Aastrom Biosciences Inc., of Ann Arbor, Mich., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,326,198 titled “Methods and Compositions for the Ex Vivo Replication of Stem Cells, for the Optimization of Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Cultures, and for Increasing the Metabolism, GM-CSF Secretion and/or IL-6 Secretion of Human Stromal Cells.”

Embrex Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., reported that it received seven U.S. patents in 2001, bringing the total number of U.S.-issued patents controlled by Embrex to 36.

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said U.S. Patent No. 6,331,611 titled “Expression and Purification of Cloned Alpha-Fetoprotein” was issued to Martinex R&D, a subsidiary of McGill University in Montreal, covering methods of production, glycosylations and fragments of the protein. Merrimack has the exclusive worldwide license to the patent.

Microbiotix Inc., of Worcester, Mass., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,337,390 titled “Compounds Comprising Sulfated Nonulonic Acid Having Antiviral Activity.”

Novogen Ltd., of Stamford, Conn., was granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covering the use of the isoflavone, formononetin, in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tustin, Calif., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,342,221 covering the use of a new category of therapeutic agents within its vascular targeting agent technology. The patent covers VTAs that deliver therapeutic agents such as toxins, chemotherapeutic agents and coagulation proteins to vascular endothelial cell growth factor, a specific marker within tumor blood vessels.