Company* (Symbol) | Product | Description | Indication | Status (Date) |
CANCER |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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: |
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* Privately held. |
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Unless otherwise noted, the stock symbols listed for public companies are on the Nasdaq market. |
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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 |
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ND = Not disclosed |
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ASCO = 36th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in New Orleans. |