Company* (Symbol)

Product

Description

Indication

Status (Date)

CANCER

AnorMED Inc. (Canada; TSE:AOM)

ZDO437

Platinum-based anticancer agent

Cancer

In a Phase I trial, the drug proved negative for nephrotoxicity or neurotoxicity, showing only short-lived hematological toxicity (11/10)

Cell Therapeutics Inc. (CTIC)

Trisenox (FDA-approved)

Arsenic trioxide injection

Relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia

Company submitted a marketing authorization application in Europe (11/14)

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (LGND)

Targretin

Bexarotene; synthetic retinoid analogue that selectively activates retinoid X receptors

Advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

The Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products recommended granting European marketing authorization of Targretin to treat skin manifestations of lymphoma patients refractory to at least one systemic treatment (11/21)

CARDIOVASCULAR

Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Switzerland; SWX:ATLN)

Tracleer

Bosentan; orally active endothelin receptor antagonist

Pulmonary hypertension

Company plans to file an NDA following Phase III data that indicated patients experienced a 20% increase in exercise ability after 12 weeks of therapy (11/14)

Centaur Pharmaceuticals Inc.* and AstraZeneca Inc. (UK; NYSE:AZN)

NXY-059

Small-molecule, intravenously delivered modifier of the cellular response to stress agents that damage and kill cells

Stroke

Companies received Japanese regulatory approval to begin a Phase I trial (11/29)

INFECTION

Enzo Biochem Inc. (NYSE:ENZ)

ND

Immune regulation medicine; stems from the company's work in EHT899

Hepatitis C or associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Company received approval from Israel's Ministry of Health to begin a Phase I trial (11/30)

Virax Holdings Ltd. (Australia; ASX:VHL)

VIR201

Fowlpox virus delivered with Co-X-Gene vaccine delivery technology

HIV

Company received approval to begin clinical trials on patients recently infected with HIV (11/28)

MISCELLANEOUS

Access Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMEX:AKC)

Zindaclin

ResiDerm incorporating clindamycin

Acne

The primary endpoint, the change in total facial inflammatory lesion counts from the baseline visit to the end of 16 weeks of treatment, was achieved in the Phase III European clinical trial (11/10)

Bio-Technology General Corp. (BTGC)

BioHy

Injectable formulation of high-molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate

Osteoarthritis

Company received marketing approval in Europe (11/14)

Cellegy Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CLGY)

Rectogesic

Nitroglycerin ointment

Anal fissures

Cellegy filed for marketing approval of Rectogesic in New Zealand (11/14)

Columbia Laboratories Inc. (AMEX:COB)

Testosterone hydration buccal tablet

Testosterone

Testosterone-deficiency

Company began Phase III trials in Europe (11/21)

Neurochem Inc. (Canada; TSE:NRM)

Fibrillex

Anti-amyloid drug

Secondary amyloidosis

Company submitted an application in the UK to initiate a pivotal Phase II/III study there (11/8)

NexMed Inc. (NEXM)

Befar

Alprostadil cream

Erectile dysfunction

Company presented Phase III results that indicated the compound was statistically significant; the 160-man study was conducted as part of the final regulatory approval process in China (11/29)