Company* (Symbol)

Product

Description

Indication

Action/Date**

CANCER

Aphton Corp. (APHT)

Anticancer therapeutic designed to induce a directed antibody response against gastrin and other gastrin-related growth factors

Gastric cancer

Filed investigational new drug (IND) application (12/7)

G.D. Searle & Co. Inc. (a unit of Monsanto Co.;NYSE:MTC)

Celebrex

Celecoxib; COX-2 enzyme inhibitor

Familial adenomatous polyposis

FDA granted adjunctive treatment approval (12/23)

Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. (GLFD)

Paclimer

Injectable, biopolymer-based microspheres formulation of paclitaxel

Ovarian cancer

Filed IND application (12/15)

Ilex Oncology Inc. (ILXO), Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MLNM) and Berlex Laboratories (a unit of Schering AG, Germany)

Campath

Alemtuzumab, humanized monoclonal antibody

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Filed biologics license application (12/23)

LifeTime Pharmaceuticals*

Beta LT

Anticancer therapeutic

Myeloma and B-cell lymphoma

Received clearance to proceed with Phase I/II trials (12/2)

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (LGND)

Targretin gel

1% topical formulation of bexarotene

Early-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Filed new drug application (NDA) (12/9)

Targretin capsules

Bexarotene; synthetic retinoid X receptors; oral formulation

Advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommended marketing approval (12/13)

Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (Canada; TSE:LOR)

GTI 2040

Antisense anticancer therapeutic

Various cancers

Received clearance to proceed with Phase I/II trials (12/7)

Scotia Holdings plc (UK; LSE:SOH)

Foscan

Photodynamic cancer therapeutic

Various cancers

NDA accepted for review (12/2)

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMEX:TTP)

Spheramine

Cell therapy product that uses human retinal pigmented epithelial cells that secrete dopamine

Parkinson's disease

Received clearance to commence patient enrollment in Phase I/II trial (12/6)

DIABETES

Organogenesis Inc. (AMEX:ORG)

Apligraf

Living human skin equivalent, composed of living human keratinocytes and fibroblasts

Diabetic foot ulcers

Filed premarket approval application (12/22)

INFECTION

Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (a subsidiary of the Warner-Lambert Co.; NYSE:WLA)

Viracept

Nelfinavir mesylate; synthetic small-molecule HIV protease inhibitor

HIV infection

FDA approved twice-daily dosing based on Phase III trial results (12/1)

Triangle Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VIRS)

Coactinon

Emivirine; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor

HIV infection

FDA advised Triangle it needs to conduct additional Phase III trials (12/10)

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) and Glaxo Wellcome (NYSE:GLX)

VX-175/GW433908

HIV protease inhibitor; prodrug of amprenavir

HIV infection

Received fast-track designation (12/16)

MISCELLANEOUS

Genentech Inc. (NYSE:DNA) and Alkermes Inc. (ALKS)

Nutropin and Nutropin AQ

Somatropin of rDNA origin for injection

Young adults with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency

FDA approved clinical trial efficacy results (12/2)

Immunex Corp. (IMNX)

Novantrone

Mitoxantrone for injection concentrate

Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

FDA advisory committee announced a review of data from the company's NDA (12/6)

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; TSE = Toronto Stock Exchange; LSE = London Stock Exchange; NYSE = New York Stock Exchange