• Antares Pharma Inc., of Exton, Pa., said its Japanese licensee, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., of Ashiya, Japan, obtained regulatory approval to market Antares' needle-free technology for use with human growth hormone in Japan. Possible launch dates for the product, to be called Twin-Jector EZ II, were not disclosed.

• Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc., of Needham, Mass., said Reuters reported that GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, plans to invest about €450 million in a new facility in Belgium. The report said GSK would use the facility in part to develop, produce and conduct quality control on Rotarix, the rotavirus vaccine partnered with Avant. The product plant is scheduled to come on line by 2005. Rotarix is a two-dose, oral rotavirus created by Avant and licensed to GSK for development and commercialization. Avant's stock (NASDAQ:AVAN) gained 42 cents Thursday, or 19.7 percent, to close at $2.55.

• BioTrove Inc., of Woburn, Mass., presented single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping data from a study of genomic samples using its high-density nanoliter through-hole array chip for polymerase chain reaction, or PCR-based genomic assays. SNP genotyping is the company's first commercial application based on its Living Chip nanofluidics technology platform. The Living Chip is designed to enable genetic and genomic analyses on one platform with higher throughput and lower reagent cost, BioTrove said.

• BioVex Ltd., of Oxford, UK, reported that the combination of its oncolytic agent, OncoVex, with first-line chemotherapeutic agents resulted in significant lowering of the dose of drug needed to achieve tumor-cell killing in preclinical models. OncoVex is an oncolytic virus that selectively replicates in and kills tumor cells, leaving normal tissue unharmed. In tumor models in vitro, studies demonstrated that the concentrations of cisplatin or taxol required for tumor-cell killing could be reduced (more than 100-fold) when combined with low, otherwise sub-therapeutic doses of OncoVex.

• Ciphergen Biosystems Inc., of Fremont, Calif., acquired the remaining 30 percent equity stake in its Japanese affiliate, Ciphergen Biosystems KK, from SC BioSciences, a unit of Sumitomo Corp., of Tokyo. In August 2002, Ciphergen increased its ownership interest in Ciphergen Biosystems KK from 30 percent to 70 percent, and then established a Biomarker Discovery Center laboratory in Yokohama.

• Epoch Biosciences Inc., of Bothell, Wash., announced it is selling a new panel of assays targeting single nucleotide polymorphisms identified as having a high association with certain cancer patient populations. Researchers at the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., identified the SNPs. The assays are based on Epoch's MGB Eclipse Probe Systems and were developed in cooperation with members of the NCI's Cancer Genome Anatomy Project.

• Evotec Neurosciences GmbH, of Hamburg, Germany, acquired from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., of Basel, Switzerland, an exclusive worldwide license to develop and market NMDA-receptor NR2B subtype selective antagonists for the treatment of central nervous system disorders, such as neuropathic pain, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Financial details were not disclosed. The compounds are in late-stage preclinical development and show an improved side effect profile compared to non-selective NMDA-receptor antagonists. Evotec Neurosciences is a subsidiary of Evotec OAI AG, which also announced a medicinal chemistry collaboration with Panacos Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md. Panacos will use Evotec's capabilities to identify drug candidates to treat HIV. Panacos recently began Phase I trials of its small-molecule HIV drug candidate PA-457.

• FibroGen Inc., of South San Francisco, reported research supporting the use of its Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) activation technology for the treatment of serious diseases, such as acute renal failure and sickle cell disease. FibroGen scientists will present results of the preclinical HIF research at the Keystone Symposium on Biology of Hypoxia, which began Thursday and continues through Tuesday. HIF is a transcription factor that exists in all cells and plays a key role in activating the expression of genes that control the body's critical defense mechanism against low levels of oxygen.

• Genesis Bioventures Inc., of New York, completed a bridge financing related to its proposed merger with Corgenix Medical Corp., of Denver. The company exceeded the minimum-offering requirement of $2 million, allowing the companies to sign a definitive merger agreement. Under the agreement, Genesis Bioventures will issue 14 million of its shares in exchange for 100 percent of the 5.3 million outstanding Corgenix shares. Corgenix's current management team will assume responsibility for the combined entity, to be located in Westminster, Colo.

• ImClone Systems Inc., of New York, said its partner Merck KgaA, of Darmstadt, Germany, reported that the European regulatory agency recommended approval of ImClone's cancer drug, Erbitux (cetuximab), in combination with irinotecan in the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of irinotecan-based cytotoxic therapy. The recommendation came from the scientific advisory body of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. Merck said that no specific post-approval obligations are required. Erbitux was first launched in Switzerland in December for use in combination with irinotecan.

