• Adherex Technologies Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., received firm commitments for a private placement offering of units for about $6.5 million in gross proceeds, each unit consisting of one common share and 0.30 of a common share purchase warrant. The offering is expected to close on or about May 8. The offering primarily includes new institutional investors in the U.S. Adherex will issue about 7.7 million units at a price of 84 cents per unit. Each whole warrant will be exercisable for a period of four years from the closing date at an exercise price of 97 cents per share.

• CellCentric, of Cambridge, UK, was awarded about £1.2 million (US$2.13 million) from the Department of Trade and Industry's Technology Program, as part of a £12.3 million collaborative effort with three leading research institutions. The deal will enable CellCentric to progress its development of epigenetic based products by establishing multiple cell-based screens for identifying proteins and small molecules that cause epigenetic change, the company said.

• MethylGene Inc., of Montreal, Quebec, raised about C$22.8 million (US$19.9 million) through a private placement of about 7.4 million units at a subscription price per unit of $3.10, with each unit consisting of one common share and 0.30 of a common share purchase warrant, exercisable for a period of three years from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $3.90 for the initial year, $4.10 for the second year and $4.25 for the third year. The transaction was led by ProQuest Investments III LP. Other new investors participating in the offering are Domain Public Equity Partners LP, CIBC Capital Partners and Pappas Ventures.

• Migenix Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, raised C$8.8 million (US$7.95 million) through the sale of a partial royalty interest, known as Royalty Conversion Units, to U.S.-based investment funds. Proceeds will be used to fund the MX-3253 Phase II viral kinetics combination therapy trial for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infections, the advancement of MX-2401 for serious Gram-positive infections and for general corporate purposes. With the completion of the transaction, the company's financial resources are expected to fund operations into the third quarter of 2007. The investment was led by the Biotechnology Value Fund LP, with Fort Mason Capital, and Southpoint Capital Advisors also participating. The royalties relate to license agreements with Cadence Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, which has CPI-226 in Phase III for prevention of catheter-related catheter infections, and Cutanea Life Sciences Inc., of Philadelphia, which is developing MX-594AN for dermatological conditions.

• Tripos Inc., of St. Louis, completed the sale of 1.8 million shares of convertible preferred stock at a price of $3 per share and issued 550,000 five-year common stock warrants exercisable at $3.50 per share to Midwood Capital, a Boston-based investment partnership. The shares represent about 18 percent of Tripos' outstanding common stock on an as-converted basis. They bear a dividend at an annual rate of 10.5 percent and are redeemable in two years. Gross proceeds from the transaction total $5.5 million before expenses. Seven Hills Partners LLC acted as the placement agent.