• Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, lowered the price range for shares to be sold in its initial public offering to $7 to $8, down from $12 to $14, apiece. The company, which is developing small-molecule drugs for central nervous system disorders, registered for its IPO more than two months ago. (See BioWorld Today, March 2, 2004.)

• AEterna Laboratories Inc., of Quebec City, said shareholders approved its new corporate name, AEterna Zentaris Inc. In conjunction, its Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq ticker symbols will be changed in the near future to "AEZ" and "AEZS," respectively. The company's research and development efforts are focused on oncology and endocrine therapy.

• American Oriental Bioengineering Inc., of Hong Kong, signed a legally binding letter of intent to acquire Heilongjiang Songhuajiang Pharmaceutical Ltd., a Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical company located in Heilongjiang province. Heilongjiang, which employs about 500 people, has a line of antiviral products. American Oriental said it expects the acquisition to add about $6 million in revenue annually and roughly $15 million in net assets.

• Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, selected ANA975 as its development candidate for front-line treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. An oral prodrug of isatoribine (ANA245), its development will be aided by Anadys' clinical experience with isatoribine, which in Phase Ia and Ib trials showed a statistically significant reduction of hepatitis C viral load. The trials also determined well-tolerated doses.

• Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, said nine-month, sub-population data from the Taxus VI stent trial were reported by Boston Scientific Corp., of Natick, Mass. Among the findings were data showing that the target lesion revascularization rate for the Taxus group was 1.6 percent compared to 23 percent in the control group, and the target vessel revascularization rate of 1.6 percent in the Taxus group was significantly lower than the control group rate of 24.6 percent. Angiotech supplies paclitaxel for the drug-eluting stent.

• Barrier Therapeutics Inc., of Princeton, N.J., began enrolling patients in a confirmatory Phase III trial for Sebazole for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis. Sebazole is a topical formulation consisting of 2 percent ketoconazole formulated in a waterless gel for once-daily application. The company expects to enroll about 440 patients. The study compares once-a-day Sebazole treatment to placebo over two weeks of therapy. The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients who are effectively treated at day 28, which would be 14 days following the end of the treatment period.

• Bio-America Inc., of Toronto, completed its acquisition of Novocure Inc. in exchange for 4.2 million shares of Bio-America. Privately held Novocure holds intellectual property rights and trademarks of Eliezer Huberman, a cellular and molecular biologist who was appointed to head Bio-America's scientific advisory board in the process. Bio-America said the acquisition provides a foundation to pursue its goal of becoming a research and development biotechnology firm.

• CalbaTech Inc., of Irvine, Calif., delisted its shares from the Berlin Stock Exchange. The company, which provides products and platforms for biotech and pharmaceutical research, was one of more than 200 U.S. publicly traded companies that have been listed and traded on the exchange without their permission.

• Callisto Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, initiated an open-label Phase I/IIa trial of its lead drug candidate, Atiprimod, in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Additional patients will be added as they undergo the screening process. The trial is a safety and efficacy study. The primary objective of the study is to identify the maximum tolerated dose. The secondary objectives are to measure the pharmacokinetics, evaluate the response to Atiprimod and screen surrogate markers to explore any potential drug effect in multiple myeloma patients. Patients will receive their specific Atiprimod dose for 14 consecutive days, followed by 14 days off the drug.

• Cellectricon AB, of Gothenburg, Sweden, raised SEK53 million (US$7.1 million) through the completion of its Series B financing round. Led by prior investors, the round included InnovationsCapital, Investor Growth Capital and Karolinska Investment Fund. Cellectricon, which provides functional cell-based technologies and tools, also named Axel Broms its chairman.

• Critical Therapeutics Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., set the price range of 6 million shares to be sold in its initial public offering at $7 to $9 apiece. The company's lead product Zyflo (CTI-02) is an immediate-release formulation of a marketed asthma product called zileuton. Critical Therapeutics registered for its IPO about two months ago. (See BioWorld Today, March 22, 2004.)

• Expression Analysis Inc., of Durham, N.C., completed requirements and internal audits associated with good laboratory practice regulations, making it the first company to provide Affymetrix Inc.'s GeneChip processes in compliance with GLP regulations. To meet the requirements, the company has developed and implemented standard operating procedures, equipment and process validations, training, audits and document-control measures.

• Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, said an FDA advisory committee meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27 to discuss the new drug application for Macugen (pegaptanib sodium injection) for treating wet age-related macular degeneration. The product is patterned in a potential $750 million deal with Pfizer Inc., also of New York. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 19, 2002.)

• Genmab A/S, of Copenhagen, Denmark, said that HuMax-CD4 for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) was designated an orphan drug by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. Filing for the status was completed as part of an overall plan to obtain orphan drug protection to treat CTCL. At present, Genmab's primary rights for HuMax-CD4 are in North and South America. Genmab does not hold rights to the drug in Europe.

