• Northwest Neurologic Inc., of Portland, Ore., entered a research collaboration with American Home Products Corp., of Madison, N.J., for neurological drug discovery based on Northwest’s glutamate transporter technology. Glutamate transporters are involved in maintaining a balanced level of neurotransmitters in the brain. Financial terms were not disclosed.

• Oxis International Inc., of Portland, Ore., raised $1.1 million in a private round of financing. The company develops drugs for diseases associated with tissue damage from free radicals and reactive oxygen species, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

• Sibia Neurosciences Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., filed an investigational new drug application with the FDA to begin clinical trials of SIB-1508Y for Parkinson’s disease. The drug targets subtypes of the nicotinic acetylcholide receptor in the brain regulating levels of dopamine and acetylcholine, both of which are associated with Parkinson’s disease.

• T Cell Sciences Inc., of Needham, Mass., could receive up to $4 million in its amended agreement with Astra AB, of Sodertalje, Sweden, for development of two drugs for multiple sclerosis. The products, TM-27 and TP-12, were derived from T Cell Sciences’ T Cell Antigen Receptor Program, which is used to make monoclonal antibodies and peptide fragments targeting antigen receptors for disease-causing T cells.

• Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., reports that it has submitted to the FDA a new drug application (NDA) covering its anti-HIV drug Viracept (nelfinavir mesylate). Agouron, the company said, is the first company to petition the FDA for simultaneous approval of its HIV protease inhibitor for adults and for children. The NDA seeks accelerated approval of both tablet and pediatric oral powder formulations of Viracept based principally on results from three pivotal Phase II/III clinical trials in more than 700 HIV-infected subjects. Results of these trials, the company said, will be announced at the end of January.

• Arris Pharmaceutical Corp., of South San Francisco, said its board of directors has authorized the issuance of approximately 518,000 shares of Arris common stock to the former shareholders of Khepri Pharmaceuticals in lieu of cash as the second and final payment due resulting from the acquisition of Khepri in December 1995, by Arris. The transaction was valued at approximately $23 million. Approximately 1.4 million shares of Arris common stock was issued to Khepri stockholders as the first payment.

• CEL-SCI Corp., of Alexandria, Va., said it has repurchased $2.85 million of a private placement of preferred convertible stock. In a move to save substantial interest payments, the company said, at the same time, CEL-SCI sold $2.85 million of preferred convertible stock to another group of investors.

• NanoSystems LLC, of Collegeville, Pa., will collaborate with Merck & Co., of Whitehouse Station, N.J., on the evaluation of an experimental NanoCrystal formulation of Merck’s HIV protease inhibitor, Indinavir, for the treatment of HIV in pediatric patients and other special patient groups.

• Neoprobe Corp., of Dublin, Ohio, has submitted its first biologic license application to the FDA for RIGScan CR49 (I25I-labeled monoclonal antibody) for the intraoperative detection of metastatic colorectal cancer. RIGScan CR49 is a biologic drug used with Neoprobe’s proprietary RIGS technology, which combines cancer-specific targeting agents, such as RIGScan CR49, hand-held gamma detectors and methods for their use.

• Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boulder, Colo., and Protogene Laboratories Inc., of Palo Alto, Calif., will collaborate to use Ribozyme’s proprietary technology for the synthesis of ribozymes and Protogene’s instrumentalization capabilities to develop automated machines and techniques for the synthesis, deprotection and purification of large numbers of modified ribozymes and other molecules. As part of the collaboration, Ribozyme will fund research and purchase Protogene’s shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.