Atugen AG, of Berlin, Germany, appointed Thomas Christély as chief financial officer. This position is newly created. Previously, Christily has held positions as CEO of Hamburg, Germany-based public venture capital firm The Internet.z AG. He also was chief financial officer of Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company OXO Chemie AG, and its subsidiary OXO Chemie Inc., of San Francisco.

BioPharm GmbH, of Heidelberg, Germany, and Martinsried, Germany-based SCIL Biomedicals AG will jointly develop a bone regeneration product for dental and maxillofacial surgery. It contains Biopharm's proprietary bone growth factor MP52, for which the company discovered the gene in 1992, in a formulation with a bioresorbable matrix provided by SCIL, which has been granted worldwide marketing rights. Clinical trials are expected to begin in 2002.

Biota Holdings Ltd., of Melbourne, Australia, has announced that its researchers have identified a series of compounds that are "highly effective" against a range of rhinoviruses (common cold viruses). The announcement mentions in particular a compound called BTA 188, identified by Fred Hayden of the University of Virginia Medical School in Charlottesville. Biota has not disclosed any program of clinical trials for the compounds. The company is best known for holding the rights to the flu cure Relenza.

BioTissue AG, of Freiburg, Germany, has concluded a distribution cooperation agreement with the Biosurgery Unit of Baxter Hyland Immuno for its autologous skin replacement product, BioSeed-S. Baxter Hyland Immuno is an affiliate of the health care company Baxter International Inc., of Deerfield, Ill. Coming into immediate effect in Germany, the collaboration includes production of BioSeed-S by BioTissue, and exclusive worldwide distribution by Baxter. In parallel, the companies are currently preparing to launch the product in other countries inside and outside of Europe. Sales revenues will be split between both partners, BioTissue said, adding that costs of any necessary investments will be treated in the same way.

Evotec OAI, of Hamburg, Germany, appointed Jvrn Aldag president and CEO, effective June 30. Aldag currently is the company's chief financial officer. "The changes announced today are a continuation of our plans at the time of the merger between Evotec and OAI last year," Aldag said in a prepared statement. Evotec's founder Karsten Henco, currently CEO, and Edwin Moses, currently president, will resign from their positions in order to join the company's supervisory board. Chief Scientific Officer Timm Jessen and Chief Operating Officer Mario Polywka will continue in their respective positions. Sean Marrett, former director of London-based GlaxoSmithKline's new product development in the U.S., has been appointed as Evotec OAI's commercial director. Pol Bamelis, chief scientific officer and member of the management board of Leverkusen, Germany-based Bayer AG, will also join the supervisory board, as of May 1. Roland Oetker and Hans J|rgen Quadbeck-Seeger will step down from the supervisory board.

Matrix Therapeutics Ltd., of Nottingham, UK, has signed a license with the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) for rights to technology for screening for human papilloma virus (HPV) and detecting cervical cancer. The MRC technology allows the early detection of HPV infection before the development of precancerous lesions (dysplasia), and allows types of HPV which confer a high risk to be differentiated from low-risk strains. Unlike the existing PAP stain for detecting dysplasia, which must be assessed by technicians, the MRC technique could be automated. Under the agreement, further development work will be carried out by the MRC. Ian Rubin, CEO of Matrix, said he expects the project to move into clinical validation studies within the next 12 months that will confirm the advantages of the technique.

NicOx SA, of Sophia Antipolis, France, announced positive results in Phase I/II clinical trials of HCT-1026, its nitric oxide-releasing derivative of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) flurbiprofen, in the treatment of drug-induced prolonged contact urticaria, a skin condition that takes the form of a temporary localized rash induced by a optical chemical irritant. Applied as a 1 percent ointment formulation, HCT-1026 showed significantly more potent anti-inflammatory activity than the reference NSAID. It thus confirmed the results of an earlier Phase I/II trial of the drug in the treatment of acute contact urticaria.

Thrombogenics Ltd., of Dublin, Ireland, has commenced two Phase II clinical trials of a novel thrombolytic agent in two indications. The company is evaluating this compound, called SY162, for treatment of central venous catheter occlusion and for acute peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The studies, which are being conducted in Belgium, will involve approximately 48 and 20 patients, respectively, the company said. Thrombogenics's lead compound, polyethylene glycol-derivatized recombinant staphylokinase variant, is already in Phase II studies for treatment of myocardial infarction. Although incorporated in Ireland, Thrombogenics has strong links with Belgian science. CEO Desire Collen is director of the Molecular Cardiovascular Medicine Group at the University of Leuven.