¿ Antex Biologics Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., and Pfizer Inc., of New York, entered a collaboration under which Antex's platform technologies will be applied to development of animal vaccines. No other information was disclosed.

¿ BioStratum Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., appointed Claus Kuhl as president and CEO. Kuhl formerly was president of ZymoGenetics and a vice president at Novo Nordisk A/S. BioStratum focuses on basal lamina research.

¿ Cetek Corp., of Marlborough, Mass., signed a research agreement with Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., under which Millennium will evaluate Cetek's screening technology in screening genomic targets. Terms were not disclosed.

¿ ChemRx, of San Diego, a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery Partners International, signed a chemistry-based research agreement with the pharmaceutical division of Kirin Brewery Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, under which ChemRx will develop multiple classes of compounds for Kirin's lead optimization libraries. Financial terms were not disclosed.

¿ Corvas International Inc., of San Diego, was awarded a Phase I small business innovation research grant of $598,836 from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases to support for two years the discovery of protease inhibitors for preventing and treating malaria.

¿ Genzyme Molecular Oncology, of Framingham, Mass., said Hybridon Inc., of Milford, Mass., obtained a non-exclusive license to Genzyme patent rights dealing with the cancer-related protein MDM2. Genzyme will receive an undisclosed up-front payment and could get milestones and royalties.

¿ Gliatech Inc., of Cleveland, said it completed a Phase I study of Perceptin, a selective histamine H3 receptor antagonist being developed for attention/learning and sleep disorders. Appropriate blood levels of the drug were achieved and the drug was well tolerated. Results were presented at the Warburg Dillon Read Global Life Sciences Conference in New York.

¿ Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Carlsbad, Calif., and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., of Collegeville, Pa., entered a three-year collaboration to assess genes identified within RPR's genomics program using Isis' Antisense Target Validation technology. RPR will determine the function and therapeutic value of novel gene targets for use in developing therapeutics, while Isis will get information on the targets to help it develop antisense drugs. Terms were not disclosed.

¿ Molecumetics Ltd., of Seattle, a subsidiary of Tredegar Corp., entered into a research collaboration with Pharmacia & Upjohn, of Bridgewater, N.J., to identify and develop orally active modulators of caspases, a family of intracellular proteases involved in apoptosis. Molecumetics, which will use its technology to optimize lead compounds, will receive research funding, milestones and royalties. P&U gets worldwide rights to develop and market resulting compounds.

¿ Protein Design Labs Inc., of Fremont, Calif., entered an agreement with SmithKline Beecham, of London, for two humanized antibodies discovered by SKB for treating asthma. PDL gained a license to an anti-IL-4 antibody, and gets worldwide development and marketing rights unless SKB pays an opt-in fee at the end of Phase II. Also, PDL granted SKB under its antibody humanization patents an exclusive license to an anti-IL-5 product.

¿ Sangamo Biosciences Inc., of Point Richmond, Calif., entered a collaboration under which it will provide specific Universal GeneTools to Immunex Corp., of Seattle, for use in Immunex's internal research and validation programs. The technology enables the rational design and rapid generation of specific ZFP transcription factors that recognize and regulate any target gene or DNA sequence. Terms were not disclosed.

¿ Sequitir Inc., of Natick, Mass., entered a multi-year agreement to provide access to its antisense functional genomics technology to Pharmacia & Upjohn, of Bridgewater, N.J. Specifics were not disclosed.

¿ The Biotechnology Industry Organization, of Washington, said South Carolina became the 26th state to form an association representing biotech companies and institutions, the South Carolina Biotechnology Association. Cancer specialist Robert Oldham was named the association's CEO.