ID Biomedical Corp., of Vancouver, British Columbia, received a notice of allowance for its patent application titled "Proteosome Influenza Vaccine," covering proteosome-based, nonlive, intranasal subunit vaccine compositions for the prevention of influenza virus infection. The patent also covers methods to prepare the vaccine.

Immunomedics Inc., of Morris Plains, N.J., was awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,676,924, covering a specific humanized antibody to carcinoembryonic antigen that is attached to a therapeutic agent such as a cytotoxic drug, isotope or an immunomodulator. The patent claims also include the humanized antibody conjugated with a diagnostic, such as an imaging agent.

Kos Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Miami, was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,676,967 titled "Methods of Reducing Flushing in Individuals Being Treated with Nicotinic Acid for Hyperlipidemia," covering certain aspects of the tolerability profile of Niaspan and Advicor, its two marketed products for cholesterol.

Kucera Pharmaceutical Co., of Winston-Salem, N.C., was awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,670,341 titled "Compositions and Methods for Double-targeting Virus Infections and Targeting Cancer Cells."

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,524,583 titled "Antibody Methods for Selectively Inhibiting VEGF," which covers methods for treating a variety of angiogenesis-dependent diseases.

Serologicals Corp., of Atlanta, received a patent on its purification process, which inactivates infectious prions in its bovine-based Ex-Cyte cell culture growth supplement.

VirRx Inc., of St. Louis, received U.S. Patent No. 6,627,190, which is exclusively sub-licensed to Introgen Therapeutics Inc., of Austin, Texas. The patent covers a class of replicating adenoviruses relating to Introgen's anticancer product candidate INGN 007 (VRX 007).

Vical Inc., of San Diego, received U.S. Patent No. 6,673,776, covering new methods of using DNA to deliver biologically active proteins, and U.S. Patent No. 6,670,332, covering a class of cationic lipids useful in gene delivery applications.