¿ Abgenix Inc., of Fremont, Calif., reported its fully human monoclonal antibody, ABX-EGF ¿ which targets the receptor for epidermal growth factor ¿ blocked in mouse models the growth of human tumors and eradicated tumors that had become established. Human trials are expected to begin about mid-year. Results were published in the journal Cancer Research. ¿ Cel-Sci Corp., of Vienna, Va., said doctors at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia began a second study of Multikine in prostate cancer. The study will test Multikine, a mixture of cytokines, in escalating doses as a pre-treatment to surgical removal of the prostate in up to 20 previously untreated patients with advanced disease. ¿ Matritech Inc., of Newton, Mass., said it is raising $4 million in a private placement of 3.1 million shares at $1.29 per share, a 7 percent discount to the recent trading price. The financing is expected to close in early April. No placement agent was involved. ¿ NeoTherapeutics Inc., of Irvine, Calif., expanded the efficacy trials of Neotrofin, its lead compound for Alzheimer¿s disease, into Canada and Australia. The double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will include about 400 patients with severe to moderate disease. ¿ SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Mateo, Calif., said its lead product, Zadaxin thymosin alpha 1, significantly increased production of T cells in a human cell culture of bone marrow stem cells. The data were published in the International Journal of Immunopharmacology. ¿ SkyePharma plc, of London, completed its acquisition of DepoTech Corp., of San Diego, which now will become a wholly owned subsidiary. The deal initially was valued at $30.6 million, with provisions to add $25 million to the price, depending on certain regulatory and commercial milestones. (See BioWorld Today, Oct. 20, 1998, p. 1.) ¿ Xenometrix Inc., of Boulder, Colo., made a $700,000 payment on its bridge-note loan, reducing the balance to less than $300,000. The company also received a three-month extension to June 15, 1999.
