* Aastrom Biosciences Inc., of Ann Arbor, Mich., said it obtained approval to affix the CE Mark to the final components of the Aastrom Replicell Cell Production System CB-I Therapy Kit, for the production of cord blood cells used in stem-cell therapy. The approval follows a similar go-ahead for the Aastrom Replicell System instrumentation platform and SC-I Therapy Kit for production of bone-marrow cells used in stem-cell therapy. The approvals allow marketing to begin in the European community upon Aastrom's final product release.

* Acacia Biosciences Inc., of Richmond, Calif., and Rosetta Inpharmatics Inc., of Kirkland, Wash., signed a merger agreement whereby Rosetta will acquire Acacia in a stock-for-stock transaction. The agreement is subject to approval by shareholders in both firms. Terms were not disclosed. Inpharmatics plans to integrate Acacia's Genome Reporter Matrix technology into Rosetta's arsenal of bioinformatics tools.

* American Home Products Corp., of Madison, N.J., said the FDA has assigned Rapamune (sirolimus) priority-review status and accepted for filing a new drug application for the immunosuppressive therapy, to be used in combination with cyclosporine for prevention of organ rejection in kidney-transplant patients.