¿ Endovasc Ltd., of Montgomery, Texas, said it presented data at the European Society of Cardiology XXIII Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, confirming the angiogenic properties of its exclusively licensed nicotine receptor agonist. The abstract also was published in the September 2001 European Heart Journal. Researchers speculate that when nicotine binds to the receptor on endothelial cells, it stimulates the release of a cascade of chemicals that promote the formation of new blood vessels.

¿ SynGenix Ltd., of Cambridge, UK, completed a #5 million (US$7.25 million) private placement. The placement was co-led by Technomark Medical Ventures, of London, and World Life Sciences plc, also of London. Yorkshire Funds Managers Ltd., Providence Investment Co., Generics Asset Management Ltd., Cambridge Research, Innovation Ltd. and the individual Martin Bloom also participated. SynGenix¿s lead technology, ProVector, allows drugs to be delivered selectively to the nervous system by internal cellular mechanisms.

¿ Novuspharma SpA, of Monza, Italy, presented preclinical results on the potential of BBR 2778 as a treatment for multiple sclerosis, at the ECTRIMS conference in Dublin, Ireland. BBR 2778 is Novuspharma¿s intercalating agent currently in Phase II trials for cancer.

¿ Hemosol Inc., of Toronto, said it submitted proposed amendments to its Hemolink U.S. clinical development and registration plans to the FDA, addressing issues raised by the agency Aug. 13 regarding the design of the pivotal U.S. Phase III Hemolink trial. Hemosol expects to receive comments from the FDA in about four weeks. Hemolink is a purified human-derived hemoglobin replacement product designed to provide oxygen delivery to vital organs and tissues.

¿ Boston Life Sciences Inc., of Boston, adopted a new shareholders rights plan to replace its existing plan, which is expiring. Like the old plan, the new plan is designed to protect stockholders from attempts to acquire the company on terms or by tactics that could deny all stockholders the opportunity to realize the full value of their investment. The plan was not adopted in response to any outside effort to gain control of the company, it said.

¿ Light Sciences Corp., of Issaguah, Wash., appointed Albert Luderer president and CEO. Luderer previously served as president and chief operating officer at bioMirieux Inc., of Hazlewood, Mo. Light Sciences focuses on developing minimally invasive and economically responsible photodynamic therapy options for treating cancer as well as cardiovascular, infectious and other life-threatening and/or debilitating diseases.

¿ Sicor Inc., of Irvine, Calif., said Marvin Samson was elected president and CEO. Samson, who joined the company¿s board in September 2000, succeeds Carlo Salvi, the company¿s largest stockholder, who will become vice chairman. Sicor develops generic finished dosage injectable pharmaceuticals, active pharmaceutical ingredients and generic biopharmaceuticals.

¿ Wasatch Pharmaceutical Inc., of Murray, Utah, reported a 50-to-1 reverse stock split on all of the company¿s existing shares. Excluded from the split are all outstanding warrants, which may be converted to free-trading shares under the terms of a registration furnished to each warrant holder. The company also changed its trading symbol on the OTC Bulletin Board to WSCH from WSPH.

¿ XenoPort Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., appointed current President and Chief Scientific Officer Ronald Barrett as CEO. Barrett is a co-founder of the company. XenoPort also elected Paul Goddard to its board, and named William Harris senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer. XenoPort is focused on harnessing the body¿s intrinsic active transport systems to improve the oral distribution, absorption and pharmacokinetics of drugs.