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Company* (Symbol) | Product | Description | Indication | Status (Date)** |
CANCER | ||||
Calydon Inc.* | CV787 | Second-generation virus; a prostate-specific gene incorporated into an attenuated adenovirus | Prostate cancer patients seeking alternatives to radiation or radical surgery | Commenced Phase I/II trial (10/25) |
Cell Pathways Inc. (CLPA) | Aptosyn (Exisulind) | A selective apoptotic, anti-neoplastic compound that inhibits a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase and selectively induces apoptosis in abnormally growing precancerous and cancerous cells, but not in normal cells | Familial adenomatous polyposis | Reported clinical trial data (10/27) |
Cell Therapeutics Inc. (CTIC) | Lisofylline | A small-molecule anti-inflammatory compound that works by modulating selective stress-activated cell signaling pathways that respond to chemotherapy, radiation and trauma, reducing oxidative damage to tissues | Acute myeloid leukemia | Reported results of Phase III trial (10/11) |
ImClone Systems Inc. (IMCL) | C225 | Monoclonal antibody antagonist to the epidermal growth factor receptor, which is associated with the growth and survival of cancer cells in a variety of solid tumors | Refractory colorectal carcinoma | Initiated enrollment in a Phase II trial evaluating C225 in combination with the chemotherapeutic agent CPT-11 (10/8) |
The Immune Response Corp. (IMNR) | Patented vaccine technology that uses tumor cells mixed with fibroblasts that are genetically engineered to secrete the IL-2 cytokine in order to stimulate the immune system against tumors | Colon cancer | Reported Phase I results in the September 1999 issue of Clinical Cancer Research (10/11) | |
Matrix Pharmaceutical Inc. (MATX) | FMdC | Systemically administered nucleoside analogue | Non-small-cell lung cancer | Completed patient enrollment in Phase II trial (10/4) |
Neopharm Inc. (AMEX:NEO) | IL13 PE38QQR (IL 13-toxin) | A targeted cytotoxin that uses the IL-13 receptor on the surface of cancer cells to deliver a bacterial toxin (PE38QQR), which has been shown to destroy tumor cells, but not normal cells | Renal cell carcinoma | Initiated Phase I trial (10/18) |
OxiGene Inc. (Sweden; OXGN; SSE:OXGN) | Combretastatin A4 Prodrug (CA4P) | Angiogenic inhibitor that attacks pre-existent tumor vasculature | Various cancers | Announced interim results of Phase I trial (10/4) |
Procept Inc. (PRCT) | 06-Benzylguanine | A chemosensitizer that acts by inactivating tumor AGT, a DNA repair protein that interferes with the effectiveness of 06-alkylating chemotherapeutic agents | Multiple myeloma | Initiated Phase I trial of 06-Benzylguanine in combination with the chemotherapeutic drug carmustine (10/20) |
Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PGNX) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) | GMK vaccine | Vaccine designed to stimulate the immune system to control or eradicate residual cancer cells following tumor removal | Malignant melanoma | Completed patient enrollment in Phase III trial (10/6) |
StressGen Biotechnologies Corp. (Canada; TSE:SSB) | HspE7 | A recombinant fusion product composed of heat shock protein 65 (Hsp65) from M. Bovis BCG and the protein E7, a tumor specific antigen derived from the human papillomavirus | High-grade anal dysplasia | Commenced Phase I trial (10/25) |
Techniclone Corp. (TCLN) | Cotara | Tumor necrosis therapy; chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets DNA-associated histone antigens, labeled with I-131 (targets necrotic center of tumor) | Various solid tumor cancers | Presented Phase I data at the 13th Annual International Congress on Brain Tumor Research in Japan (10/4) |
Therion Biologics Corp.* and the National Cancer Institute | Two recombinant fowlpox and vaccinia viral vectors encoding tyrosinase, which has been shown to be commonly expressed in metastatic melanoma tumors; products are in vaccine form | Metastatic melanoma | Initiated Phase II trial of two therapeutic vaccines alone and in combination with interleukin-2 (10/18) | |
Vical Inc. (VICL) | Leuvectin | Gene-encoding interleukin-2 (complexed with lipid) administered by direct intratumoral injection | Kidney cancer | Reported Phase I/II results in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (10/4) |
CARDIOVASCULAR | ||||
AtheroGenics Inc.* | AGI-1067 | Orally deliverable, chemically engineered compound that provides direct vascular protection and reduces high LDL cholesterol levels | Post-angioplasty restenosis | Commenced Phase II trial (10/12) |
