¿ Aviron, of Mountain View, Calif., completed a Phase I trial of a vaccine against Epstein-Barr virus, in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham Biologicals, of Rixensart, Belgium. The study showed the vaccine was safe and well tolerated, regardless of subjects' prior exposure to the virus. Laboratory tests showed evidence of immune responses in vaccine recipients.

¿ Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said partner Eli Lilly and Co., of Indianapolis, accepted two candidate genes for use in the development of small-molecule cancer therapeutics. The genes could be useful in treating prostate cancer. The actions triggered two undisclosed milestone payments to Millennium.

¿ Oxigene Inc., of Boston and Stockholm, Sweden, exercised its option to acquire, from Arizona State University in Tempe, an exclusive worldwide license for rights to combrestatin technology, including the lead compound, Combrestatin A-4 Prodrug. CA4P is a small organic molecule in three Phase I trials to treat solid tumors.

¿ Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boulder, Colo., said preclinical studies of the ribozyme drug, Angiozyme, showed it demonstrated inhibition of cancer growth and metastases in colorectal and lung cancer models. In addition, Phase I trials showed Angiozyme was well tolerated with no clinically important side effects. Data were presented at a lung cancer meeting in Aspen, Colo.

¿ The Immune Response Corp., of Carlsbad, Calif., said its Latin America partner, Roemmers Laboratory (formerly called Viru-Tech), is conducting a Phase II trial of Remune at three centers in Argentina. The 28-week double-blind, placebo-controlled study will enroll up to 60 patients and test the effect of Remune on HIV-specific immune function and viral load in asymtomatic HIV-1-infected individuals.

¿ Variagenics Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., and Covance, of Princeton, N.J., signed a deal under which Variagenics will develop novel pharmacogenomic testing technologies. Covance will be the only contract research organization that may directly license Variagenics' technologies for providing genetic testing services in clinical trials. Terms were not disclosed.