Company (Symbol)* |
Product |
Description |
Indication |
Status (Date)** |
CANCER | ||||
Aphton Corp. (APHT) |
|
Anti-gastrin therapeutic vaccine; neutralizes hormone G17 and Gly-extended G17 |
Advanced pancreatic cancer |
Presented results from Phase II study in the UK at the annual meeting of the British Society of Gastroenterology in Birmingham, UK (3/24) |
Antisoma plc (UK; LSE:ASM) |
Therex |
Humanized antibody (huHMFG1), which targets polymorphic-epithelial mucin on tumor cells |
Breast cancer |
Obtained sufficient data from Phase I trial to plan Phase IIa studies for 2001 (3/15) |
Mologen AG (Germany; BSX: MGN) |
|
Ex vivo treatment of antigen-presenting cells with antigenic peptides of tumor origin combined with d-SLIM immunostimulatory constructs |
Multiple myeloma |
Initiated Phase II/III trial in Germany (3/30) |
Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (Canada; CDNX:ONC; affiliate of Synsorb Biotech Inc. [Canada; SYBB]) |
Reolysin |
Reovirus (respiratory enteric orphan virus), which targets solid tumors with an activated Ras gene pathway; reovirus is a naturally occurring virus believed to cause mild infections of the upper-respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts in humans |
Cancer |
Received approval from Therapeutic Products Program of Health Canada to begin Phase I trial (3/22) |
Vasogen Inc. (Canada; TSE:VAS) |
VAS981 |
Cell processing technology that modifies donor T cells to reduce inflammatory cytokine response |
Leukemia patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation |
Received Health Canada clearance for clinical trial (3/22) |
CARDIOVASCULAR | ||||
Cerus Corp. (CERS) and Baxter International (NYSE: BAX) |
|
Pathogen inactivation system that targets and inactivates bloodborne pathogens, while leaving the therapeutic properties of platelets intact; process uses light-activated psoralen compound, S-59, which disables nucleic acid |
Platelets intended for transfusion |
Completed enrollment in European Phase III trial (3/16) |
Emisphere Technologies Inc. (EMIS) |
|
Solid oral dosage form of heparin |
Prevention and treatment of deep vein thrombosis and other cardiovascular conditions |
Initiated Phase I trial in the UK (3/16) |
Eurogene Ltd.* (UK) |
|
Biodegradable joint collar device for administration of vascular endothelial growth factor via the outside surface of blood vessels using a lipid delivery system |
Blood vessel hyperplasia |
Initiated Phase I trial in Finland (3/29) |
Matrix Therapeutics Ltd.* (UK) |
DO2 |
Test for a gene product active in the neonatal period when the heart is developing, repressed in adult life and then reactivated in the development of cardiac hypertrophy |
Detection of cardiac hypertrophy |
Initiated clinical trial in the UK (3/29) |
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM | ||||
Amrad Corp. |
AM336 |
Analgesic; synthetic form Ltd. (Australia; ASX:AML) |
Severe pain of a naturally occurring compound originally identified in the venom of a a fish-eating marine cone snail collected from the Great Barrier Reef |
Received clearance from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration to begin Phase I trials (3/6) |
D-Pharm Ltd.* (Israel) |
DP-b99 |
Membrane-activated chelator designed to control apoptotic processes by regulating intracellular homeostasis of divalent metal ions; intravenously delivered |
Stroke, traumatic brain injury and prophylaxis against neurological damage during open-heart surgery |
Cleared for Phase I testing in Germany (3/6) |
Elan Corp. plc (Ireland; NYSE:ELN) |
Betabloc (AN1792) |
Vaccine containing 42-amino-acid form of the beta-amyloid peptide (A42); designed to reduce amyloid plaques and prevent further formation |
Alzheimer's disease |
Received approval from the UK Medicines Control Agency to initiate Phase I trial (3/13) |
INFECTION | ||||
Amrad Corp. Ltd. (Australia; ASX:AML) |
AM365 |
ND |
Hepatitis B infection |
Received clearance from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration to begin Phase I trials (3/6) |
Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc. (AVAN) and SmithKline Beecham plc (UK; NYSE:SBH) |
Rotarix |
Two-dose oral rotavirus attenuated vaccine derived from a naturally occurring isolate found in children |
Prevention of rotavirus disease |
SmithKline initiated Phase I/II bridging studies in Europe (3/8) |
Chiron Corp. (CHIR) |
Menjugate |
Conjugate vaccine against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C |
Prevention of meningococcal C disease |
Cleared for marketing in the UK (3/1) |
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) and Fujisawa Healthcare Inc. (Japan) |
AmBisome (FDA-approved) |
Liposomal formulation of amphotericin B for injection |
Systemic or disseminated infections due to Candida, Aspergillus or Cryptococcus |
Fujisawa received marketing approval in Canada (3/20) |
The Immune Response Corp. (IMNR) and Agouron Pharmaceuticals (subsidiary of Warner-Lambert Co.; NYSE:WLA) |
Remune |
Envelope-depleted, inactivated AIDS virus (emulsified with adjuvant) |
HIV infection |
Reported clinical data from multiple trials, including Phase II trial in Thailand, at "An International Conference on HIV Vaccines An Annual Update 2000," sponsored by the Thai Ministry of Public Health in Bangkok (3/23) |
SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc. (SCLN) |
Zadaxin |
Thymosin alpha 1; synthetic version of naturally occurring peptide hormone thymosin (immunomodulator) |
Hepatitis B and C infection |
Cleared for marketing in Thailand, Laos and Malta (3/17) |
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
Cypress Bioscience Inc. (CYPB) and Meduxus Inc. (Canada) |
Prosorba Column (FDA-approved) |
Disposable filter that uses Protein A to remove circulating immune complexes from patient's blood |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
Cleared for marketing in Canada (3/8) |
Cypress Bioscience Inc. (CYPB) and Fresenius HemoCare GmbH (Germany) |
Prosorba Column (FDA-approved) |
Disposable filter that uses Protein A to remove circulating immune complexes from patient's blood |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
Cleared for marketing in the European Economic Community (3/9) |
Dusa Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Canada; DUSA) and Draxis Health Inc. (Canada; DRAX) |
Levulan (FDA-approved) |
Photodynamic therapy; 20% solution of amino-levulinic acid HCl (topical) |
Actinic keratoses of the face and scalp |
Draxis filed a new drug submission for marketing approval in Canada (3/28) |
NicOx SA(France; NM:NICOX) |
HCT-1026 |
Nitro-flurbiprofen |
Skin lesions derivative (topical) |
Initiated Phase I/II trial in France (3/15) |
Praxis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTC BB: PRXXE) |
|
Carbohydrate-based compound |
Acne |
Received clearance to start initial clinical trial in Australia (3/8) |
SangStat Medical Corp. (SANG) |
Thymoglobulin |
Anti-thymocyte globulin; polyclonal antibody produced in rabbits |
Prophylaxis and treatment of acute renal graft rejection |
Submitted application for marketing approval in Canada (3/13) |
Notes: | ||||
* Indicates a privately held company | ||||
** The dates listed indicate the issue dates of press releases, and are not necessarily the dates on which stated events took place. | ||||
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; NYSE = New York Stock Exchange; OTC BB = Over the Counter Bulletin Board; SSE = Swedish Stock Exchange; TSE = Toronto Stock Exchange | ||||
ND = Not disclosed | ||||
IND = Investigational New Drug application | ||||
