• Actelion Ltd., of South San Francisco, Calif., is recruiting for two new clinical trials in patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to sickle cell disease. Pulmonary hypertension occurs in about 30 percent of patients with sickle cell disease. Without treatment, only about 50 percent of patients survive beyond two years from the time of diagnosis. The ASSET clinical trial program is collecting data on measures of clinical success such as pulmonary vascular resistance, exercise capacity, clinical outcomes, which include prevention of hospitalization, decreased number of sickle cell crises, death and other important clinical assessments, and safety.

• BioLineRx Ltd., of Jerusalem, announced the initiation of a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetic profile of BL-1020, a proprietary small molecule for the treatment of schizophrenia. The Phase 1 trial is designed as a double-blind, single dose-escalation study and will be conducted at Sourasky Medical Center, of Tel Aviv, Israel. BL-1020 is an orally available small molecule that was shown in preclinical studies to retain the efficacy of currently available typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs while achieving a much higher safety profile. It was in-licensed from Tel Aviv University Ltd. and Bar-Ilan Research and Development Company Ltd., the technology transfer companies of Tel Aviv University and Bar-Ilan.

• Generex Biotechnology Corp., of Toronto, announced interim results of a six-month clinical trial of adolescents and young adults with Type I diabetes mellitus. The data continuously showed that replacing just one daily subcutaneous injection of regular insulin with Generex Oral-lyn, an oral insulin spray product, improved metabolic control the same as standard therapy.

• MedImmune, Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., said it has collected additional data showing that Abegrin may provide a three-pronged approach to treating solid tumors. The new data provide additional insight into the drug's mechanism of action, which is believed to inhibit tumor growth, bone metastases and angiogenesis. Data from these studies also suggest Abegrin's antitumor activity is likely mediated through antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and that the antibody does not shrink tumors but does appear to slow progression. MedImmune is planning a confirmatory Phase III study in late 2006.

• ProMetic BioSciences Inc., of Montreal, started enrollment of patients for its Phase Ib/II clinical trial of PBI-1402. The study is designed to monitor the safety and efficacy of its compound in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and suffering from anemia. It will consist of 30 patients in two cohorts, with each cohort receiving PBI-1402 or placebo for two months. If the results are favorable, the treatment may be extended up to another four months.

• Sinovac Biotech Ltd., of Beijing, said all 120 volunteers in the Phase I clinical trial of its avian influenza vaccine, H5N1, have completed the two-shot regimen of either the vaccine or a placebo. The volunteers, ages 18 years to 60 years, were evaluated and medically documented prior to entering the vaccination program. The trial was conducted on a zero- and 28-day dose immunization schedule, and blood samples from volunteers will be taken to analyze the antibody growth and effectiveness of the vaccine.

• Voyager Pharmaceutical Corp., of Raleigh, N.C., said enrollment in ALADDIN VP-AD-301, the first Phase III trial of VP4896 for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, has passed its midpoint ahead of schedule. The company started enrollment in September and expects to complete enrollment of all 555 subjects by the end of this year. Currently, 62 sites in the U.S. and Canada are enrolling subjects in the study.