Nanogen Inc., of San Diego, received U.S. Patent No. 6,099,803 titled "Advanced Active Electronic Devices for Molecular Biological Analysis and Diagnostics and Methods for Manufacture of Same." It covers electronic concentration, focusing, transport and subsequent analysis of a biological sample on an integrated device.

NexMed Inc., of Robbinsville, N.J., received U.S. Patent No. 6,118,020 titled "Crystalline Salts of Dodecyl 2(N,N-Dimethylamino)-Propionate." It covers technology that promotes the rapid penetration of active drug ingredients through the skin for fast onset of action.

Oncolytics Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, received U.S. Patent No. 6,136,307 extending further coverage of a reovirus for pharmaceutical use in treatment of cellular proliferative disorders in mammals. It also received U.S. Patent No. 6,110,461 covering similar technology.

Ostex International Inc., of Seattle, received U.S. Patent No. 6,100,379 titled "Synthetic Peptides Corresponding to Telopeptide Sequences of Type II Collagen Metabolites." It covers calibrators and antigens in immunoassays for detecting cartilage degradation associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases of joint cartilage.

Pharming Group N.V., of Leiden, the Netherlands, received U.S. Patent No. 6,118,045 covering pharmaceutical compositions containing human alpha-glucosidase and the production thereof.

Phytomedics Inc., of Dayton, N.J., received U.S. Patent Nos. 6,096,546 and 6,100,092 titled "Methods for Recovering Polypeptides from Plants and Portions Thereof," and "Materials and Methods for Amplifying Polynucleotides in Plants," respectively. They cover transgenic plants that secrete polypeptides and methods for the collection of the secreted polypeptides.

Procyon Biopharma Inc., of Montreal, received Canadian Patent No. 2,132,416 covering Fibrostat, its topical cream for treatment of scars from surgery or burns.

ProdiGene Inc., of College Station, Texas, received U.S. Patent No. 6,136,320 covering a process to develop oral vaccines using plants. It also received U.S. Patent No. 6,087,558 covering commercial production of proteases in plants.

Prolinx Inc., of Bothell, Wash., received U.S. Patent No. 6,075,126 titled "Phenyldiboronic Acid Reagents and Complexes." It covers a class of compounds marketed as Versalinx Chemical Affinity Tools.

Syn X Pharma Inc., of Toronto, received U.S. Patent No. 6,103,466 titled "A Method for Determining the Presence of Muscular Hyperplasia in a Mammal." It covers discoveries regarding both the gene and the protein myostatin.

Targeted Genetics Corp., of Seattle, received U.S. Patent No. 6,120,794 titled "Emulsion and Micellular Formulations for the Delivery of Biologically Active Substances to Cells." It covers composition and formulation of lipid-based gene delivery systems. It also received U.S. Patent No. 6,100,243 covering the use of E1A, a tumor-inhibitor gene.

The Immune Response Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., received U.S. patent No. 6,090,387 covering methods and compositions related to its immune-based technology for the prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Theratechnologies Inc., of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, received a U.S. patent covering therapeutic peptides modified by adding rigid structures at various levels along the amino acid chain.

V.I. Technologies Inc., of Watertown, Mass., received U.S. patents covering its Inactine technology for the inactivation of blood-borne pathogens. The four patents related to Inactine contain 38 claims.