• Advanced Cell Technology Inc., of Alameda, Calif., entered a collaboration for Xgene Corp., of Sausalito, Calif., to assess the performance of ACT's dermatology technology. ACT will provide the human embryonic stem cell-derived skin cells, and Xgene will contribute its technology for reconstituting skin from cultured cells. The goal is to test the functionality of embryonic skin cells in regenerating skin for medicinal applications. Financial terms were not disclosed.

• Advitech Inc., of Quebec, reached an agreement in principle for marketing and distributing Dermylex with Enbio-Life Biotechnology & Medical Co. Ltd., of Taichung, Taiwan, a subsidiary of Yusheng Pharma. Enbio-Life markets nutraceutical products in Taiwan, China and other Asian countries. The agreement is for the Taiwanese market, and Enbio-Life has an option for the market in China, as well. Enbio-Life has agreed to pay an undisclosed payment in May to secure the negotiation exclusivity and to finalize a definitive marketing and distribution contract, to be entered between the parties no later than Aug. 31.

• BioReliance Manufacturing GmbH, of Heidelberg, Germany, said it was purchased from its parent company, Invitrogen Europe Ltd., in a management buy-out by a consortium led by Managing Director Thomas Pultar and a group of investors. The company will retain current management and continue operating as a contract manufacturing organization, but will be renamed Biomeva. Terms were not disclosed.

• GenVec Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., received a $500,000 contract to continue malaria vaccine research and development with the Naval Medical Research Center for a third year. The funds will be used to support the company's evaluation of alternative serotype adenovector-based malaria vaccines under the U.S. Navy's congressionally sponsored Agile Vaccine Program. GenVec said it expects to enter Phase I testing with the first vaccine candidate this year.

• Gilead Sciences Inc., of Foster City, Calif., and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, submitted a new drug application for a product that combines the HIV drugs Truvada, which is a combination of Emtriva (emtricitabine) and Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate), developed by Gilead, plus Sustiva (efavirenz) by BMS, in a once-daily, single-tablet regimen. If approved, the product would be the first to contain a complete highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen in a single, once-daily tablet, in HIV-1 infected adults. The companies agreed to collaborate in December 2004, and established a joint venture to develop and commercialization the triple-drug combination product. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 21, 2004.)

• OrbiMed Advisors LLC, of New York, closed the Caduceus Private Investments III LP with $500 million in limited partner commitments for investing in U.S. mid- and late-stage private life science companies engaged in the discovery and development of biopharmaceuticals or medical technologies. The fund is expected to be invested over a four- to six-year period with individual investments ranging from $12 million to $50 million.

• XOMA Ltd., of Berkeley, Calif., and AVEO Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., entered a deal for XOMA to use its Human Engineering technology to humanize AV-299, AVEO's preclinical anti-hepatocyte growth factor monoclonal antibody for cancer. In exchange for work conducted and licenses granted, AVEO will pay XOMA an up-front license fee, development milestones and royalties. AVEO retains all development and commercialization rights to the compound. Financial details were not disclosed.