* Affymetrix Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., and Hewlett Packard Co., of Palo Alto, Calif., extended their instrument collaboration agreement through the year 2002. Under the terms, Hewlett Packard will continue to manufacture confocal laser scanners that will be sold by Affymetrix as part of its GeneChip system. The GeneChip system acquires, analyzes and manages complex genetic information in order to improve the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of disease.

* Cardiovascular Diagnostics Inc. (CVDI), of Raleigh, N.C., and Chiron Corp., of Emeryville, Calif., signed a $6 million global distribution agreement for certain CVDI diagnostic coagulation tests. Chiron purchased $6 million of CVDI common stock at $10 per share, increasing the total outstanding shares to 7.4 million. CVDI manufactures two types of disposable near-patient coagulation tests used on a single analyzer. The deal is with Chiron's diagnostics unit.

* Techniclone Corp., of Tustin, Calif., reported interim dosimetry results from a Phase I trial of Tumor Necrosis Therapy, in development for treating malignant glioma. Of six patients assessed for safety, five had magnetic resonance imaging data available for more than 30 days after treatment to evaluate tumor response. All five enjoyed disease stabilization, one patient for 30 days, four patients for greater than 60 days. In three patients, the primary tumor shrank. "These Phase I results are even more compelling considering these first six patients received approximately one-third to one-half of what we consider to be an effective dose for treatment in disease," said Sunil Patel, assistant professor of neurological surgery at the Medical University of Southern California.

* Vimrx Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Irvine, Calif., through its subsidiary, Nexell Therapeutics Inc., submitted all of the recently requested information to the FDA for its premarket approval application for the Isolex Cell Selection System. In July, the FDA requested additional information and clarification on both the Isolex 300 and the fully automated Isolex 300I Stem Cell Selection systems. The products select and purify cells from cancer patients to replenish their bone marrow ravaged by chemotherapy and radiation. (See BioWorld Today, July 9, 1998 p. 1.)