• Acacia Research Corp., of Newport Beach, Calif., said that its subsidiary, CombiMatrix Corp., is collaborating with Daniel Sabath and Stephen Schmechel of the University of Washington in Seattle to develop a microarray-based test for the diagnosis of lymphoma. Existing methods of diagnosing lymphoma are based on examining tissue biopsies for a small number of markers using microscopy, the company said.

• Access Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Dallas, and Celltech Group plc, of Slough, UK, entered a collaboration to develop oral drug delivery options for Celltech's monoclonal antibodies and antibody fragments using Access' vitamin B12 oral drug delivery technology. In preclinical studies, the technology demonstrated a potential to facilitate the absorption of proteins following oral administration, Access said. Financial terms were not disclosed, but Celltech was granted rights to license the Access technology for a defined number of antigens. Both Access and Celltech retain ownership of their oral respective drug delivery technology and monoclonal antibodies.

• Beckman Coulter Inc., of Fullerton, Calif., acquired the technologies of Peoples Genetics Inc., of Woburn, Mass. The technologies are used for the genetic analysis of large pooled populations of individual patient DNAs. Financial details of the cash transaction were not disclosed. The technologies consist of procedures for both sample preparation and constant denaturant capillary electrophoresis.

• Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc, of Cambridge, UK, said it would receive royalties on sales of Humira, which received European Union approval this week for adult rheumatoid arthritis, in news reported by Abbott Laboratories, of Abbott Park, Ill. CAT said it isolated and optimized the compound as part of a broad collaboration with Abbott.

• CIMA Labs Inc., of Eden Prairie, Minn., said it received a letter from Cephalon Inc., of West Chester, Pa., regarding Cephalon's proposal to acquire all outstanding shares of CIMA common stock for $26 per share in cash. The board of directors of CIMA will meet, along with its advisers, to consider the letter at a date that has yet to be determined. Cephalon made the hostile takeover bid in August. aaiPharma Inc., of Wilmington, N.C., had previously made an offer to acquire CIMA through an all-stock transaction. aaiPharma said it was notified of the letter and reiterated its belief that an aaiPharma/CIMA merger would create a "combined company with tremendous growth potential." (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 22, 2003.)

• Corixa Corp., of Seattle, and GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London, said the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued coding instructions to hospitals for obtaining reimbursement for Bexxar (tositumomab and I-131 tositumomab) under the hospital outpatient prospective payment system. The codes are retroactive to July 1. Incorporating both existing and newly assigned codes, the instructions provide reimbursement for all procedures necessary to administer the Bexxar therapeutic regimen. Bexxar was approved by the FDA June 30 for treating patients with CD20+ follicular, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with and without transformation, whose disease is refractory to Rituxan and has relapsed following chemotherapy. (See BioWorld Today, July 1, 2003.)

• Curis Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said the current issue of Neuron contains a report demonstrating that the Hedgehog signaling pathway is required for the formation and maintenance of brain progenitor cells. The progenitor cells are the precursors of the nerve cells and support cells that populate the brain. The report also shows that orally administered small-molecule agonists developed by Curis can activate the Hedgehog pathway and induce new progenitor cell formation in the brain and, as a result, might stimulate normal regenerative processes and promote brain recovery from injury. Curis' stock (NASDAQ:CRIS) rose 40 cents Thursday, or 10.2 percent, to close at $4.35.

• Dendreon Corp., of Seattle, said it is presenting data on a lead compound from its Protease Activated Therapy (PACT) therapeutic platform at the Biochemical Society's 57th Harden Conference: Proteinase Structure and Function, taking place Sept. 9-13 in Oxford, UK. In preclinical testing, the compound, CVS 10290, has demonstrated a reduction in tumor volume compared to conventional chemotherapy. Dendreon's PACT program focuses on exploiting the activity of proteases on the surface of tumor cells.

