* Applied Microbiology Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell its U.K.-based food preservativebusiness, Aplin & Barrett Ltd., to Burns Philp & Co. Ltd., of Sydney,Australia, for $13.5 million in cash, a loan of $2.5 million that couldbe forgiven, and the return of 2.42 million shares held by BurnsPhilp.

* Maxim Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, presented additionalPhase IIb data from a study of Maxamine therapy in patients withacute myelogenous leukemia showing remissions well beyond thoseseen in previous studies involving interleukin-2. Maxamine containsan H2 receptor antagonist, which helps natural killer cells retain theirtumor-fighting ability, and IL-2. The company said it is addingpatients and sites in Sweden with the plan to expand its studies into aPhase III trial in the U.S. and Europe next year.

* Oxford Molecular Group plc, of Oxford, U.K., said it signedsoftware licenses with Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., of Nutley, N.J., andAbbott Laboratories, of Abbott Park, Ill., covering chemicalanalytical applications of RS3 Discovery, a software program thattransforms the standard relational data base system into a high-performance, chemical-structure search engine.

* Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Tarrytown, N.Y., said its boardadopted a shareholder rights plan. The action was not in response toany takeover plan, the company said.

* Synsorb Biotech Inc., of Calgary, Alberta, said it was awarded a$1.36 million research grant by the NIH to test the product, SynsorbPk, in children with kidney damage. The grant provides full fundingfor a Phase III trial testing the product's ability to reduce kidneycomplications and mortality in children who have progressed todiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome, a disease caused by thebacterium E. coli.

* U.S. Bioscience Inc., of West Conshohocken, Pa., amended itsagreement with an affiliate of Schering-Plough Corp., of Madison,N.J., related to European distribution of the cytoprotective agentEthyol. Schering-Plough will purchase Ethyol from U.S. Bioscienceat a price based on a percentage of net sales and U.S. Bioscience nolonger will absorb certain promotional costs. The deal was extendedtwo years, through 2003, and U.S. Bioscience will get a netincremental payment of $3.4 million.

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