¿ BioPulse International Inc., of San Diego, entered a letter of intent to sell the assets related to the operation of its clinic in Tijuana, Mexico. It also plans to change its name to California BioScience, pending receipt of appropriate approvals.

¿ Corixa Corp., of Seattle, and Schering Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of Schering-Plough Corp., of Kenilworth, N.J., said Corixa's Melacine vaccine, a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of Stage IV melanoma, is available in Canada. The Canadian Health Protection Branch approved the vaccine based upon Phase III results.

¿ Curis Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said Stryker Corp., of Kalamazoo, Mich., said the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee recommended the granting of marketing authorization for OP-1 Implant (osteogenic protein 1). The morphogenic protein is for treatment of orthopedic and peridontal disorders. The product recommended for approval is a combination of the protein and a collagen carrier in a wetted paste intended to be surgically implanted into a bone defect.

¿ CytRx Corp., of Atlanta, began a new research program to study the effects of its investigational drug, CRL-1550, on spinal cord injury. CRL-1550 is being tested for its ability to interact with damaged nerve membranes and seal the damage and restore membrane integrity.

¿ Dynamis Therapeutics Inc., of Wyndmoor, Pa., said it purified Amadorase, an enzyme implicated in kidney disease and other major complications associated with diabetes. The company also plans to clone the gene for Amadorase.

¿ Gliatech Inc., of Cleveland, retained Health Policy Associates to serve as an independent auditor for submissions to the FDA and to assist Gliatech in developing and implementing a corrective action operating plan to resolve issues associated with its status on application integrity policy (AIP). The FDA informed Gliatech in December that is had been placed on AIP status. In accordance with the FDA policy, Gliatech will work with the auditor to assess the validity of the data and information in Gliatech's future submissions prior to FDA review. In addition, the auditor will assist Gliatech in developing improved systems and procedures.

¿ LAM Pharmaceutical Corp., of Toronto, said it secured appropriate space in Lewiston, N.Y., for a new research and discovery laboratory. The facility will be used primarily for the feasibility testing of drug delivery and would healing products, either being developed by LAM Pharmaceuticals or in collaboration with industrial partners.

¿ Loyola University Health System, of Maywood, Ill., said scientists have found a genetic basis for a rare cancer originally thought to be caused almost solely by exposure to viruses and environmental contaminants such as asbestos. The study appears in the February issue of The Lancet. The scientists focused on two Turkish villages where 50 percent of deaths in both men and women was attributed to malignant mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the mesothelial cells lining the membranes around the human heart, lungs and abdominal.

¿ Nexia Biotechnologies Inc., of Montreal, said underwriters of its December initial public offering exercised their overallotment option to purchase an additional 300,000 common shares at the IPO price of $8 per share, to raise aggregate gross proceeds of C$2.4 million (US$1.5 million). This brings the total gross proceeds of the IPO to C$42.4 million.