Borean Pharma A/S, of Aarhus, Denmark, received U.S. Patent No. 6,897,039 for its atherosclerosis drug candidate, Trimeric Apolipoprotein A-I, in preclinical development. The drug is a timerised version of the naturally occurring protein, Apolipoprotein A-I, and is the major protein component of HDL cholesterol.

Cel-Sci Corp., of Vienna, Va., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,896,879, titled "A Method Of Pre-Sensitizing Cancer Prior To Treatment With Radiation And/Or Chemotherapy And A Novel Cytokine Mixture," which covers Cel-Sci's cancer drug, Multikine.

Chemokine Therapeutics Corp., of Vancouver, was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,875,738 relating to the use of its anticancer compound, CTCE-9908, which is designed to block CXCR4, a receptor found on the surface of cancer cells.

Cholestech Corp., of Hayward, Calif., received U.S. Patent No. 6,881,581 for a new method of measuring HDL in human blood. The patent also permits the development of the company's LDX Lipid Profile/Alanine Aminotransferase cassette by preventing the interference of the HDL chemistry with the ALT assay on the same cassette.

Ciphergen Biosystems Inc., of Fremont, Calif., received U.S. Patent No. 6,881,586, directed to methods of rapidly purifying proteins that involve using ProteinChip chromatographic arrays integrated with SELFI-TOF-MS detection.

Cortex Biochem Inc., of Raleigh, N.C., received a patent for its MagaZorb Nucleic Acid (DNA/RNA) Isolation and Purification System. This system is designed as a single process for isolating and purifying nucleic acids from samples, including biological fluids, tissues and cells.

GenoMed Inc., of St. Louis, said it will be issued a patent on the company's treatment to speed up lung development in babies born prematurely. GenoMed's treatment involves a growth factor that is present in amniotic fluid and is responsible for normal lung development. GenoMed also expects to receive a patent covering its protocol to treat acute kidney failure with a drug rather than a dialysis machine.

GlycoGenesys Inc., of Boston, was granted a patent protecting the use of its drug candidate, GCS-100, and other modified pectins to control angiogenesis and treat angiogenesis-dependent diseases.

Immunomedics Inc., of Morris Plains, N.J., received a notice of allowance for a patent covering methods for treating a wide range of autoimmune diseases using monoclonal antibodies that bind to the CD22 antigen present on B-lymphocytes.

Marc Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Stamford, Conn., was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,890,533 for betulinol derivatives, formed by replacing a specific atom or group of atoms within a betulinol molecule. Marc licensed the derivatives from Cornell Research Foundation.

Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., of Bothell, Wash., received U.S. Patent No. 6,894,026, titled "Long-acting Oxyocin Analogues for the Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer and Psychiatric Disorders," covering long-acting analogues of the peptide hormone oxyocin.