Bausch & Lomb (B&L; Rochester, New York) and Bayer HealthCare's Biological Products Division (Research Triangle Park, North Carolina) reported that Bayer has granted B&L an exclusive worldwide license to Bayer's Plasmin technology for use in ophthalmology. A product derived from processed human plasma, Plasmin may have potential for use in developing novel therapies for ocular conditions. Bayer is pursuing development of Plasmin in non-ocular indications where Plasmin could be used as a thrombolytic agent to dissolve blood clots in veins and arteries. B&L will be responsible for development of Plasmin for use in ophthalmology. The company will make milestone payments based on the development and registration progress, and pay ongoing royalties based on product sales.

BioVeris (Gaithersburg, Maryland) and the Brooke Army Medical Center's (BAMC; Fort Sam Houston, Texas) department of clinical investigation have entered into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to develop BioVeris technology-based tests for the detection of clinical markers of disease and disease progression or recovery. Work under the CRADA will be carried out over the next two years. BioVeris will be able to commercialize tests of clinical significance that may be identified. The CRADA is expected to provide research experience for the medical residents of the teaching program at Brooke Army Medical Center. BioVeris technology-based systems, sold for the detection of markers of potential bioterror agents such as botulinum neurotoxin, ricin and staphylococcal enterotoxins have demonstrated the potential for rapid, specific and sensitive assessment. The tests expected to be developed under the CRADA will explore numerous markers to improve diagnosis and monitoring for the military community and the public.

ChondroGene (Toronto) has entered into a new, two-year research collaboration with Pfizer (New York) for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers for the treatment and diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA). This collaboration will continue the work in two research programs that were initiated in the first company collaboration with Pfizer launched in 2002. The collaboration provides Pfizer with access to ChondroGene's database of osteoarthritis tissue-specific clinical and gene expression information to identify potential novel therapeutic targets for OA. The agreement also will allow ChondroGene to accelerate its OA biomarker research program. Development of new biomarkers is essential for the early diagnosis of OA as well as for validating the effectiveness of potential disease-modifying therapies for OA, the company said. The two-year collaboration is valued at up to $7.35 million, compared to $4.7 million for the initial collaboration.

Henry Schein (Melville, New York) and Sirona Dental Systems (Benshiem, Germany), a leading manufacturer of integrated dental equipment, unveiled an expansion of their worldwide relationship. Effective Jan. 10, Sullivan-Schein Dental, the U.S. Dental division of Henry Schein, became an authorized dealer of Sirona's line of imaging, operatory and handpiece products in the U.S. Sirona said its products command "a significant share" within the dental industry, and the company manufactures products within two of the fastest-growing dental categories in the U.S. digital radiography and electric handpieces. Henry Schein's relationship with Sirona expanded when Henry Schein became the largest distributor of dental products in Europe through its 2004 acquisition of demedis, Sirona's largest customer outside of North America. Henry Schein said that its new agreement with Sirona does not include Sirona's CAD/CAM restoration equipment, since it expects to distribute an alternative CAD/CAM-based restoration product in 2005.

Lifecore Biomedical (Chaska, Minnesota) reported renewing its supply agreement with Alcon (Fort Worth, Texas), a global eyecare company. Lifecore supplies hyaluronan to Alcon, a leader in ophthalmic products, for use in Viscoat Ophthalmic Viscoelastic Solution, an aid in anterior segment surgical procedures, including cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation. The new agreement extends through December 2008 and retains minimum purchase commitments and other features of the previous agreement. Lifecore manufactures biomaterials and medical devices for use in surgical markets through two divisions: its Hyaluronan Division conducts its business through OEM and contract manufacturing alliances in the ophthalmic, orthopedic, gynecologic surgery and veterinary fields; its Oral Restorative Division conducts its dental surgery business through direct sales in the U.S., Germany, Italy and Sweden, and via 25 distributors in 35 countries.

Vision-Sciences (Natick, Massachusetts) reported signing a distribution agreement under which Medtronic USA, a unit of Medtronic (Minneapolis), has become the exclusive distributor in the U.S. and Canada of its Flexible Cystoscope with Slide-On EndoSheath System within the field of urology, including urogynecology. Medtronic will market Vision Sciences' cystoscopy products, under Vision Sciences' brand names, through its dedicated uro-diagnostic sales force. Ron Hadani, president and CEO of Vision-Sciences, said, "This agreement marks the official commercial introduction of our new technology and product line to the domestic urology market."