• 454 Life Sciences, of Branford, Conn., a majority-owned subsidiary of CuraGen Corp., obtained an exclusive license for sole use of sequencing by synthesis and pyrophosphate based-sequencing for whole-genome applications from Pyrosequencing AB, of Uppsala, Sweden. The license gives 454 the exclusive right to use the technology in whole-genome analysis, while Pyrosequencing retains rights to its pyrophosphate-based sequencing technology for all applications not related to whole-genome activities. For the five years of exclusive license rights, Pyrosequencing will receive a minimum of $4.5 million in up-front payments and minimum royalties. After that point, 454 has an option to maintain the exclusivity throughout the lifetime of the licensed patents at an additional cost of $500,000 to $1 million per year.

• Acambis plc, of Cambridge, UK, said its smallpox vaccine is free from contaminating bacteria and viruses, and could be less neurovirulent than first-generation vaccines. Preclinical data on the vaccine were published in Nature Medicine, it said. Acambis derived the vaccine from Dryvax, a first-generation vaccine registered in the U.S. and used during the worldwide smallpox eradication program.

• Advanced Plant Pharmaceuticals Inc., of New York, signed a distribution agreement with Union Bless Ltd., of Hong Kong, for the marketing and sales of Advanced Plant's homeopathic allergy and sinus spray, Sinusol. Sinusol is designed to provide temporary relief of sinus pain and nasal congestion.

• Agenix Ltd., of Brisbane, Australia, entered an agreement to license patents that cover enabling technology used in lateral flow devices, which are used in point-of-care diagnostics, from Abbott Laboratories, of Abbott Park, Ill. Agenix's subsidiary, AGEN Biomedical Ltd., will use the lateral flow technology to develop diagnostic products for animal health applications and to detect D-Dimer, a protein marker indicative of clot formation in humans.

• Antigenics Inc., of New York, said Phase II results published in the Aug. 15, 2003, issue of Clinical Cancer Research showed that more than half of the 29 metastatic colorectal cancer patients who received Oncophage (HSPPC-96) demonstrated significant immunological response. The company added that the findings not only appeared to be correlated with clinical response, but also were found to be an independent factor for prognosis. Antigenics added that the observed immunological mechanism of action has been consistent across all cancer types evaluated to date, supporting Oncophage's use in treating a range of cancers. Its stock (NASDAQ:AGEN) gained $1.59 Tuesday, or 14.9 percent, to close at $12.30.

• Astex Technology Ltd., of Cambridge, UK, entered a structural biology research agreement to design and develop drug candidates with Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan. The collaboration will focus on solving human cytochrome P450 crystal structures that will be used to optimize Fujisawa's compounds. Astex will apply its X-ray crystallography technologies to obtain crystal structures of cytochrome P450s complexed to Fujisawa's compounds. Financial terms were not disclosed.

• AtheroGenics Inc., of Atlanta, completed the sale of $100 million of its 4.5 percent convertible notes due 2008. That includes the exercise by the initial purchasers of an additional $20 million in notes. The notes are convertible into AtheroGenics stock at a conversion rate of about 65.2 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes. AtheroGenics expects to use the proceeds of the offering for research and development activities and for general corporate purposes. The notes sale was announced last week. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 15, 2003.)

• AVI BioPharma Inc., of Portland, Ore., began a Phase II study of its antisense drug Resten-NG in patients undergoing angioplasty and stent placement. In the placebo-controlled study, which will be conducted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Resten-NG will be delivered using AVI's microbubble delivery system. AVI said its flagship cardiovascular Neugene antisense agent inhibits the expression of the c-myc gene, which plays a key role in the development of restenosis.

• BioSante Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Lincolnshire, Ill., said several studies demonstrated the superiority of its calcium phosphate nanoparticulate (CAP) vaccine adjuvant and delivery system, BioVant, compared to the only approved adjuvant, aluminum salts. The results were presented at the 6th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research in Arlington, Va. The company is in an agreement with the U.S. Army to use the technology in the development of biodefense vaccines.

• Celgene Corp., of Warren, N.J., said Pharmion Corp., of Boulder, Colo., received the recommendation of an Australian regulatory committee related to thalidomide approval for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, as well as for cutaneous manifestations of erythema nodosum leprosum. Pharmion, which is working to finalize details for registration and labeling, expects product launch with its risk-management program within six to eight weeks. In July 1998, the product was approved by the FDA for use in the U.S., where Celgene markets it. Nearly two years ago, Pharmion licensed its rights in Europe and other worldwide territories. (See BioWorld Today, Nov. 20, 2001.)

• Ciphergen Biosystems Inc., of Fremont, Calif., priced its offering of $25 million worth of convertible notes. Due in 2008, the notes will bear interest at 4.5 percent. The company, which also granted the initial buyer a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional $5 million of notes, expects the transaction to close on Aug. 22. Under certain circumstances, the notes would be convertible into Ciphergen's common stock at a rate of 108.8329 shares per $1,000 of the notes, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The conversion rate is equal to an initial conversion price of about $9.19 per share, a 14 percent premium to its $8.06 closing bid price Aug. 18. Ciphergen said it would use the net proceeds for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development and potential acquisitions.

