* Advanced Viral Research Corp., of Yonkers, N.Y., received two patents covering newly discovered uses of Reticulose, a non-toxic, peptide nucleic acid type of immunomodulator drug. The first patent, No. 5,807,839, "A Method for Stimulating Red Blood Cell Production," describes a use of one of the stimulation effects of Reticulose in bone marrow. The second, No. 5,807,840, "A Method for Treating Canine Distemper," represents a new approach to the treatment of animal viral infections such as canine distemper.

* American Biogenetic Sciences Inc., of Copiague, N.J., received a patent for its lead neurological compound, ABS-103. ABS-103 is an improved version of valproic acid that preclinical studies show has an enhanced efficacy and less toxicity than the original compound. It is being developed for the treatment and prevention of epilepsy, migraine and mania.

* Aquasearch Inc., of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, received a patent, "Process and Apparatus for the Production of Photosynthetic Microbes," in Hong Kong for its microalgae production technology, the Aquasearch Growth Module.

* Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., announced that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also of Cambridge, received patent No. 5,804,374, "Nuclear Factors Associated with Transcriptional Regulation." Ariad Pharmaceuticals is the exclusive worldwide licensee. The patent covers methods for identifying substances that activate or inhibit NF-kB-mediated signaling pathways. NF-kB plays a key role in regulating the immune system.