¿ Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics B.V., of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, signed an exclusive sublicense and research agreement with Xenon Genetics Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, in a deal that gives AMT access to technology and intellectual property relating to lipoprotein lipase LPL. Under the terms of the partnership, AMT and Xenon will join forces in a preclinical research program for LPL gene therapy. AMT will be responsible for further development and commercialization.

¿ Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said it developed an integrated chemoinformatics platform ¿ a software suite ¿ that includes elements to organize and track its chemical knowledge base as well as virtual screening capabilities that predict small-molecule activity, toxicity and bioavailability.

¿ Biogen Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said it got a favorable ruling from a Geneva court against Serono International SA, of Geneva. Biogen said the court upheld its injunction prohibiting Serono from publicizing misleading claims about Avonex (interferon beta-1a), Biogen¿s drug for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Biogen said the court decided Serono¿s claims were false and misleading to doctors and people with MS and presented the prospect of causing irreparable harm. Therefore, Biogen said, Serono is prohibited from publicizing misleading claims of the superiority of Serono¿s MS drug, Rebif, over Avonex. Serono, however, said the preliminary injunction Biogen obtained on June 21 was not upheld by the Geneva court. Serono called Biogen¿s press release claiming a judicial victory ¿outrageous, egregious and completely misleading.¿ Serono said it is free to communicate details of its head-to-head Rebif vs. Avonex Evidence study. Serono said the court did not find any of its comparative statements to be misleading or false. Avonex has orphan drug status in the United States; Serono plans to file for Rebif¿s regulatory approval in the United States in the third quarter. (See BioWorld Today, June 25, 2001.)

¿ Epimmune Inc., of San Diego, granted Biosite Inc., of San Diego, a nonexclusive license to its Padre R technology. Padre R is a family of molecules designed to strengthen the immune system¿s response against an administered antigen. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but Biosite intends to develop these antibodies for use in its products and for use in collaborations. This is the third Padre R license granted by Epimmune this year.

¿ MacroMed Inc., of Sandy, Utah, and Novartis Pharma AG, of Basel, Switzerland, entered a multidrug feasibility agreement giving Novartis access to MacroMed¿s proprietary controlled-release technology, ReGel. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. ReGel is a polymer-based controlled-release technology for depot administration. Terms of the agreement and license option were not disclosed.

¿ Novogen Ltd., of Stamford, Conn., with global headquarters in Australia, will begin a clinical trial of the oral formulation of its anticancer drug, phenoxodiol. The trial will be conducted by Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and will involve men with advanced prostate cancers that have become unresponsive to other therapies. Phenoxodiol is in three cancer trials in the United States and Australia, with an intravenous formulation.

¿ Nycomed Amersham Imaging, of London, and Affitech of Oslo, Norway, entered a research agreement for the discovery of fully human antibodies for imaging applications. Affitech will combine its proprietary antibody library technology and its automated affinity maturation process to generate human antibodies against targets provided by Nycomed Amersham. Affitech retains rights to milestone and royalty payments. Further terms were not disclosed.

¿ OxiGene Inc., of Watertown, Mass., said Phase I trials of CA4P, being conducted by partner Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., of New York, showed the agent¿s ability to reduce blood flow to tumors. It also said the Combrestatin compound can be given at well-tolerated doses that provide a significant decrease in blood flow to tumors. It said the Phase I trial is expected to complete enrollment by early next year. OxiGene¿s stock (NASDAQ:OXGN) gained 44 cents Monday, or 16 percent, to close at $3.15.

¿ Paradigm Genetics Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., said it developed a comprehensive DNA array for Magnaporthe grisea, a fungal pathogen of rice. It was manufactured by Agilent Technologies exclusively for Paradigm using proprietary gene sequencing information. The company said it was a ¿dramatic improvement¿ over its earlier chip, and is expected to help in fungicide discovery and development.

¿ Xanthon Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., entered a collaboration with Chiron Corp., of Emeryville, Calif., to explore the development of a system to detect the presence of infectious agents in clinical samples using Xanthon¿s technology and Chiron¿s nucleic acid sequences. Xanthon will conduct these studies using its electrochemical DNA detection system and Chiron¿s proprietary HCV insert. It is Xanthon¿s first diagnostic collaboration.