Cerus Corp. (CERS) | S-303 | Pathogen inactivation system that targets and inactivates blood-borne pathogens, while leaving the therapeutic properties of red blood cells intact | Red blood cells intended for transfusion | Reported results of Phase Ib trial (10/26) |
Corvas International Inc. (CVAS) | rNAPc2 | Injectable anticoagulant recombinant protein, discovered in its original form in blood-feeding hookworms | Patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and the occurrence of clinically overt bleeding | Commenced a second, multi-center Phase II trial (10/28) |
CytRx Corp. (CYTR) | Flocor | Purified poloxamer 188; intravenously delivered surfactant molecule that alters the way cells and molecules interact with water | Acute sickle cell crisis | Completed patient enrollment in Phase III trial |
The Medicines Co.* and Duke University Medical Institute | Angiomax (bivalirudin) | An anticoagulant therapeutic that directly inhibits thrombin, a key component in blood clot formation and extension | Patients at risk for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis syndrome during coronary procedures | Initiated an expanded access safety and efficacy study (10/28) |
Scios Inc. (SCIO) | Natrecor (nesiritide) | A recombinant form of B-type natriuretic peptide, a naturally occurring hormone that aids healthy functioning of the heart | Vasodilation in the management of acute congestive heart failure | Commenced patient enrollment for a Phase III trial (10/27) |
Texas Biotechnology Corp. (AMEX:TXB) | TBC11251 | Sitaxsentan sodium; an endothelin A receptor antagonist | Mild to moderate hypertension | Reported preliminary results of Phase II oral safety and tolerance dose-ranging study (10/14) |
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM | ||||
Neurobiological Technologies Inc. (OTC BB: NTII) and Merz & Co. GmbH (Germany) | Memantine | Orally administered NMDA receptor antagonist (prevents overactivation of the receptor) | Vascular dementia | Completed two Phase III trials (10/28) |
DIABETES | ||||
Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMLN) | AC2993 | Synthetic exendin-4; 39-amino-acid peptide that exhibits anti-diabetic activity similar to the mammalian hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 | Type 2 diabetes | Reported results from Phase II trial (10/28) |
INFECTION | ||||
Cel-Sci Corp. (AMEX:HIV) | Multikine | Natural mixture of human cytokines, including interleukin-2 | HIV infection | The company reported that independent investigators completed a clinical study of Multikine to determine safety and its ability to improve immune function (10/19) |
ID Biomedical Corp. (Canada; IDBE; TSE:IDB) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases | GAS vaccine | Group A streptococcus vaccine; a subunit vaccine made from the terminal fragments of the surface M protein | Group A streptococcus | Commenced Phase I trial (10/6) |
Procept Inc. (PRCT) | PRO 2000 Gel | Microbicide designed to provide protection against HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases | HIV and other infections | Initiated clinical safety trial (10/13) |
Triangle Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VIRS) | Coactinon | Emivirine; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor | Advanced HIV infection | Modified clinical trial whereby patients will be offered the opportunity to stay on Coactinon with or without nelfinavir, or to change to a regimen that does not include Coactinon (10/7) |
Coactinon | Emivirine; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor | Treatment-naive HIV-infected patients | Presented 24-week data from its MKC 301 study at the 7th European Conference on Clinical Aspects and Treatments of HIV Infection in Portugal (10/26) | |
Trimeris Inc. (TRMS) and Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.(the U.S. subsidiary of F. Hoffmann-La Roche; Switzerland) | T-20 | Antiretroviral, fusion inhibitor peptide | HIV infection | Presented 16-week results of Phase II trial at the 7th European Conference on Clinical Aspects and Treatments of HIV Infection in Portugal (10/25) |
U.S. Bioscience (AMEX:UBS) | Lodenosine (FddA) | A nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor | HIV infection | Suspended Phase II trial due to serious adverse events, including a patient death (10/14) |
