Elitra Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,228,579. It covers a genome-wide shotgun antisense method.

ExonHit Therapeutics Inc., of Paris, said it received a U.S. patent covering its core technology: differential analysis of transcripts with alternative splicing.

Gemini Genomics plc, of Cambridge, UK, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,218,524. It covers a gene that can identify a predisposition to the kind of cholesterol that leads to the development of cardiovascular disease.

Genteric Inc., of Alameda, Calif., said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,225,290. It covers oral delivery of nonviral DNA encoding the human insulin gene.

Hybridon Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,204,027 titled ¿Ribozymes Having 2¿-O-substituted Nucleotides in the Flanking Sequences.¿ It covers ribozymes used for gene target validation and functional genomics.

Karo Bio AB, of Stockholm, Sweden, said it received a U.S. patent covering a method of treatment and compositions of thyroid hormone and thyroid hormone for skin diseases.

La Jolla Pharmaceuticals Co., of San Diego, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,207,160 titled ¿APL Immunoreactive Peptides, Conjugates Thereof and Methods of Treatment for APL Antibody-mediated Pathologies.¿ It covers claims to compositions that induce B-cell tolerance in the treatment of antibody-mediated thrombosis.

Lexicon Genetics Inc., of The Woodlands, Texas, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,218,123 titled ¿Construction of Normalized cDNA Libraries from Eukaryotic Cells.¿ It covers an extension of Lexicon¿s gene trapping technology.

Matrix Pharmaceutical Inc., of Fremont, Calif., said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,224,243. It covers the composition of IntraDose (cisplatin/epinephrine) Injectable Gel.

MGI Pharma Inc., of Minneapolis, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,184,211 titled "Inhibition of DNA Methyltransferase." It covers the administration of an agent that could allow the body to restore normally occurring mechanisms to stop or slow the growth of cancerous tumors.

Nanogen Inc., of San Diego, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,225,059 titled "Advanced Active Electrical Devices Including Collection Electrodes for Molecular Biological Analysis and Diagnostics." It covers devices and methods incorporating a collection electrode that facilitates complete analysis of a biological sample.