Company* (Symbol)** | Product | Description |
Indication | Status (Date)*** |
CANCER | ||||
Aronex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ARNX) |
Platar |
Liposomal formulation of platinum product designed to overcome toxicity and drug resistance |
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma |
Expanded enrollment of Phase II trial (9/9) |
EntreMed Inc. (ENMD) |
Endostatin | Naturally occurring fragment of collagen XVIII angiogenesis inhibitor | Various cancers | Commenced patient enrollment for Phase I trial (9/28) |
Genta Inc. (GNTA) |
G3139 | Anticode (antisense) compound; synthetic DNA strands that bind to mRNA for bcl-2 gene (protooncogene) |
Malignant melanoma | Presented an update on Phase I/IIa trial at Cold Spring Harbor Conference in New York (9/30) |
Genzyme Molecular Oncology (GZMO) |
Vaccine, further details ND | Late-stage metastatic breast cancer |
Initiated Phase I trial of breast cancer vaccine, using dendritic/cancer cell fusion technology (9/9) | |
LifeTime Pharmaceuticals* | Beta LT |
Beta-alethine; synthetic small molecule immune stimulator |
Various cancers |
Presented clinical trial data at the International Myeloma Foundation meeting in Stockholm, Sweden (9/2) |
Wisconsin Genetics Inc. (a subsidiary of Endorex Corp.; AMEX:DOR) |
POH |
Perillyl alcohol (synthetic monoterpine) |
Various cancers | Initiated Phase I trial with new formulation (9/16) |
CARDIOVASCULAR | ||||
Avant Immunotherapeutics (AVAN) |
TP10 |
Soluble complement receptor 1; a complement inhibitor designed to prevent release of inflammation-causing factors and to minimize complement mediated injury (IV infusion) |
Infants undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass |
Initiated Phase I/II trial (9/22) |
Scios Inc. (SCIO) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (a unit of Harvard Medical School) |
Natrecor |
Nesiritide; human B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP; naturally occurring peptide in the heart) | Congestive heart failure |
Study results presented at the Third Annual Scientific Meeting of the Heart Failure Society of America in San Francisco (9/23) |
United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR) |
UT-15 |
Non-intravenous, modified version of prostacyclin |
Pulmonary hypertension | Completed patient enrollment in clinical study (9/15) |
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM | ||||
Chiron Corp. and Berlex Laboratories Inc.* | Betaseron | Recombinant human interferon beta-1b |
Secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis |
Discontinued clinical study based on recommendation of independent monitoring board (9/13) |
Gliatech Inc. (GLIA) | Perceptin |
Selective histamine H3 receptor antagonist |
Central nervous system diseases involving attention/learning or sleep disorders |
Completed Phase I trial (9/29) |
NeoTherapeutics Inc. (NEOT) | Neotrofin (AIT-082, leteprinim potassium) |
Small-molecule compound designed to cross blood-brain barrier and enhance nerve cell function by increasing levels of neutrophic factors | Alzheimer's disease | Initiated Phase II trial at the University of California, Irvine (9/23) |
Neotrofin (AIT-082, leteprinim potassium) | Small-molecule compound designed to cross blood-brain barrier and enhance nerve cell function by increasing levels of neutrophic factors | Mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease | Initiated Phase IIb trial (9/28) | |
DIABETES | ||||
BioStratum Inc.* | Pyridorin | Non-enzymatic glycoxidation inhibitor |
Diabetic kidney disease |
Initiated Phase I trial (9/8) |
Neurobiological Technologies Inc. (OTC BB:NTII) |
Memantine |
Orally administered N-methylD-aspartate receptor antagonist (prevents overreaction of the receptor) |
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy |
Completed enrollment in Phase IIb trial (9/14) |
INFECTION | ||||
Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (a subsidiary of Warner-Lambert Co. (NYSE:WLA) and The Immune Response Corp. (IMNR) |
Remune | Envelope-depleted, inactivated AIDS virus (emulsified with adjuvant) |
HIV infection | Initiated pivotal trial (9/27) |
Aronex Pharmaceuticals Inc.(ARNX) |
Nyotran |
Liposomal formulation of antifungal agent nystatin |
Systemic fungal disease |
Presented Phase II data at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco |
Cell Genesys Inc.(CEGE) |
Modified T-cell gene therapy; infusion of T-cells genetically modified with an HIV-specific receptor to recognize and destroy HIV-infected cells | HIV infection | Reported Phase II results (9/15) |
|
Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CBST) |
Daptomycin |
Lipopeptide antibiotic, intravenous | Various infections |
Presented interim safety data from Phase II trial at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/28) |
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) |
Tenofovir DF (formerly known as oral PMPA) |
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; orally administered nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor |
HIV infection | Presented preliminary results of Phase II trial at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/27) |
Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) and Fujisawa Healthcare Inc.* |
AmBisome |
Liposomal formulation of amphotericin B | Acute cryptococcal meningitis in AIDS patients |
Presented Phase II trial results at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/27) |
Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PGNX) | PRO 542 |
Fusion protein that incorporates the HIV-binding region of the human cell surface receptor (CD4) into a human antibody molecule; designed to bind to the HIV surface glycoprotein (gp120) and prevent attachment to host cells |
