• Ablynx NV, of Ghent, Belgium, named Edwin Moses CEO, extending his role at the company, which also includes chairman. Moses, who has served on the boards of more than 15 life science companies and previously headed Abingdon, England-based Oxford Asymmetry International plc, succeeds former Ablynx CEO Mark Vaeck, who will continue working with the company as a consultant.

• Allergy Therapeutics plc, of Worthing, UK, announced positive results in a Phase II combined efficacy and safety study of its Pollinex Quattro ragweed allergy vaccine, which is based on an existing product with a new adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A, a TLR4-agonist. The company said the results would support an application for registration in Canada in mid-2006 and was a key element in getting FDA approval to progress to Phase III. The study also would provide further safety data for the company’s grass and tree pollen vaccines.

• Cerep SA, of Paris, posted a pre-tax loss of €5.9 million for 2005, as against a profit of €800,000 (US$960,688) in 2004, while its revenues edged up by 3 percent from €51.3 million to €52.9 million from one year to the next. The company attributed the deterioration in its financial results last year to increased drug discovery outlays, especially in the area of cancer, a program in which it invested more than €4 million. Its research and development costs increased by 26.7 percent to €15.1 million in 2005 from €11.9 million in 2004, while its total net consolidated expenses were 15.9 percent up at €59.3 million (€51.1 million). The decline in Cerep’s revenues was due to the cessation of its in vivo pharmacology activities in June, which also accounted for €2 million of the €3.7 million of non-recurring expenses and provisions entered for 2005. On the other hand, revenues from its clinical service activities increased by 20 percent to €16.8 million from €14 million in 2004.

• Cronos Therapeutics Ltd., of London, agreed to a collaboration with Cancer Research Technology Ltd., the technology transfer arm of the research charity, Cancer Research UK, to develop a cancer therapy based on Cronos’ GeneICE platform technology (Gene Inactivation by Chromatin Engineering). GeneICE is an epigenetic gene regulation technology that prevents transcription by recruiting natural gene repressor complexes. GeneICE constructs targeted at key cancer genes have been demonstrated to be able to switch off the genes in vitro. Under the terms of the agreement, the partners will perform proof-of-concept studies to investigate the effects of GeneICE in inhibiting expression of an undisclosed gene target.

• Crucell NV, of Leiden, the Netherlands, said the Korea Food and Drug Administration awarded licensure to Quinvaxem, a fully liquid pentavalent vaccine to be produced by Crucell in Korea. Quinvaxem was co-development with Emeryville, Calif.-based Chiron Corp., which provides four of the five components as bulk. Quinvaxem combines antigens for protection against five important childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Hemophilus influenza Type B.

• Elan Corp. plc, of Dublin, Ireland, and Biogen Idec Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., were notified that the FDA would extend its regulatory review of the multiple sclerosis drug, Tysabri (natalizumab), by up to 90 days. The agency, which was scheduled to make a decision later this month, now will have until June 28, 2006, to take action. Earlier this month, an FDA advisory panel unanimously recommended a return to the market for Tysabri, which was pulled voluntarily about a year ago following reports of a link between the drug and cases of a potentially fatal disorder. In other news, Elan completed the sale of the rights to Prialt (ziconotide), a non-opioid for severe chronic pain, in Europe to Tokyo-based Eisai Co. Ltd. Elan received about $50 million at the closing and will receive a further $10 million on the earlier of two years from closing or the launch of Prialt in key European markets. It also might receive an additional $40 million contingent on Prialt achieving revenue-related milestones in Europe. Elan is retaining all rights in the U.S.

• Grunenthal GmbH, of Aachen, Germany, entered a multiyear collaboration with DigitalBiotech Co. Ltd., of Seoul, South Korea, to discover and develop vanilloid receptor (TRPV1) antagonists for pain. The promise of the TRPV1 antagonists, a joint development of DigitalBiotech and researchers at the Seoul National University, stems from their potential to treat neuropathic pain. Grunenthal will fund the research and will carry out the clinical development and marketing of any products resulting from the agreement. Specific financial terms were not disclosed.

• IDT, of Dessau-Tornau, Germany, and Biovirx Inc., of Minneapolis, formed an agreement to develop the oral rotavirus vaccine RotaShield for commercialization. Biovirx has an exclusive worldwide license to the product, and IDT has existing vaccine production capacity for RotaShield and a new manufacturing facility under construction for expanded production of the vaccine. RotaShield received FDA approval in 1998 but was withdrawn from the market the following year because of a temporal association with a higher risk of a naturally occurring blockage of the intestine. Biovirx and IDT plan to meet with the FDA about reintroducing the vaccine based on new data.

• Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of North Sydney, Australia, said preclinical results for the oral administration of NNZ-2566 demonstrated significant neuroprotection at various doses, with almost total protection (95 percent reduction in injury size) being obtained with the highest dose. Non-oral administration of the NNZ-2566 class of drugs already has shown efficacy in Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease animal models, and the intravenous administration is in trials with the U.S. Army for traumatic brain injury.

• Neutec Pharma plc, of Manchester, UK, said it received approval for a Phase III study of its human antibody product, Mycograb, in combination with standard antibiotic therapy in the treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans. The trial, due to start in the next few weeks, will recruit 150 patients in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, to take place in the U.S., South Africa and South America.

• Norwood Abbey Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, through its subsidiary, Norwood Immunology Ltd., signed a tripartite research agreement with the Australian Stem Cell Centre and Monash University to form a new technology platform combining immune system research with stem cell know-how. Research will focus on controlling the immune system to minimize rejection of stem cell therapies introduced into the body. Under the agreement, Norwood will provide access to its thymic and bone marrow regrowth technology.

• Paion AG, of Aachen, Germany, initiated a new plasminogen activator program intended to serve as a long-term life-cycle management tool for Desmoteplase, a plasminogen activator for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The program also will investigate the new product as a mid-term option for indications not within the profile and development of Desmoteplase. Paion expects the lead compound from the program to enter neurotoxicity testing this year.

• Synoptix Group plc, of Leeds, UK, another offspring of the technology management company IP2IPO Group plc, raised £4 million (US$6.9 million) in an initial public offering on London’s Alternative Investment Market. The placing price of £1.77 per share gives the dermatology specialist a market capitalization of £10.1 million. Following the listing, IP2IPO owns 16.2 percent of Synoptix. The money raised will be devoted to the further development of nine preclinical and development stage products in the Synoptix portfolio. Synoptix was spun out of Leeds University in 2003 with initial funding from the research charity the Wellcome Trust. The strategy is to concentrate on discovering new uses for registered antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds, with a particular focus on topical products for treating acne and Staphylococcus aureus infections.