Company* | Product | Description | Indication | Status |
(Symbol) | (Date) |
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CANCER |
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Access Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMEX:AKC) | AP5280 | Novel platinum-polymer delivery system designed to deliver high concentrations of chemotherapeutic agents directly to solid tumors | Colorectal cancer | A Phase I study is progressing in Europe (5/10) |
Antisoma plc (UK; LSE:ASM) | Pemtumomab (formerly Theragyn) | Murine monoclonal antibody HMFGI, and chemical linker that binds to yttrium-90; targets polymorphic epithelial mucin (PEM), an abnormal form of mucine produced by tumor cells of the epithelium | Ovarian cancer | Europe granted orphan drug status to Pemtumomab (5/31) |
FeRx Inc.* | MTC- Doxorubicin | Delivered with MTC technology | Primary liver cancer | Company received approval in China to conduct a Phase II study (5/22) |
Ontogen Corp.* | OC144-093 | Used in combination with intravenous paclitaxel; oral drug | Cancer | Company began a Phase I study in Canada (5/3) |
Oxigene Inc. (OXGN) | CA4P | Combretastastin A-4 prodrug; vascular targeting agent that attacks blood vessels that support a tumor | Cancer | Phase I data from its UK trial showed CA4P can be administered at safe, effective doses; data presented at ASCO (5/14) |
Oxxon Pharmaccines Ltd. (UK)* | ¿ | Therapy involves sequential immunization, using different vectors to deliver the same antigen, aiming to elicit a T-cell response | Melanoma | Company began Phase I trials (5/29) |
Zeltia-PharmaMar (Spain; MSE:ZELTIA) | Ecteinascidin 743 (ET-743) | Marine compound obtained from the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata, or the sea squirt | Soft-tissue sarcoma | Phase II results presented at ASCO showed ET-743 shrunk some tumors and controlled disease for prolonged periods with acceptable tolerability in patients (5/14) |
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM |
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Chiron Corp. (CHIR) | Betaseron | Recombinant human interferon beta-1b | Relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis | An independent study in Italy suggested that Betaseron reduced signs of disease activity more effectively than Avonex (5/8) |
KS Biomedix Holdings plc (UK; LSE:KSB) | KSB302 | Small molecule that modulates biochemical imbalances | Rheumatoid arthritis | Company received approval to begin a European Phase IIb trial (5/11) |
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DIABETES |
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Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMLN) | Symlin | Pramlintide acetate; analogue of human amylin, a hormone secreted with insulin by the beta cells in the pancreas | Type I or Type II diabetes | Company submitted marketing authorization applications in Europe (5/31) |
INFECTION |
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Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) | Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate | Reverse transcriptase inhibitor | HIV | Company submitted a marketing authorization application in Europe (5/4) |
ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE:ICN) | Rebetol | Capsules for use in combination with interferon alfa-2b injection (Intron A) | Chronic hepatitis C | Schering-Plough K.K. submitted an NDA in Japan (5/8) |
SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SCLN) | Zadaxin | Immune system enhancer; synthetic immunostimulant peptide | Chronic hepatitis B | Results from a study conducted in Turkey showed significantly greater response rates in patients treated with a combination of Zadaxin and alpha interferon than those treated with alpha interferon alone (5/21) |
MISCELLANEOUS |
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Atrix Laboratories Inc. (ATRX) | Atridox | Combines the Atrigel drug delivery system with the antibiotic doxycycline | Periodontal disease | Atrix received approval in Germany, Denmark and Sweden to market Atridox (5/3) |
Curis Inc. (CRIS) and Stryker Corp. (NYSE:SYK) | OP-1 Implant | Osteogenic protein 1 | Nonunion of the tibia | European Commission granted marketing authorization (5/17) |
International Wex Technologies Inc. (Canada; CDNX:WXI) | Tetrodin | Non-narcotic pharmaceutical developed from a naturally occurring organic substance | Drug addiction | Company began a Phase I trial (5/2) |
NexMed Inc. (NEXM) | Befar | Cream treatment that incorporates alprostadil with NexMed's NexACT transdermal penetration enhancing technology | Erectile dysfunction | Company said an NDA was filed in Hong Kong (5/3) |
Protein Polymer Technologies Inc. (PPTI) and Femcare Ltd. (UK)* | Urethral bulking agent (UBA) | Formulation containing a silk-elastin polymer, designed for use as an injectable UBA | Female stress urinary incontinence | Femcare received clearance to initiate clinical trials in the UK (5/1) |
SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SCLN) | CPX | Intended to repair protein associated defect in CFTR protein | Cystic fibrosis | Company was granted orphan drug status in Europe for CPX (5/22) |
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Notes: |
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* Denotes privately held company. |
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ASCO = The 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology. |
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Unless otherwise noted, the stock symbols listed for public companies are on the Nasdaq market. |
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AMEX = American Stock Exchange; CDNX = Canadian Venture Exchange; LSE = London Stock Exchange; MSE = Madrid Stock Exchange; NYSE = New York Stock Exchange |
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NDA = New Drug Application |
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