• Aclara BioSciences Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., expanded the eTag assay collaboration with Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco. Under the original agreement, Genentech paid Aclara an undisclosed success fee in late 2002, and now has agreed to further expand the research. The terms of the expanded collaboration include certain fees payable by Genentech, including success fees upon completion of specified technical milestones. The eTag Assay System is a high-throughput system used to study genes, proteins and cell-based antigens.

• Antisoma plc, of London, reported data at the Recombinant Antibodies meeting in Munich, Germany, showing antitumor effects of its drug, AS1406, in both breast cancer and lymphoma. Formerly called Theranase, AS1406 slowed the growth of primary breast tumors in a mouse model. Also, 66 percent fewer secondary tumors were formed in the lungs with AS1406 than with control. In another model in which breast cancer cells were administered into circulation, AS1406 was associated with an 85 percent reduction in the number of lung tumors. AS1406 also prolonged survival in a mouse model of lymphoma.

• Ascend Therapeutics Inc., of Herndon, Va., began a Phase II study of Tamogel (4-hydroxytamoxifen [4-OHT] gel) for cyclical breast pain, a problem associated with the menstrual cycle. The study will include about 100 healthy, premenopausal women with regular menstrual cycles who are not taking oral contraceptives and will compare two doses of Tamogel with placebo. The study will be conducted in the U.S., UK, Poland and the Czech Republic.

• Biomira Inc., of Edmonton, Alberta, arranged a $5.5 million financing with Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group Inc., of New York, which acted as exclusive placement agent. The company will offer up to about 4.8 million shares at an issue price of $1.14, which represents a 15 percent discount to the prior six-day volume weighted average trading price of $1.35, and up to 814,815 warrants at an exercise price of $1.66. The warrants will have a two-year term from the closing date. The company's Theratope vaccine is in Phase III trials.

• Biota Inc., of Carlsbad, Calif., presented findings from its program to develop an HIV/AIDS drug at the International Conference on Antiviral Research in Savannah, Ga. Biota is using its N-MAX technology to create a nucleotide mimic of AZT (zidovudine) in an effort to enhance its activity and reduce toxicity. Biota said it demonstrated proof of concept for the N-MAX technology through its AZT-mimic research, leading to the discovery of a series of compounds called B-108.

• Cellomics Inc., of Pittsburgh, signed an agreement with the Mayo Clinic and Foundation in Rochester, Minn. The collaboration will provide access to Cellomics' range of products, including ArrayScan HCS Reader, the KineticScan HCS Reader, the vHCS Discovery ToolBox and the line of BioApplication software modules for automated cell analyses. Financial details were not disclosed.

• Cel-Sci Corp., of Vienna, Va., presented animal protection data against herpes simplex virus infection at the 16th International Conference on Antiviral Research in Savannah, Ga. The tests used Cel-Sci's CEL-1000 immune-modulating peptide. The data showed protection from disease symptoms and death after pre-treatment with CEL-1000 in a mouse skin herpes simplex virus infection model. Also, the company said that it is evaluating the availability of public funds and/or other sources to pursue the testing of CEL-1000 in SARS. The company's stock (AMEX:CVM) climbed 8 cents Wednesday, or 36.4 percent, to close at 30 cents.

• CyDex Inc., of Overland Park, Kan., reported an agreement licensing Captisol, its advanced formulation system, to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., of Jerusalem, for a peptide-based drug candidate under development for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. CyDex granted Teva global rights for the use of Captisol in a formulation of TV-4710, a peptide based on the sequence of CDR1 of an anti-DNA antibody. Captisol is designed to enable the delivery of medications by improving drug compounds.

• Cytorex Biosciences Inc., of Weston, Fla., said preclinical findings showed that its Cytoreg technology could treat cancer and immunology-related diseases. Preliminary in vitro data suggested that Cytoreg has inhibitory and antiproliferating effects on human breast, testicular, prostate and lung cancers. Cytoreg, which is based on the use of inorganic acids, induces selective and dose-dependent apoptosis in target cells. In animal studies, five C57-BL mice with B-16 melanoma were treated. Tumors in four did not grow, and tumor growth in the fifth appeared to plateau. There was no metastasis.

• CytRx Corp., of Los Angeles, expanded its collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Medford for the use of gene silencing technology, known as RNA interference, in the development of lead drug compounds for treating obesity and Type II diabetes. The company said on April 21 it formed an alliance with UMMS in the RNAi area. Under the expanded agreement, CytRx signed a sponsored research agreement with UMMS. (See BioWorld Today, April 22, 2003.)

