Company* (Symbol)

Product

Description

Indication

Status (Date)

CANCER

Aphton Corp. (APHT)

Immunogen

Anti-gastrin therapeutic vaccine; neutralizes hormone G17 and Gly-extended G17

Inoperable pancreatic cancer

Presented data from multicenter UK trial at the annual meeting of the American Gastroenterological Society in San Diego (5/25)

Cel-Sci Corp. (AMEX:CVM)

Multikine

Natural mixture of human cytokines, including interleukin-2

Breast cancer

Israeli Health Authorities granted permission to start a clinical trial (5/23)

Cel-Sci Corp. (AMEX:CVM)

Multikine

Natural mixture of human cytokines, including interleukin-2

Advanced head and neck cancer

Reported data from Phase II trial in Canada (5/8)

Genta Inc. (GNTA)

Genasense (G3139)

Antisense compound; synthetic DNA strands that bind to mRNA for the bcl2 gene (proto-oncogene)

Advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Results of UK trial published in the 5/00 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (5/5)

Nexell Therapeutics Inc. (NEXL) and Baxter Healthcare (NYSE:BAX)

Isolex 300i Magnetic Cell Selection System (FDA-approved)

Magnetic cell selection system for the separation of hematopoietic stem cells and the removal of tumor cells from autologous peripheral blood

Ex vivo autologous selection of hematopoietic stem cells for use in transplantation following high-dose chemotherapy

Cleared for marketing in Australia (5/18)

PharmaMar (Spain)*

ET-743

Ecteinascidin; compound obtained from the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata

Soft-tissue sarcomas

Presented data from European Phase II trial at 36th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in New Orleans (ASCO) (5/23)

SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SCLN)

Zadaxin

Thymosin alpha 1; synthetic version of naturally occurring peptide hormone thymosin (immunomodulator)

Lung, breast and gastric cancers

Presented positive data at ASCO from quality-of-life open-label trials in China of Zadaxin as an immune booster for patients undergoing chemotherapy (5/22)

Scotia Holdings plc (UK; LSE:SOH)

Foscan-PDT

Temoporfin, mTHPC; photodynamic therapeutic that uses non-thermal lasers to activate light-sensitive drug

Advanced, inoperable head and neck cancer

Company wrote a letter to the British Medical Journal in response to the publication of Phase I study results that gave a "misleading impression of the true incidence, severity and overall risk of burns and other photosensitivity reactions in patients treated with Foscan" (5/10); presented pivotal trial data at ASCO (5/22)

CARDIOVASCULAR

Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. (ALLP)

Oxygent

Perflubron emulsion; intra-vascular oxygen carrier

Reduction of the need for transfusions in surgery patients

Completed enrollment in pivotal European Phase III trial (5/31)

Centaur Pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca plc (UK; NYSE:AZN)

NXY-059

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

Stroke

Presented data from Phase IIa trial in the UK and Sweden at the 10th European Stroke Congress in Vienna, Austria (5/16)

INFECTION

Chiron Corp. (CHIR)

Fluad

Vaccine containing MF59 adjuvant

Prevention of influenza infection in the elderly

Cleared for marketing in 12 European countries through mutual recognition procedure; market launch is expected in Germany and Austria this fall, followed by introduction in the remaining European countries by 2001-02 (5/24)

Enzon Inc. (ENZN) and Schering-Plough Corp. (NYSE: SGP)

Pegintron

Peginterferon alfa-2b; once-weekly pegylated version of Schering's Intron A

Adult patients with chronic hepatitis C

Cleared for marketing in the European Union (5/30)

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) and Roche Group (Switzerland)

Tamiflu (FDA-approved)

Oseltamivir; oral neuraminidase inhibitor

Influenza treatment

Roche withdrew European application for approval in order to submit additional data in response to questions raised by the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (5/26)

SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SCLN) and Sigma-Tau SpA

Zadaxin

Thymosin alpha 1; synthetic version of naturally occurring peptide hormone thymosin (immunomodulator)

Influenza vaccine adjuvant for individuals with weakened immune systems

Cleared for marketing and launched in Italy (5/23)

MISCELLANEOUS

Cambridge Antibody Technology (UK; LSE:CAT)

CAT-152

Fully human monoclonal antibody against transforming growth factor beta-2

Prevention of post-operative scarring in patients undergoing surgery for glaucoma

Reported one-year results from Phase I/IIa trial at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (5/4)

Hemispherx Biopharma Inc. (AMEX: HEB) and Bioclones Ltd.* (South Africa)

Ampligen

Double-stranded synthetic RNA compound poly I: poly C12U

Severe chronic fatigue syndrome

Initiated treatment on a named-patient, cost-recovery basis in Australia (5/23) and in the UK (5/31)

InSite Vision Inc. (AMEX: ISV), Global Damon Pharm (Korea) and Kukje Pharma Ind. Co. Ltd. (Korea)

AquaSite

Dry eye treatment that uses dulcents and DuraSite (cross-linked carboxyl-containing polymer) for sustained delivery

Dry eye

Cleared for marketing in Korea (5/17)

Nexell Therapeutics Inc. (NEXL) and Takara Shuzo Co. Ltd. (Japan)

Lifecell X-Fold and RetroNectin

Cell culture containers used to tranduce stem cells with therapeutic genes; containers were coated with RectoNectin, recombinant fibronectin fragment supplied by Takara

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency

Nexell reported its product was used in French trial whose results were published in 4/28/00 issue of Science (5/4)

NicOx SA (France; NM:NICOX)

HCT-1026

Nitric oxide derivative of flubriprofen

Urinary incontinence

Initiated Phase II trial in the UK; reported data from Phase IIa trial in France (5/12)

Oxford GlycoSciences plc (UK; LSE:OGS)

OGT 918

Oral inhibitor of glucosyl-transferase (enzyme that converts ceramide to glucosylceramide during glycosphingoliopid biosynthesis)

Gaucher disease

Data from first clinical trial was published in The Lancet; the trial involved investigators from the UK, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Israel (4/28)

Vivus Inc. (VVUS)

Alibra

Urethral microsuppository of alprostadil and prazosin hydrochloride contained in a single-use applicator

Erectile dysfunction

Filed for marketing authorization in the European Union (5/30)

Notes:

* Privately held.

Unless otherwise noted, the stock symbols listed for public companies are on the Nasdaq market.

AMEX = American Stock Exchange; BSX = Berlin Stock Exchange; LSE = London Stock Exchange; NM = Nouveau Marche; NYSE = New York Stock Exchange; OTC BB = Over the Counter Bulletin Board; SSE = Swedish Stock Exchange; TSE = Toronto Stock Exchange

ND = Not disclosed

ASCO = 36th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in New Orleans.