* Alexion Pharmaceutical Inc., of New Haven, Conn., said its C5 Inhibitor blocks heart tissue damage resulting from myocardial infarction. Alexion's C5 inhibitors intervene at a key point in the complement cascade, which allows the preservation of the disease-preventing functions of the complement system while blocking the components that cause disease.

* Biogen Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., said Avonex for multiple sclerosis received marketing approval by the European Commission. The drug was approved in May 1996 by the FDA. Biogen, which sells Avonex in the U.S., also will market the drug in some European countries, including the U.K., France and Germany. It has European distribution agreements with Schering-Plough Corp., of Madison, N.J., for sales in Spain and Portugal; Astra AB, of Sodertalje, Sweden, for Nordic countries; Dompe SpA, of Milan, for Italy; and Genesis Pharma SA, of Athens, for Greece.

* Immunex Corp., of Seattle, said results of an open-label Phase II study of Leukine (sargramostim) used in association with surgery for treatment of malignant melanoma showed Leukine increased survival rates. The 30 patients participating in the study had a median survival rate of 20.6 months. Leukine, which is a granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, activates immune system cells. It has been on the market since 1991 for use in restoring white blood cells depleted by cancer chemotherapy.

* Lidak Pharmaceuticals Inc., of La Jolla, said preliminary findings from a clinical trial of Lidakol (no-docosanol) showed the topical cream reduced progression and severity of Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesions in AIDS patients.

* NanoSystems LLC, of Collegeville, Pa., entered a collaboration with Astra Draco AB, a research unit of Astra AB, of Sodertalje, Sweden. In the agreement, NanoSystems will apply its drug delivery technology to Astra's products for respiratory disorders. Financial terms were not disclosed.

* Oncogene Science Inc., of Uniondale, N.Y., signed an exclusive worldwide license with The Dow Chemical Co., of Midland, Mich., giving Oncogene rights to use more than 140,000 compounds for screening and potential development of small molecule drugs. Under the agreement, Dow will receive approximately 350,000 shares of Oncogene Science common stock.

* Pharmos Corp., of Alachua, Fla., has submitted an amendment to its new drug application (NDA) with the FDA for Lotemax, a site-specific ophthalmic anti-inflammatory product. The amendment covers the results of a recently completed uveitis study. Pharmos also has submitted an NDA for use of Lotemax in the treatment of post cataract surgery inflammation.

* ProCyte Corp., of Kirkland, Wash., has received 510(k) device clearance from the FDA to market a gauze wound dressing that contains the company's patented copper peptide technology. The new product, GraftCyte Moist Dressings, will be promoted for use in hair restoration procedures and is scheduled for market release in April 1997.

* Eli Lilly and Co., of Indianapolis, and Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, have entered into a collaboration in the field of combinatorial chemistry. Under terms of the agreement, Lilly will receive up-front fees, milestone payments and royalties on the first two products to reach the market from the collaboration. In exchange, Lilly will provide a comprehensive technology transfer of proprietary combinatorial chemistry know-how.