VaxGen Inc. (VXGN) | AIDSVax | Vaccine designed to prevent HIV infection; further details ND | HIV infection | Completed patient enrollment and innoculation in U.S. portion of clinical trial (10/12) |
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
Abgenix Inc. (ABGX) | ABX-IL8 | Fully human monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-8 | Psoriasis | Completed Phase I/II trial (10/5) |
Alza Corp. (NYSE:AZA) and Crescendo Pharmaceuticals Corp. (CNDO) | Concerta (Oros methylphenidate) | Methylphenidate HC1 extended release tablets | Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | Presented clinical study results at the 46th annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Chicago (10/25) |
AnorMed Inc. (Canada; TSE: AOM) and Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc (UK) | Lambda | A formulation of lanthanum carbonate that binds with dietary phosphate, preventing its absorption in the bloostream | High blood phosphate levels in patients with chronic kidney failure | Commenced Phase III clinical trials in the U.S. (10/19) |
Biogen Inc. (BGEN) | Antova | Humanized anti-CD40 ligand monoconal antibody, an immunomodulator that selectively binds to CD40 ligand, a co-stimulatory molecule found on activated T cells | Factor VIII inhibitor syndrome, islet cell transplantation, multiple sclerosis, kidney transplantation, systemic lupus erythematosus, and immune thrombocytopenic purpura | Suspended clinical trials due to adverse incidents involving thrombo-embolic events (10/21) |
Celgene Corp. (CELG) | Attendade | D-methylphenidate; chirally pure version of dI-methylphenidate (Ritalin) | Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | Presented efficacy trial data at the 46th annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Chicago (10/25) |
Corixa Corp. (CRXA) and Allergy Therapeutics Ltd.* (UK) | MPL adjuvant | Immunomodulator for use with allergy desensitization products | Various allergic diseases | Presented data on clinical studies combining MPL with Allergy Therapeutics's Pollinex Quattro allergy vaccines at the Allergie 2000 Symposium at the DGAI conference in Germany (10/27) |
Dura Pharmaceuticals (DURA) and Spiros Development Corp. II Inc. (SDCOZ) | Budesonide | Antiasthmatic therapeutic | Asthma | Initiated patient screening for a clinical study designed to establish target dosages by comparing budesonide delivered in the Spiros pulmonary drug delivery system to a commercially available dry powder inhaler form of budesonide (10/26) |
Idec Pharmaceuticals (IDPH) | Idec-114 | Anti-B7-1 monoclonal antibody that blocks the binding of the CD80 ligand on antigen-presenting cells to the CD28 receptor on T cells, thereby interfering with T-cell activation | Psoriasis | Commenced Phase I/II trial (10/4) |
Immunex Corp. (IMNX) | Nuvance | A recombinant human version of a naturally occurring protein thought to act by binding to interleukin-4, a protein present in asthmatic lungs | Asthma | Presented results of Phase I/II trial at the European Respiratory Society meetng in Spain (10/12) |
InKine Pharmaceutical Co. Inc. (INKP) | Diacol | Sodium phosphate tablets | Patients undergoing colonoscopies and other procedures | Presented Phase II results at the 1999 Annual Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Arizona (10/12) |
Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. (NBIX) | NBI-34060 | Non-benzodiazepine compound that binds to specific sites on GABAA receptors | Insomnia | Reported results of clinical comparison studies of NBI-34060 against zaleplon and zolpidem at the Society of Neuroscience conference (10/27) |
SkyePharma plc (UK; LSE:SKP) and Novartis Pharma AG (Switzerland) | Foradil | Formoterol fumarate; a fast-onset beta-agonist bronchodilator | Asthma | Commenced clinical trials using Foradil with SkyePharma's multi-dose dry powder inhaler drug delivery technology (10/13) |
Peptide Therapeutics Group plc (UK; LSE:PTE) | Arilvax | Single-dose vaccine; further details ND | Yellow fever | Commenced Phase III trials in the U.S. (10/18) |
Protein Design Labs Inc. (PDLI) | Humanized anti-CD3 antibody, thought to act by targeting the CD3 antigen on T lymphocytes, a cell type involved in graft rejection | Prevention of acute rejection episodes in kidney transplantation | Initiated a Phase II trial (10/20) | |
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; 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 | ||||
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