* Periodontal disease specialist Biora AB, of Malmo, Sweden, acquired rights to a new protein, Amelin, discovered at the Centre for Oral Biology at the Karolinska Institute, in Stockholm, Sweden. Amelin is present during normal tooth development and Biora intends to investigate the possibility of using the protein in dental surgery. The company's lead product, Emdogain, which has marketing approval in Europe and North America, promotes the regrowth of tooth-supporting tissues that have been lost due to periodontal disease.

* Biorex Research and Development, of Veszprem, Hungary, signed a collaboration agreement with Abbott Laboratories, of Abbott Park, Ill., under which Abbott will invest US$28 million in Biorex's parent company, BRX Ltd. The deal covers the joint development and commercialization of Biorex's lead compound, Bimoclomol, a small-molecule drug for treatment of diabetic complications, and cooperation in the joint development of other, unspecified compounds. Abbott will get an exclusive worldwide license for Bimoclomol, which recently completed Phase II, and certain rights to the other compounds.