Royer Biomedical Inc., of Frederick, Md., was awarded U.S. Patent No. 6,497,901 titled "Resorbable Matrices for Delivery of Bioactive Compounds." The third U.S. patent issued for Royer's resorbable drug delivery system, it covers improvements in stability, residence time and control of the release profile.

Celgene Corp., of Warren, N.J., received U.S. Patent No. 6,514,745, expanding its intellectual property estate for JNK (c-Jun N-terminal Kinase). The fundamental patent describes the polynucleotide sequences encoding JNK targets that are useful to identify small-molecule JNK inhibitors that could potentially treat cancer, inflammatory diseases and ischemia reperfusion injury.

Cima Labs Inc., of Minneapolis, was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,509,036, a fourth patent covering its OraVescent technology. This most recent patent applies to a drug delivery system based on an orally administered dosage form that releases a drug ingredient in a targeted area of the gastrointestinal tract.

Embrex Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., received U.S. patent Nos. 6,500,438 and 6,495,146, relating to a method of vaccinating domesticated birds including chicken or turkey against coccidiosis before hatch. The patents were issued from applications filed by Pfizer Inc., of New York, which in June 2001 exclusively licensed worldwide rights to Embrex.

Genzyme Molecular Oncology, a unit of Genzyme Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,498,013 covering its LongSAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) technology. The patent covers the dynamic gene expression method, an expansion of the previously patented SAGE technique.

Insert Therapeutics Inc., of Pasadena, Calif., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,509,323 titled "Linear Cyclodextrin Copolymers," which contains broad claims covering the composition, method of preparation and methods of use of a new class of polymers for delivery of therapeutic compounds. Those polymers, part of a family designated as Insert's Cyclosert technology platform, represent an advance in the use of cyclodextrins for delivery of therapeutic compounds.

Linguagen Corp., of Cranbury, N.J., received from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office a formal allowance for its patent on compounds that inhibit the bitter taste response. The privately held company is developing ingredients used to improve the taste of food, beverages, oral pharmaceuticals and oral health care products.

Lorus Therapeutics Inc., of Toronto, received a U.S. patent titled "Oligonucleotide Sequences Complementary to Thioredoxin and Thioredoxin Reductase Genes and Methods of Same to Modulate Cell Growth," covering Lorus' technology on the design and use of unique antisense, anticancer agents that target these specific gene sequences.

Millennium Biotechnologies, a wholly owned subsidiary of Millennium Biotechnologies Group Inc., of Bernardsville, N.J., said it was issued a U.S. patent for the composition of its Resurgex product - a nutritional supplement to be used as an adjunct to medical care for the treatment of immuno-compromised conditions.

Novogen Ltd., of Stamford, Conn., said it was issued a U.S. patent for human dietary supplements comprised of soy material made from ground soy hypocotyl containing at least one isoflavone.

Ortec International Inc., of New York, said the U.S. Patent Office issued a patent covering unique manufacturing processes for its tissue-engineered product, OrCel. The processes specifically relate to the manufacturing of Ortec's bilayered sponge that, when implemented, can reduce OrCel's manufacturing costs.

SemBioSys Genetics Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,509,453 titled "Oil Bodies and Associated Proteins as Affinity Matrices," broadly covering methods for the selective separation of desired target molecules from bulk process intermediates. SemBioSys' Stratosome technology includes StratoCapture, an application covered by this patent that can be integrated into liquid/liquid phase recovery, separation and purification processes and is being developed for large batch sizes and as continuous processes.