• DOV Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Hackensack, N.J., said it got positive efficacy and safety results from its Phase III trial of bicifadine in moderate to severe post-surgical dental pain. The data indicate that bicifadine is an effective analgesic, compared to placebo, with efficacy at least equivalent to tramadol. Bicifadine produced fewer side effects than tramadol. The trial was a single-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 540 patients between the ages of 16 and 42. Three dose levels of bicifadine (200 mg, 400 mg and 600 mg) and one dose level of tramadol (100 mg) were compared to placebo using as a primary endpoint measure the Summed Pain Relief and Intensity Difference (SPRID) 6 score, a measurement that reflects the total analgesia produced over an initial six-hour test period. Secondary measures included SPRID 12, the total analgesia produced over a 12-hour test period, as well as maximal analgesia and hourly measures of pain relief. Bicifadine produced significant (p<0.0001) overall increases in SPRID 6 scores compared to placebo, as did the single dose level of tramadol. All three doses of bicifadine and tramadol produced statistically significant increases in SPRID 12 scores, indicating an extended duration of action. The company is planning to initiate pivotal trials.

• Ecopia BioSciences Inc., of Montreal, said it discovered its first antibacterial compound, whose structure defines a new class of antibacterial agents. Labeled ECO-00501, the company said it has shown activity against drug-resistant bacteria including vancomycin-resistant enterococcus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Ecopia said ECO-00501 is the fifth compound to come from its discovery efforts, along with two antifungal agents and two anticancer products.

• Eksigent Technologies, of Livermore, Calif., was awarded a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., through its Advanced Technology Program. The grant will fund development of Eksigent's ChipLC system, which is designed to allow rapid, highly parallel chip-based chemical analysis based on high-performance liquid chromatography.

• Exact Sciences Corp., of Marlborough, Mass., filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission providing for the offer, from time to time, of common stock and debt securities, up to an aggregate of $100 million. Exact went public in January 2001, raising $56 million in the IPO. (See BioWorld Today, Feb. 1, 2001.)

• Genaissance Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New Haven, Conn., entered a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca plc, of London, to use information generated from Genaissance's Statin Response Examined by Genetic Haplotype Markers (STRENGTH) study. AstraZeneca will receive nonexclusive access to the STRENGTH study database for research purposes for a limited period. The STRENGTH study involved more than 400 patients and demonstrated that gene variations are associated with response to treatment with the statin class of drugs. Genaissance's stock (NASDAQ:GNSC) rose 43.9 cents Thursday, or 29.3 percent, to close $1.94.

• Genzyme Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., said that through a wholly owned subsidiary it completed a $585 million tender offer to acquire outstanding shares of SangStat Medical Corp., of Fremont, Calif. About 26 million shares, or 98 percent of those outstanding, were tendered at $22.50 apiece and accepted for payment. The tender offer and withdrawal rights expired at midnight Sept. 10. Genzyme said it expects to complete the transaction by early next week. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 5, 2003.)

• George Mason University in Manassas, Va., said researchers at its National Center for Biodefense reported findings showing that smallpox vaccination may confer a measurable degree of immunity to HIV infection. In a study that used blood cells from 10 vaccinated and 10 unvaccinated subjects, there was a statistically significant difference in resistance to HIV infection between the blood cells from the vaccinated and the unvaccinated subjects. HIV failed to grow or grew at substantially reduced levels in the cells from the vaccinated group when compared to the unvaccinated group. The preliminary results will be further explored by testing a larger number of blood samples from both vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects, as well as additional studies to investigate how the smallpox vaccine is conferring protection against HIV.

• Hard to Treat Diseases Inc., of Oklahoma City, said it began talks with a medical group regarding testing of Tubercin in preclinical mice trials for cancer. The expectation of the company is that scientific results recorded by a third party would "further our communication efforts in establishing Tubercin as an immunostimulant for combating cancer," it said.

• Hybridon Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., presented preclinical data from studies of its second-generation immunomodulatory oligonucleotides (IMO) in mouse models of allergic asthma, at the World Allergy Organization Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia. The presentation showed the potential of Hybridon's IMO compounds in the prevention of asthma in mouse models, and the company said it might provide a useful agent to evaluate clinically in the treatment of human asthma in the future.

