¿ MedImmune Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., and Abbott Laboratories, of Abbott Park, Ill., said the European Commission granted a marketing license for Synagis (palivizumab) for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease requiring hospitalization caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in high-risk infants. Synagis is a monoclonal antibody indicated for use in infants born prematurely and infants and children with chronic bronchopulmonary dysphasia.

¿ Discovery Therapeutics Inc., of Richmond, Va., started Phase I trials with oral and injectable formulations of DTI-0009 for acute and chronic cardiac conditions associated with abnormally high heart rates. The trial will involve 88 patients. DTI-009 is a selective adenosine A1 agonist.

¿ Gen-Probe Inc., of San Diego; Vysis Inc., of Downers Grove, Ill.; and BP Amoco Corp., of Chicago, settled patent infringement litigation that started in 1995. In partial consideration for resolution, the parties have granted one other various immunities from suits under contested patents and cross-licensed other patented technologies. Other terms were not disclosed.

¿ Pharmacia & Upjohn, of Bridgewater, N.J., completed its acquisition of Sugen Inc., of South San Francisco, for $650 million in stock. (See BioWorld Today, June 16, 1999, p. 1.)

¿ Quark Biotech Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif., entered into its second collaborative research and license agreement with Sankyo Co. Ltd., of Tokyo. QBI will identify key genes and pathways responsible for apoptosis of particular cells and tissues caused by certain autoimmune diseases, as well as identify candidates for drug development and possibly take the candidates into clinical testing. Sankyo will have exclusive rights to market products while QBI will receive research and development payments, milestones and royalties.

¿ RxKinetix Inc., of Louisville, Colo., a private company focused on sustained-delivery technologies, completed a $3 million private offering. The company had raised $1 million in March. The proceeds will be used to fund ongoing research and development as well enhance manufacturing facilities.

¿ The National Center for Genome Resources, of Santa Fe, N.M., received a $250,000 grant from the Rose-Legett Foundation, also of Santa Fe, to establish a multi-year research program in gene expression involving a database and software tools to help scientists worldwide analyze and better understand gene expression.

¿ United Biomedical Inc., of Hauppauge, N.Y. said it has developed the first monoclonal antibody effective for the prevention of HIV infection in chimpanzees by a primary HIV isolate. The report appeared in the Aug. 31 issues of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The antibody targets the HIV receptor complex of the host cells rather than the virus itself and prevents HIV from fusing to the receptor complex on the host cells.