Incara Pharmaceuticals Corp., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., said it received a U.S. patent covering "Oxidant Scavengers." The patent is licensed from Duke University as part of a research collaboration focused on antioxidants.

Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boulder, Colo., said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,132,966. It covers ribozymes that specifically inhibit hepatitis C virus replication.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,114,111, titled "Mammalian Protein Interaction Cloning System." It covers the use of compositions, particularly vector systems, that can be used to evaluate protein-protein interactions in mammalian systems.

SuperGen Inc., of San Ramon, Calif., said it was issued a patent that covers an oral version of the company's anticancer compound Nipent. It covers oral applications for the anticancer compound currently marketed by the company for treatment of hairy-cell leukemia.

Valentis Inc., of Burlingame, Calif., said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,132,763, titled "Liposomes." It covers PEG technology.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said it received U.S. Patent No. 6,117, 639. It covers novel technology to screen compounds for activity against hepatitis C virus protease.

Vivus Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., said it was awarded U.S. Patent 6,127,363, titled "Local Administration of Type IV Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction." It broadly covers local delivery of PDE4 inhibitors for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.