• EraGen Biosciences Inc., of Madison, Wis., said it developed a new SARS-specific assay test using its Gene-Code technology. The test is now in the possession of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and is being shipped to the World Health Organization's Central Public Health Laboratory and the British Columbia Center of Disease Control. Initially, EraGen will offer the assay to reference labs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and other governmental agencies willing to validate the test.

• Forbes Medi-Tech Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, responded to the suspension of Sydney, Australia-based Pan Pharmaceuticals Ltd.'s license to manufacture medicines, vitamins and nutritional supplements. Industry reports said Pan was forced Monday to recall 219 vitamin and nutritional supplements. Forbes clarified that although Pan has been a customer of Forbes, "Pan Pharmaceuticals is in no way involved in the manufacturing of Forbes' clinically proven cholesterol-lowering ingredient, Reducol." Separately, Forbes said it sold its pharmaceutical fine chemicals business, which centered on process technologies for the production of the steroid intermediates, androstenedione and androstadienedione, for gross proceeds of $1.9 million.

• Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Baltimore, reported results from analyses of clinical trials of its Gliadel Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant) at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons meeting in San Diego. Data from a Phase III multicenter study submitted as part of Guilford's new drug application showed that survival was prolonged in the Gliadel group - median survival increased to 13.8 months from 11.6 months (p<0.05, unstratified log-rank test). A separate analysis of two Phase III trials that studied its use at the time of initial diagnosis and surgery showed that median survival for the Gliadel group was 13.1 months compared to 10.9 months for placebo (p=0.031, log-rank stratified by study). The FDA approved the product two months ago. (See BioWorld Today, Feb. 27, 2003.)

• Immucor Inc., of Norcross, Ga., and Bio-Tek Instruments Inc., of Winooski, Vt., signed an agreement with the University of Vermont in Burlington to commercialize an in vitro diagnostic test to measure platelet markers used in antiplatelet pharmacological drug development and to potentially improve real-time treatment of cardiovascular disease. The assay is expected to be used in determining the risk associated with increased platelet activity and decreased reactivity.

• Inhibitex Inc., of Atlanta, said it received FDA clearance to begin a Phase I trial of its second product candidate, Aurexis. Inhibitex is developing the humanized monoclonal antibody in Staphylococcus aureus infections. Its lead product candidate, Veronate, is in a Phase II trial to prevent both S. epidermidis and S. aureus infections in very low-birth-weight infants.

• InSite Vision Inc., of Alameda, Calif., began a Phase I study with ISV-403, an ophthalmic product for ocular bacterial infections. ISV-403 combines InSite's sustained-release DuraSite technology with a fourth-generation fluoroquinolone licensed from SSP Co. Ltd., of Tokyo. InSite is developing the compound as part of an August license agreement with Bausch & Lomb Inc., of Rochester, N.Y.

• Iomed Inc., of Salt Lake City, filed a civil complaint against two former executives, among others, alleging misappropriation of trade secrets, interference with economic relationships and civil conspiracy. The claims arose from allegations that the defendants engaged in conduct to misappropriate confidential information related to a new product being developed under their supervision. Iomed also alleged that they engaged in fraud and tortuously interfered with contractual relationships, breached fiduciary duties and duties of loyalty. Iomed is seeking injunctive relief against all defendants, who filed a counterclaim.

• Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., completed the cash offers to the holders of its outstanding 4.5 percent convertible senior notes due June 15, 2006, and the 5 percent convertible subordinated notes due March 1, 2007. Millennium accepted for payment all notes, resulting in a total of about $637 million, including accrued interest of $7 million and a $52 million premium payment that Millennium previously recorded as a charge in last year's second quarter. The company will record a net $10 million charge this quarter that includes $12 million related to un-amortized debt issuance costs due to the portion of the debt being paid off before the notes are due, and $2 million of income related to the premium on the untendered notes. The untendered $22.1 million - $5.9 in 4.5 percent notes and $16.2 in 5 percent notes - will remain obligations of Millennium and due June 15, 2006, and March 1, 2007, respectively.

