* Affymetrix Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., and bioMerieux Vitek Inc.,of St. Louis, signed an agreement to develop DNA probe arrays usingAffymetrix GeneChip technology. The targets are developingdiagnostic kits for bacterial identification and antibiotic resistanceanalysis.

* Biogen Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., began a Phase I trial in the U.K.of Gelsolin as a potential treatment for certain respiratory diseases.Gelsolin is a recombinant form of a natural actin-severing agentthought to work by reducing airway mucus viscosity.

* Targeted Genetics Corp., of Seattle, adopted a shareholder rightsplan, a common step for companies to ensure any takeover bid is inthe best interests of shareholders. The company said it is not aware ofany potential acquisition.

* Trophix Pharmaceuticals Inc., of South Plainfield, Ill., said JanssenPharmaceutica N.V., a Beerse, Belgium, subsidiary of Johnson &Johnson, moved to the second stage of their collaboration inanalgesic research. Trophix will get an additional equity investmentand research funding. The research builds on Trophix's work ingenes that code for and regulate ion channels.

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.