life in people already infected with the virus.

• Migenix Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said Schering-Plough Corp., of Kenilworth, N.J., has yet to commence its exclusive review of Phase II data on celgosivir from November because about half of the original viral load samples from the study, which Schering tested under a material transfer and license option agreement, require retesting. Migenix just received results for half of the required retests from Schering, leaving about 25 percent of the original viral load samples from the study to be retested. Based on a preliminary review of these partial retest results, it appears the overall conclusions drawn from the retest results will remain consistent with the conclusions of the original study analysis, but it remains unknown whether the retesting will result in any material changes - positive or negative - to the conclusions of the November results.

• Oncolytics Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, will receive C$12 million (US$10 million) by way of a stock and warrant sale. In the transaction, the company agreed to issue 4 million units comprised of one common share and one-half of one common share purchase warrant, at a price of C$3 apiece. Each whole common share purchase warrant shall entitle the holder to acquire one common share for C$3.50 for three years following the offering's closing, which is expected to close on or about Feb. 22. Additionally, Oncolytics granted a 30-day, 600,000-unit overallotment option to the deal's underwriter, Canaccord Capital Corp., of Toronto. The company plans to use its net proceeds for its clinical trial program, manufacturing activities and general corporate purposes.

• Transgenomic Inc., of Omaha, Neb., said it renewed a collaboration with Fiuotecnica Srl, of Metaponto, Italy, for production and marketing of a genetic panel assay to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. The effort uses Transgenomic's WAVE System. Fiuotecnica has marketing rights in Italy, while Transgenomic will have rights in the rest of the world.