• NeoPharm Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill., reported additional Phase I/II trial data on IL13-PE38QQR, its tumor-targeting agent for malignant glioma, at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons meeting in San Diego. The preliminary data from 24 patients provide evidence of IL13-PE38QQR's cytotoxic effects against malignant glioma tumor cells at a concentration range between 0.5 and 2.0 micrograms/mL when infused directly into the tumor prior to surgical resection. The results also provide evidence of IL13-PE38QQR's clinical effect when administered after tumor removal to areas of the brain at risk for tumor recurrence, the company said.

• Neose Technologies Inc., of Horsham, Pa., entered an agreement to license certain intellectual property rights to GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London. GSK gained an exclusive license to develop, produce and sell certain human vaccines for the prevention, control or treatment of undisclosed diseases. It also has a nonexclusive right to use any other patents owned by Neose that are needed to practice its rights in the same field. Neose will receive undisclosed license fees, milestone payments and royalties on product sales.

• Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Miami, signed an agreement to develop new prescription transdermal delivery systems for P&G Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble Co., of Cincinnati. Noven is entitled to receive up to $7.8 million, payable in installments if certain development milestones are achieved. Development efforts under the agreement are expected to continue through 2004.

• Prima BioMed Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, said preliminary results showed its DCtag malaria vaccine appears effective. Its subsidiary, Panvax Ltd., in collaboration with Austin Research Institute, demonstrated the malaria parasite could be eradicated from the majority of mice already infected with malaria. Previously, the company said immunization of mice with a DCtag vaccine before they were infected protected them from infection. Additional studies are under way.

• Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., reported top-line results from a Phase II trial of its opioid-induced constipation drug, methylnaltrexone. On average, 60 percent of patients who received doses greater than or equal to 5 mg laxated within four hours as compared to less than 8 percent at lower doses (p=less than 0.0001). The data is scheduled for release at the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago. The company's stock (NASDAQ:PGNX) climbed 98 cents Wednesday, or 11 percent, to close at $9.88.

• Quantum Dot Corp., of Hayward, Calif., said that on April 24, 2003, Nucleic Acids Research published the online version of an article co-authored by investigators at QDC and GlaxoSmithKline plc, of London. The article described a method for multiplexed SNP genotyping using the Qbead-encoded polymer-based system. The Qbead system was used for SNP genotyping of the cytochrome P450 family of genes.

• SemBioSys Genetics Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, said AVAC Ltd., also of Calgary, will invest up to C$2.5 million (US$1.7 million) in SemBioSys. The funding will be used to complete development of SemBioSys' StratoCapture Protein A Purification System. The system is designed to convert the process of purifying antibodies from a batch process into a continuous one that uses a disposable reagent. The financing will mark the second investment AVAC has made in SemBioSys, the first coming in June 2000.

• Serono SA, of Geneva, said it disagrees with the opinion issued by the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products that recommended not granting marketing authorization for Serostim for the treatment of AIDS wasting in the European Union. Serono said, "It is unfortunate that the current CPMP view of AIDS wasting is not aligned with the definition of the orphan drug designation granted in Europe." Serono said it believes the data submitted confirm the safety and efficacy of Serostim in AIDS wasting. The opinion was handed down April 25.

• Stressgen Biotechnologies Corp., of San Diego, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Stressgen Development Corp., reported the receipt of two milestones from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., of Basel, Switzerland. The milestones are an equity investment of about $3 million and a development milestone payment of about $1.5 million. In June, Stressgen and Roche entered a collaboration for the co-development and global commercialization of Stressgen's CoVal fusion product candidate, HspE7, a human papillomavirus drug. That deal was expected to be worth up to $204 million in milestone payments for Stressgen. (See BioWorld Today, June 25, 2002.)

• The University of California at San Francisco said Ira Herskowitz, a professor at the school and a director of its human genetics program, received this year's Lewis S. Rosenstiel award for distinguished work in basic medical research. He was honored for his genetic studies on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which have yielded insights into the cell biology of all organisms, including humans.

• Viragen Inc., of Plantation, Fla., raised about $2.3 million in debt financing from a group of its current institutional stockholders and intends to use the proceeds to commercialize its portfolio of health care technologies including Multiferon. Viragen raised the proceeds from the sale of secured convertible debentures in a private placement. The debentures bear interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum, are payable over 24 months and have a maturity date of Aug. 1, 2005. The debentures are convertible into shares of stock at the option of the company at a fixed price of 20 cents per share if the market price exceeds 25 cents per share.