¿ Advanced Viral Research Corp., of Yonkers, N.Y., said it discovered its lead antiviral drug, Reticulose, inhibited a key cellular receptor for HIV. The drug decreased the number of cellular CCR5 receptors, which HIV needs in order to attach to target cells. ¿ Apollo BioPharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., granted American Home Products Corp., of Madison, N.J., licenses to technology in the area of estrogen and estrogen-like compounds to treat Alzheimer¿s disease and other forms of dementia. Terms were not disclosed. ¿ Corixa Corp., of Seattle, began a Phase I trial of its microsphere-encapsulated Her-2/neu vaccine in patients with breast, ovarian and lung cancers. The company said it believes this is the first human trial of microsphere-encapsulated peptides for immunization against a specific cancer-related protein. ¿ Immunomedics Inc., of Morris Plains, N.J., signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the National Cancer Institute, of Bethesda, Md., covering development and use of antibody-conjugated recombinant cytotoxic ribonucleases. Drugs will be developed targeting blood cancers and solid tumors. ¿ InKine Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., of Blue Bell, Pa., said an April meeting has been set with the FDA to finalize the submission plan for INKP-100. The product is being developed as a purgative agent in tablet form for adults undergoing colonoscopic evaluation. ¿ La Jolla Pharmaceutical Co., of San Diego, expanded its Phase II/III trial of the lupus drug LJP 394 to Europe and Canada. The move is designed to support international filings. ¿ Magainin Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., received a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Cancer Institute to support development of an abbreviated synthetic route for squalamine, an anti-angiogenic agent expected to enter Phase II cancer trials in the second quarter. ¿ Organogenesis Inc., of Canton, Mass., said a 40-patient study showed the use of Apligraf, a skin-replacement product, used in conjunction with patient autograft, significantly improved cosmetic and functional outcome compared to autograft alone. ¿ Pangea Systems Inc., of Oakland, Calif., raised an additional $4 million, bringing its Series C financing to $19 million. The company provides bioinformatics software. (See BioWorld Today, Dec. 15, 1998, p. 1.) ¿ Vivus Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., said Germany granted a license needed for the launch of MUSE (alprostadil), triggering a $2 million milestone payment from Astra AB, of Sodertalje, Sweden. Astra plans to launch MUSE in Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg and Finland in the second quarter.