HIV infection | Presented Phase I trial results at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/27) |
Sugen Inc.(a subsidiary of Pharmacia & Upjohn; NYSE:PNU) | SU5416 |
Angiogenesis inhibitor; small-molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinase Flk-1/KDR receptor (to which vascular endothelial growth factor binds, thus activating angiogenesis) | AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma |
Presented Phase I trial data at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/27) |
Triangle Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VIRS) |
Coactinon (formerly known as MKC-442) | Emivirine; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor |
HIV infection | Presented Phase II interim data at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/27) |
Coactinon (formerly known as MKC-442) | Emivirine; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor | HIV-1 infected pregnant women and their offspring |
Presented preliminary data from pharmacokinetics and tolerability study at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/27) | |
Trimeris Inc. (TRMS) and Roche Laboratories Inc. (a unit of Roche Group; Switzerland) | T-20 |
Anti-HIV fusion inhibitor compound | Heavily pre-treated HIV-infected patients |
Presented Phase II trial results at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/27) |
U.S. Bioscience (AMEX:UBS) |
Lodenosine | Acid-stable, purine-based reverse transcriptase inhibitor |
Treatment-naive HIV/AIDS patients | Presented Phase II interim data at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/28) |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) and Glaxo Wellcome plc (NYSE:GLX) |
Agenerase |
Amprenavir, 2nd generation HIV protease inhibitor, twice-daily dosage | Treatment-naive AIDS/HIV patients |
Presented study results at the 39th ICAAC meeting in San Francisco (9/26) |
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
Access Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTC BB:AXCS) |
OraDisc |
Polymer disc that adheres to wound or canker sore in mouth and erodes over time, releasing drug at the site |
Mouth wounds and canker sores | Commenced clinical trial of Oradisc for the delivery of amlexanox (Aphthasol) in paste form (9/9) |
AutoImmune Inc. (AIMM) | Colloral |
Liquid oral formulation of a Type II collagen | Rheumatoid arthritis |
Reported Phase III trial results (9/1) |
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) and Genzyme General (GENZ) | Enzyme alpha-l-iduronidase replacement therapy |
MPS-1 patients |
Reported clinical trial data (9/14) |
|
Biomatrix Inc. (NYSE:BXM) |
Synvisc (FDA-approved) |
Elastoviscous hylan biopolymer; chemically modified version of hyaluronan |
Osteoarthritis of the knee | Presented clinical trial data at the annual Osteoarthritis Research Society International Congress in Austria (9/22) |
Celgene Corp. (CELG) |
Attendade |
d-methylphenidate; chirally pure version of dl-methylphenidate (Ritalin) |
Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | Reported results of two pivotal efficacy trials (9/9) |
Cellegy Pharmaceuticals (CLGY) |
Transdermal testosterone gel |
Male hypogonadism |
Completed Phase II trial (9/8) | |
Centocor Inc. (CNTO) | Remicade (FDA-approved) |
Infliximab; chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor alpha | Rheumatoid arthritis | Phase III trial unblinded on recommendation of safety monitoring committee following positive trial results (9/13) |
Remicade (FDA-approved) |
Infliximab; chimeric monoclonal antibody to tumor necrosis factor alpha |
Crohn's disease |
Reported clinical trial results (9/30) |
|
Chiron Corp. (CHIR) | Regranex gel (FDA-approved) | Becaplermin; gel form of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor-beta |
Pressure ulcers |
Phase III enrollment discontinued based on interim data which did not support efficacy findings of Phase II study (9/28) |
Ciba Vision (a unit of Novartis AG; Switzerland) and QLT Phototherapeutics Inc.(Canada; QLTI; TSE:QLT) | Visudyne |
Verteporfin; light-activated drug for photodynamic therapy |
Wet form of age-related macular degeneration |
Initiated treatment-investigational new drug clinical program (9/13) |
Genelabs Technologies Inc. (GNLB) |
GL701 (DHEA) |
Dehydroepiandosterone; (naturally occurring hormone produced by adrenal glands) |
Systemic lupus erythematosus |
Reported positive Phase II results (9/21) |
Novavax Inc. (AMEX:NOX) | Estrasorb |
Topical estrogen replacement therapy | Symptomatic menopausal women | Initiated Phase III trial (9/14) |
Oxis Therapeutics Inc. (a subsidiary of Oxis International; OXIS) |
BXT-51072 | Small-molecule compound that mimics action of natural antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (blocks activity of free radicals) | Ulcerative colitis |
Reported Phase IIa trial results (9/21) |
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) and Hoechst Marion Roussel (NYSE: HOE) |
HMR 3480/VX | Orally administered interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme inhibitor |
Rheumatoid arthritis |
Initiated Phase II trial (9/16) |
Xoma Ltd. (XOMA) |
Neuprex (rBPI21) | Recombinant bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (rBPI) | Trauma patients with severe blood loss |
Discontinued Phase III trial based on interim safety and efficacy analysis of data by an independent data safety monitoring board (9/27) |
Notes: | ||||
* Indicates a privately held company | ||||
** Unless otherwise noted, the stock symbols listed for public companies are on the Nasdaq market. | ||||
*** The dates listed indicate the issue dates of press releases. | ||||
ND = Not disclosed | ||||
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