Abgenix Inc., of Fremont, Calif., said it was issued a second U.S. patent on its core technology, covering a method for producing a transgenic mouse capable of generating fully human antibodies.

Agritope Inc., of Portland, Ore., said it was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,054,635, covering a novel plant gene promoter derived from raspberry fruit. The promoter is a specific sequence of DNA that directs the expression of any gene linked to the promoter.

American Biogenetic Sciences Inc., of Copiague, N.Y., said it was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,080,384 titled "Methods for Radionuclide-Labeling of Biomolecules and Kits Utilizing the Same." The patent is directed to novel compositions useful for radiolabeling sulfhydryl group-bearing biomolecules, and methods for imaging human tissue employing radiolabeled biomolecules.

Aurora Biosciences Corp., of San Diego, said it was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,046,925 titled "Photochromic Fluorescent Proteins and Optical Memory Storage Devices Based on Fluorescent Proteins." The patent is directed to the use of fluorescent proteins in optical memory devices. The company also was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,054,321 titled "Long Wavelength Engineered Fluorescent Proteins" and U.S. Patent No. 6,066,476 titled "Modified Green Fluorescent Proteins."

Biosyn Inc., of Philadelphia, said it received a notice of allowance from the U.S. patent office for its patent titled "Method for Inactivating Sexually Transmitted Enveloped Viruses." The patent protects the mechanism of action and composition of matter of the C31G platform.

Cellegy Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South San Francisco, said it was granted U.S. Patent No. 6,071,543 covering the composition and use of certain pyridene-thiol compounds for the treatment of skin aging and wrinkling.

Copernicus Therapeutics Inc., of Cleveland, said Case Western Reserve University was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,077,835, which covers methods of expressing compacted DNA in humans. Copernicus has an exclusive license to the patent.

Delsys Pharmaceutical Corp., of Monmouth Junction, N.J., was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,074,688 titled "Method for Electrostatically Depositing a Medicament Powder Upon Predefined Regions of a Substrate." It covers the application of electrostatic deposition technology for the development and manufacture of pharmaceutical products.

Gemini Genomics plc, of Cambridge, UK, said it was issued U.S. Patent No. 8,857,464, which describes variations in the IL-6 gene and the relationship to bone mineral density, the major risk factor for osteoporotic fracture.