• Inamed Corp., of Santa Barbara, Calif., and its partner, Genzyme Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., said their premarket approval application for Hylaform hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler product is scheduled for review at an FDA advisory panel meeting in November. Hylaform is one of a series of HA products developed by Genzyme in the biomaterials area.

• Incara Pharmaceuticals Corp., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., reported data at the American Chemical Society meeting in New York showing that its catalytic antioxidant compound, AEOL 10150, extended the life of mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. More specifically, in recent experiments in a transgenic mouse model of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, the survival time period after symptom onset for the AEOL 10150- treated group of mice was more than 2.5 times the survival period of the control group. Investigators noted that AEOL 10150 showed the largest survival increase reported to date for a conventional pharmacological agent administered at symptom onset in the ALS mouse model, and AEOL 10150 also preserved near-normal motor function until one to two days prior to death.

• InNexus Biotechnology Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Corixa Corp., of Seattle, entered an antibody agreement. The companies will develop lead antibody candidates combining InNexus' SuperAntibody Technology (SAT) with up to four antibodies from Corixa's therapeutic antibody development program. InNexus' SAT technology increases the binding strength of monoclonal antibodies, which allows them to cross-link their target antigen, InNexus said. The collaboration initially will focus on enhancing the antitumor activity of selected antibody leads that are in development. Following the potential creation of SuperAntibody conjugates and successful demonstration of increased therapeutic efficacy, Corixa would have the right to license the technology from InNexus in exchange for up-front and milestone payments and royalties. Also, Corixa would be responsible for all further product development.

• The Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, said Japanese and U.S. biotech and life science leaders in the Midwest from industry, government and academic areas gathered in Chicago as part of the JETRO Midwest-Japan Biotechnology Summit. Attendees discussed two major topics: sustaining the biotechnology build-out in Japan and the Midwest in the early 21st century and the steps that can be taken to accelerate the process of commercializing biotechnology research and development.

• NeoPharm Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill., said it discovered new analogues of cationic cardiolipin for use in the company's NeoLipid liposomal system. Results were presented at the 226th American Chemical Society national meeting held Sept. 7-11 in New York. Cardiolipin is a naturally occurring phospholipid found primarily in the heart and skeletal muscles.

• Pharmacyclics Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., presented findings at the American Chemical Society National meeting in New York from preclinical studies of a drug candidate to treat neurodegenerative diseases based on Pharmacyclics' texaphyrin technology platform. The results provide evidence for the therapeutic effects of metallotexaphyrin molecules for the treatment of the progressive neurodegenerative disease amylotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, the company said.

• PhotoCure ASA, of Oslo, the Netherlands, said the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA met Wednesday to review PhotoCure's new drug application for Metvix (methyl aminolevulinate) in skin cancer. The committee reached the conclusion, through a 9-3 vote, that it could not recommend Metvix for approval. The company said there will be further discussions with the FDA on the therapy and said there were no safety concerns related to Metvix. A final decision on PhotoCure's NDA is expected once the FDA has further evaluated the nonbinding recommendations of the advisory committee, PhotoCure said.

• Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, initiated a multidose safety trial of R112 to treat allergic rhinitis. The goal of the trial is to establish the longer-term safety of R112 in various dosing regimens. Results of the trial are expected by January and will allow Rigel to enter into broader, longer-term, multidose efficacy trials in the first half of 2004.

• Targacept Inc., of Winston-Salem, N.C., was awarded a grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., through its Advanced Technology Program. The grant will provide about $2 million over a three-year period. The award will help fund Targacept's development of new computer-simulation software designed to accurately predict biological and toxicological effects of drugs, which would enable earlier and better predictions about the molecular properties of drug candidates, improve selection of compounds for development and reduce the failure rate in the drug development process, the company said.

• Targeted Molecules Corp., of San Diego, reported the completion of a $4 million financing by a group of new and existing investors including Neuro Discovery Ltd. Partnership, Trian Equities Ltd., GeneChem Therapeutic Ventures Fund, Inglewood Ventures and Linkagene. Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance TMC's lead compound, TMC-2001, into clinical development and to continue the preclinical development of other products in its pipeline.