Dynavax Technologies Corp., of Berkeley, Calif., said the University of California was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,610,661 B1, covering Dynavax's ISS (immunostimulatory DNA sequences) linked to allergens and viral or tumor antigens. Privately held Dynavax exclusively licenses the patent in the field of linked ISS compounds to treat allergies, infectious diseases and cancer.

Genaera Corp., of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., received U.S. Patent No. 6,610,866 titled "Stereoselective Synthesis of 24-Hydroxylated Compounds Useful for the Preparation of Aminosterols, Vitamin D Analogs, and Other Compounds," covering claims for intermediates in the synthesis of squalamine or a homologous aminosterol.

GenVec Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., said the University of Chicago was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,605,712 titled "Gene Transcription and Ionizing Radiation: Methods and Compositions," broadly covering the use of radiation to induce the expression of proteins in the treatment of cancer. The patent, exclusively licensed to GenVec, specifically covers GenVec's lead oncology product candidate, TNFerade.

Geron Corp., of Menlo Park, Calif., was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,610,839 with claims covering the promoter that regulates expression of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (the hTERT promoter). Geron issued a non-exclusive license to the hTERT promoter to Genetic Therapy Inc., a subsidiary of Novartis AG, of Basel, Switzerland, for use in the development of viruses that are designed to target cancer cells. Cell Genesys Inc., of South San Francisco, recently acquired rights to Genetic Therapy's product portfolio and intellectual property in the field of oncolytic viruses, including the hTERT promoter licensed non-exclusively from Geron. The granted patent triggers a milestone payment.

Hybridon Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., received U.S. Patent No. 6,608,035 titled "Method Of Down-Regulating Gene Expression," claiming methods of orally administering second-generation antisense oligonucleotides comprised of regions of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides and at least one 2'-O-alkoxyalkyl, including 2'-O-methoxyethyl-ribonucleotide, at each end.

Kaleidos Pharma Inc., of Seattle, said it was issued a notice of allowance for a patent application covering new compositions of matter consisting of TGF-alpha modified with polyethylene glycol. The company is developing TGF-alpha for central nervous system disorders, including Parkinson's disease, and for certain cancer indications.

MethylGene Inc., of Montreal, received two U.S. patents titled "Acyl Phosphonate Inhibitors of beta-Lactamases" and "beta-Lactamase and DD-Peptidase Inhibitors," for its small-molecule inhibitor program against bacterial beta-lactamases.

Nova BioGenetics Inc., of Atlanta, said it was awarded a patent using an array of organic compounds, replacing the currently used methanol solvent raw compound, removing nearly all flammability and toxicity issues and enhancing antimicrobial technology as an environmentally green product.

PharmaStem Therapeutics Inc., of Wayne, Pa., was issued U.S. Patent Nos. 6,569,427 and 6,605,275 related to the therapeutic use of fetal and neonatal stem cells for hemapoietic or immune reconstitution and hematopoietic reconstitution in gene therapy.