* Amgen Inc., of Thousand Oaks, Calif., began the first humanclinical trial of its glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in peoplewith Parkinson's disease. The study is designed primarily to evaluatesafety and tolerability in patients with moderate to severe disease. Itis expected to last 12 to 15 months.

* Chiron Corp., of Emeryville, Calif., and Ciba-Geigy Corp., ofTarrytown, N.Y., said they received FDA approval to market Aredia(pamidronate disodium for injection) to treat patients with osteolyticbone metastases of breast cancer, in conjunction with standardantineoplastic therapy. The drug reduces the incidence of skeletalcomplications of metastatic breast cancer.

* IDEC Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, began a Phase I/II trialincorporating its radioimmunotherapy treatment for B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, IDEC-Y2B8, and its lead product, IDEC-C2B8. Pretreatment with IDEC-C2B8 is intended to maximize tumorlocalization and efficacy of subsequently administered IDEC-Y2B8.

* MedImmune Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., decided to locate its $50million manufacturing facility in Frederick, Md. The company alsoplans to begin a $6.5 million expansion of its Gaithersburg facilities.

* Protein Polymer Technologies Inc., of San Diego, said it raisedmore than $800,000 from the exercisement of warrants from holdersof Series B preferred stock. The holders acquired 322,663 shares ofunregistered stock.

* Cel-Sci Corp., of Alexandria, Va., signed a cooperative researchand development agreement with the Naval Medical ResearchInstitute of the U.S. Navy to develop a malaria vaccine. They willmake use of Cel-Sci's heteroconjugate technology that combines Tcell-binding ligands with small, disease-associated peptide antigens.

* Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Carlsbad, Calif., revised its agreementwith Eisai Co. Ltd., of Tokyo, concerning fomivirsen (ISIS 2922), anantisense compound in Phase III trials for cytomegalovirus retinitis inAIDS patients. Isis will assume full control of continued developmentand commercialization, while Eisai will get royalties on sales. Thecompanies had shared all rights in the U.S. and Europe. Specificterms of the new deal were not disclosed.

* Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Cambridge, Mass., saidunderwriters of its recent public offering exercised their option on anadditional 450,000 shares, bringing the total offering to 3.45 millionshares at $24 each. Gross proceeds will be about $83 million with anet to Vertex of $77.5 million. (See BioWorld Today, Aug. 12, 1996,p. 1.)

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