• Genomatix Corp., of Roanoke, Va., relocated its production and research operations to Roanoke and Blacksburg, Va. Previously located in Cincinnati, the privately held company manufactures DNA vectors.

• GTC Biotherapeutics Inc., of Framingham, Mass., said it completed a series of milestones in its program with Centocor Inc., of Malvern, Pa., for the development of an undisclosed antibody. GTC, which said it developed a high-expressing transgenic system that produces the protein at levels that exceed the contract's predefined goals, now is producing bulk protein for Centocor. Compensation will be based primarily on delivery of the material, from which Centocor plans to manufacture finished product. Based on the current project plans, Centocor will begin a series of preclinical evaluations of the protein up through toxicology. Centocor is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, of New Brunswick, N.J.

• Human Genome Sciences Inc., of Rockville, Md., said it began dosing in a Phase II trial of Albuferon in patients with chronic hepatitis C who are na ve to interferon-alpha treatment. The trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacology and optimal dosing of Albuferon, a long-acting form of interferon-alpha. It will enroll about 40 patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 in Canada.

• Manhattan Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, reported safety data for its obesity therapeutic, Oleoyl estrone, at the European Congress on Obesity in Prague, Czech Republic. Manhattan scientists described positive results regarding Oleoyl estrone's safety profile following oral administration to adult rats of both genders. Safety observations were made over a 14-day period, including mortality, gross toxicity, blood, urine and carcass chemistries, blood and urine cellular counts, organ weights and histology.

• Meridian Bioscience Inc., of Cincinnati, entered a license agreement with Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation for technologies related to the detection of norovirus, the primary cause of stomach flu. The agreement, which includes both exclusive and co-exclusive provisions, encompasses products for the clinical diagnosis of noroviruses and other products arising from the technology.

• Nastech Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., of Bothell, Wash., said data from its Peptide YY 3-36 nasal spray to treat obesity demonstrate the ability to effectively deliver the product. Nastech has enrolled more than 60 people and administered more than 900 doses in the PYY program. The PYY development program includes three Phase I studies. PYY is a high-affinity Y2 receptor agonist, a hormone naturally produced by specialized endocrine cells in the gut in proportion to the calorie content of a meal.

• NeuroSearch A/S, of Ballerup, Denmark, said it completed enrollment in a Phase II study of NS2359 for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The trial includes 126 adult patients, with half treated with 0.5 mg of the compound once a day and the other half getting placebo. The U.S.-based study is expected to be completed this fall. NS2359 is part of an alliance with GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, which will conduct additional clinical studies this year.

• Orthologic Corp., of Tempe, Ariz., reported results of its latest preclinical study of Chyrsalin in a controlled-release matrix formulation for articular cartilage defect repairs at the Cartilage Repair Society Symposium in Ghent, Belgium. The presentation concluded that critical-size cylindrical defects made in the trochlear groove of the femur of young, male New Zealand white rabbits filled with porous PLGS controlled-release microspheres containing Chrysalin, healed with a generally smooth articular surface and a translucent repair tissue more closely resembling the native articular cartilage.

• Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corp., of Waltham, Mass., said the purchasers of $125 million in 3.5 percent senior convertible notes due 2011 exercised an option to purchase $18.75 million in additional securities. The notes will be convertible into the company's common stock at an initial conversion price of $6.64 per share. They may be redeemed by the company beginning on May 10, 2010. The company is using the proceeds to support the launch of Factive, accelerate the Ramoplanin and Factive development programs, pursue additional in-licensing opportunities and for other general corporate purposes.

• Palatin Technologies Inc., of Cranbury, N.J., reached an agreement with the FDA on the name, NeutroSpec, for Palatin's infection-imaging product in the final stages of the FDA-approval process. The FDA's Division of Medication Errors and Technical Support requested that Palatin change the name of its infection-imaging product, formerly known as LeuTech, to prevent potential name confusion and reduce the chance of a medication error.

• Phase 2 Discovery Inc., of Cincinnati, said the FDA granted orphan drug designation to PD-6735, a melatonin analogue for treating circadian sleep disorders in totally blind individuals. Unable to differentiate day from night, their sleep and wake cycles are not synchronized with common day and night cycles. The company said studies have indicated that PD-6735 is effective in both disorders when used at doses up to 100 mg, and has displayed a positive safety profile at such doses.

• responsif GmbH, of Erlangen, Germany, began the first clinical trials of an immunotherapy it has developed for renal-cell carcinoma. The new therapeutic concept, which is made of tumor cells collected from patients during routine operations, is designed to activate a body's endogenous immune defenses against tumor cells via immunization. After being harvested, the collected tumor cells are first inactivated, deep frozen and kept in cold storage. Shortly before treatment, the cells will be coated with an immunostimulating protein called Annexin V, and subsequently injected subcutaneously.

• Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Raleigh, N.C., said the FDA approved Xifaxan (rifaximin) tablets 200 mg for treating travelers' diarrhea caused by noninvasive strains of E. coli in patients 12 and older. The company said it would leverage its 100-person sales and marketing team to launch the product, a nonsystemic, gastrointestinal-selective oral antibiotic. It is expected to be available in August, though Salix said also it would continue to evaluate Xifaxan's potential for other gastrointestinal-related diseases.

• Sanofi-Synthelabo SA, of Paris, said the expiration date of its U.S. offer for Aventis SA, of Strasbourg, France, was extended to June 30. Holders of Aventis securities eligible to participate in the U.S. offer may tender, or withdraw their tendered, Aventis securities at any time until then.

• SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Mateo, Calif., entered a collaboration with a subsidiary of San Carlos, Calif.-based Nektar Therapeutics to develop a pegylated formulation of Zadaxin. Nektar will apply its advanced PEGylation technology to Zadaxin to improve the therapeutic use and efficacy of the compound. SciClone has filed for worldwide patent protection for the composition of matter of pegylated Zadaxin. Financial terms were not disclosed.

• Sucampo Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Bethesda, Md., said data reported at the Digestive Disease Week meeting in New Orleans showed that SPI-0211 causes no rebound effect after dosing is discontinued when treating constipation. In addition, the company said results from the active-treatment period of the 128-patient study support positive efficacy findings from two previous studies of SPI-0211 in treating constipation and associated symptoms.

• Synthetic Blood International Inc., of Costa Mesa, Calif., closed a private placement to overseas investors. The company sold 10 million A units at 30 cents each for gross proceeds of $3 million. Each unit consists of one share of common stock and one Series A warrant to purchase a share of common stock at 47 cents per share over a term of five years. Synthetic Blood also sold 100,000 B units for 30 cents per unit for gross proceeds of $30,000. Each unit consists of Series B warrants to purchase 34 shares of stock at 60 cents per share that expire three months following registration of the shares issuable on exercise of the warrants for resale, and Series C warrants to purchase 34 shares of stock at 60 cents a share over five years. Net proceeds of the offering are about $2.6 million.

• Tripos Inc., of St. Louis, and Bayer HealthCare AG, of Wuppertal, Germany, entered an agreement to deploy Tripos' discovery informatics software, Sybyl and Unity, across Bayer's drug discovery and development organization. Tripos will provide Bayer with license rights to Sybyl and Unity for its sites in Germany and the U.S. that are focused on the discovery and development of new therapeutics. Financial terms were not disclosed.

• VaxGen Inc., of Brisbane, Calif., said data from two animal studies reported at the Conference on Vaccine Research in Arlington, Va., detailed the effectiveness of its attenuated smallpox vaccine candidate, LC16m8. In rabbits and mice, a single dose of LC16m8 protected all animals against a lethal poxvirus challenge and demonstrated efficacy equivalent to the currently licensed vaccine, Dryvax. LC16m8 is a live attenuated vaccinia vaccine that has been licensed for use in humans in Japan since 1980. The conference was sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

• Vical Inc., of San Diego, granted an exclusive license to Merial Ltd., a joint venture between Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck & Co. Inc. and Strasbourg, France-based Aventis SA, for use of Vical's DNA-delivery technology in a vaccine to protect certain companion animals against a particular type of cancer. Merial will make an up-front cash payment to Vical, as well as milestone payments and royalties on the resulting product. The companies have a prior agreement covering the use of Vical's DNA-delivery technology in vaccines to prevent certain infectious diseases in livestock and companion animals.

• ViroPharma Inc., of Exton, Pa., is amending its offer to exchange up to $99.1 million in 6 percent convertible senior plus cash notes due 2009 for up to all of the $127.9 million in outstanding 6 percent convertible subordinated notes. The company is extending the expiration date of the exchange offer to June 11 in order to amend certain terms that include establishing a minimum share price of $2.50 to be used in determining the number of base shares and a minimum participation condition of 80 percent of the existing 6 percent convertible subordinated notes. Piper Jaffray & Co. is serving as the dealer manager for the exchange offer, and U.S. Bank National Association is serving as the exchange agent.

• Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, of Madison, N.J., said European regulatory authorities approved Enbrel (25 mg twice weekly) for use in combination with methotrexate for treating active rheumatoid arthritis in adults when the response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (including methotrexate unless contraindicated) has been inadequate. The new indication is in addition to the previously approved indication for use as monotherapy in treating active rheumatoid arthritis. In the U.S., Enbrel is sold by Amgen Inc., of Thousand Oaks, Calif.