• Innogenetics, of Ghent, Belgium, said Phase IIa data of its E1-based therapeutic vaccine for hepatitis C virus showed significant improvement on average of liver fibrosis compared to baseline. The data looked at the vaccine over a three-year period in 23 patients. About 87 percent of patients either improved or remained stable in their liver fibrosis score. Those patients mostly were nonresponders to previous interferon-based therapy.

• Lipid Sciences Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif., received a one-year, $100,000 Small Business Technology Transfer grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., for a virion solvent treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome. Lipid Sciences will use its delipidation technology to provide proof of principle of viral-particle modification to prepare a preventive vaccine against the severe acute respiratory sydrome coronavirus.

• Lynx Therapeutics Inc., of Hayward, Calif., and Solexa Ltd., of Essex, UK, reported the joint acquisition from Manteia SA, of Coinsins, Switzerland, of the rights to technology assets for DNA colony generation. The technology assets feature a process to enable parallel amplification of millions of DNA fragments, each from a single DNA molecule, to create DNA colonies or clusters. For Lynx, the planar cluster technology, when fully developed, will replace its Megaclone technology, a process that transforms a sample containing millions of DNA molecules into one made up of millions of micro-beads coated with DNA. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

• Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., received a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Cancer Institute to support the design, development and application of antibodies using yeast display technology. The reagents will be used in antibody microarray biochips to interrogate networks of proteins involved in signaling pathways associated with cancer and autoimmune diseases. Merrimack also received a Phase I SBIR grant in January supporting the development and application of its microarray-based Network Biology discovery platform to the areas of apoptosis and cancer.

• Munich Biotech AG, of Munich, Germany, said results were presented during a congress of clinical investigators involving Phase I studies of MBT-0206 in cancer patients. Results indicated that patients continuing with MBT-0206 beyond the trial period on compassionate grounds showed quality-of-life improvements, stabilization and, in some cases, tumor regression. No cytotoxic side effects or drug resistance were recorded. That profile differentiates MBT-0206, an antineovascular therapy, from most other chemotherapies, the company said. MBT-0206 specifically targets tumor endothelial cells and inhibits vascularization of the tumor.

• Oncolytics Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, entered a private placement with a European institutional investor. Subject to regulatory approval, Oncolytics will issue about 1 million shares and 538,550-share purchase warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of about $6.7 million. Each whole common share purchase warrant will entitle the holder to buy one common share of Oncolytics upon payment of $7.75 per warrant. The private placement is expected to close on or about April 7. The company said it would use the proceeds for general corporate purposes. Oncolytics is focused on the development of Reolysin, a formulation of the human reovirus as a potential cancer therapeutic..

• Orchid Biosciences Inc., of Princeton, N.J., said its board authorized a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of the company's common stock, which Orchid expects to take effect on March 30. The company's stockholders approved the split last month. Following the reverse split, the company will have about 22.1 million shares outstanding.

• Orphan Medical Inc., of Minneapolis, completed patient enrollment for its Phase III trial assessing Xyrem (sodium oxybate) oral solution to treat excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy. Xyrem is the only approved treatment for cataplexy associated with narcolepsy. The trial includes 200 patients in four groups, three receiving Xyrem doses and one receiving placebo. Preliminary data should be available in June, the company said. The company also is nearing completion of patient enrollment in a second Phase III trial evaluating Xyrem with or without modafinil in treating excessive daytime sleepiness. The company expects to submit Phase III data as part of a supplemental new drug application in the second half of this year.

• Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, said the underwriters of its public offering last month exercised their option to purchase an additional 316,750 shares of Rigel common stock to cover overallotments. The exercise results in an additional $6.3 million raised. With the offering completed in February, the company has raised gross proceeds of $64.3 million. Credit Suisse First Boston acted as lead manager for the offering, while Needham & Co. Inc., Thomas Weisel Partners LLC and Fortis Securities Inc. acted as co-managers. (See BioWorld Today, Feb. 23, 2004.)

• Seattle Genetics Inc., of Bothell, Wash., initiated a Phase I trial of SGN-40, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the CD40 antigen, in patients with multiple myeloma. The study is designed to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetic profile and antitumor activity of a multidose regimen of SGN-40. The single-agent, open-label study will enroll up to 24 patients. The company plans to initiate another clinical trial of SGN-40 in patients with refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the second half of 2004.

• Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., and GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, said they received a positive opinion from the European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products for Telzir to treat HIV infection in adults. Telzir (fosamprenavir), which was co-discovered by the companies, is to be used in combination with other antiretroviral medications. When combined with low-dose ritonavir and other agents, it has demonstrated an ability to reduce the concentration of HIV in plasma. Telzir is marketed in the U.S. under the brand name Lexiva.