Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, received U.S. Patent No. 6,902,902, titled "Human G Protein-Coupled Receptors and Modulators Thereof for the Treatment of Metabolic-Related Disorders." This patent relates to certain drug screening methods that use the niacin receptor.

Avitar Inc., of Canton, Mass., received a notice of allowance on a patent for an oral fluid collection device used for DNA PCR-based testing.

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., of Belleville, Ontario, received U.S. Patent No. 6,890,541, titled "Method for enhancing production performance in an animal," relating to its core mycobacterial cell wall technology.

Biophan Technologies Inc., of Rochester, N.Y., received U.S. Patent No. 6,902,290, relating to the placement of an electronic sensor within medical devices to offset the image artifacts that interfere with the quality of MRI imaging.