• CTI Molecular Imaging Inc., of Knoxville, Tenn., acquired all the stock of Miranda Solutions Ltd., of Oxford, UK, a developer of software and analytical tools for medical imaging workstations. CTI will incorporate Miranda's image analysis and fusion software into its PET scanner workstations. CTI paid about $22 million in cash and notes for Miranda, and there are incentives built into the deal related to future financial performance.

• Gene Logic Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., entered an agreement to use its collection of gene expression data from control samples (normal and vehicle-treated rats) in order to contribute to the evaluation of RNA performance standards for toxicogenomics data with the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. The goal is to help the FDA assess data quality in the genomics portion of new drug submissions, with the aim of improving drug safety and efficacy and streamlining the discovery and development process. Gene Logic said the research results would be publicly available, though the data it uses to generate the results will remain under wraps.

• Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, reported preliminary data at the American Society of Retina Specialists meeting in New York, detailing the extension phase of an open-label, randomized, single-agent Phase Ib/II study of Lucentis (ranibizumab), formerly known as rhuFab V2, in patients with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. The visual acuity at day 98 in patients who continued with treatment improved by an average of 7.4 letters (n=20) in the 300-microgram group and 12.6 letters (n=22) in the 500-microgram group. At day 210, their visual acuity improved to an average gain of 12.8 letters (n=19) in the 300-microgram group and 15 letters (n=21) in the 500-microgram group compared to baseline. While patients receiving usual care demonstrated an average loss in visual acuity of 5.1 letters (n=11) at day 98, those who crossed over to Lucentis improved on the average by 7.3 letters (n=4) and 3.2 letters (n=5) at day 210 compared with baseline in the 300- and 500-microgram groups, respectively. Of the 40 treated with Lucentis for six months who completed the study through day 210, 97.5 percent (n=39) had stable or improved vision and 45 percent (n=18) improved 15 letters or more on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart. Two randomized Phase III studies of the anti-angiogenesis product continue to enroll patients.

• GenVec Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., received a Maryland Industrial Partnerships award issued by the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute of the University of Maryland. The $100,000 award will be used to help fund research in the regeneration of hair cells in the inner ear, which could have the potential for treating hearing loss and balance disorders. The research will be conducted by Hinrich Staecker at the University of Maryland Medical School. GenVec has a research collaboration with Staecker.

• Human Genome Sciences Inc., of Rockville, Md., said it received fast-track designation for ABthrax (PA MAb), a drug for the prevention and treatment of anthrax infections. Human Genome Sciences has initiated a Phase I trial of ABthrax in healthy adult volunteers to evaluate the drug's safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics.

• Invitrogen Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., said it received all approvals needed to close its acquisition of Molecular Probes Inc., originally announced in early July. The acquisition was valued at $325 million in cash. Invitrogen provides life science technologies for research, drug discovery and commercial bioproduction. (See BioWorld Today, July, 3, 2003.)

• Karo Bio AB, of Huddinge, Sweden, said Merck & Co Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J., decided to discontinue development of the first of the two candidate compounds identified in a collaboration between the companies. Karo said the development was discontinued due to adverse findings in the final stages of preclinical testing. The second candidate continues in preclinical testing, and other estrogen receptor compounds arising from the November 1997 collaboration continue to be evaluated as well.

• New York Weill Cornell Medical Center said it performed the first gene therapy treatment for Parkinson's disease. The treatment, on a 55-year-old man, involved placing genes into the brain of the patient. The study is designed to enroll 12 patients.

• NicOx SA, of Sophia Antipolis, France, entered an agreement to provide nitric oxide-donating compounds for evaluation in a preclinical testing program in an undisclosed therapeutic area to Merck & Co. Inc., of Whitehouse Station, N.J. Merck gained the exclusive right for a fixed period of time to license any selected lead compounds identified, and if it exercises its option it would pay NicOx an initial license fee for drug candidates, success-related milestones and royalties on any future sales of resulting drugs. Merck also would be responsible for funding future development and commercialization on a worldwide basis. A joint research group will coordinate the research program, though more specific terms were not disclosed.

• NuGEN Technologies Inc., of San Carlos, Calif., raised $7.5 million after completing a Series C round of financing. The privately held company said it would use the funds to strengthen its commercial infrastructure and develop its pipeline, which includes products for high-sensitivity nucleic acid amplification and detection. A trio of individuals with technology experience related to the use of genomic information in the diagnostic field led the round - William Rutter, George Rathmann and James Wilson. They are joined by new investor Sutter Hill Ventures, as well as current investors Radius Venture Partners, The Band of Angels Fund and MedCapital Ventures. Rutter joined the board as the Series C representative. NuGEN last raised private funds in 2001 in a $10.8 million Series B round. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 3, 2001.)

• Nymox Pharmaceutical Corp., of Maywood, Calif., said interim analysis of initial Phase I data for NX-1207, its drug for benign prostatic hyperplasia, showed initial patients treated with NX-1207 have not shown clinically significant toxic effects from the drug.

• Resverlogix Corp., of Calgary, Alberta, entered an agreement to acquire a cancer therapeutic from the co-discoverers of the technology, both of whom work in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Calgary. Resverlogix paid C$100,000 (US$71,400) in cash, granted a 10 percent royalty on future license fees for a five-year period, and issued 2 million Series A preferred shares in the transaction. Resverlogix said it expects the therapy to be effective against brain gliomas and skin melanomas, as well as breast, colon, gastric and prostate cancers.