* Cel-Sci Corp., of Alexandria, Va., said a researcher reported 78percent of severe combined immune deficiency mice that received theblood of human volunteers previously vaccinated and boosted withits HGP-30 Vaccine were protected against the HIV challenge. Thepredominant response was an increase in vaccine-specific IgG-3antibodies.

* Hybridon Inc., of Worcester, Mass., said academic collaboratorspresented data showing the antisense compound, GEM91,demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, in vitro, on various stepsinvolved in the replication of HIV-1, without incurring resistance.GEM91, in vitro, blocked the attachment of viral particles to the cellsurface in a dose-dependent manner; inhibited production of viralDNA; and reduced gag mRNA levels in HIV-infected cells.

* SciClone Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Mateo, Calif., saidpreliminary Phase III data show thymosin alpha 1 in combinationwith AZT and interferon alpha resulted in increased CD4 counts andreduced HIV RNA when compared to AZT alone or AZT andinterferon alpha.

* Vertex Laboratories Inc., of Englewood, Calif., said its controlled-release AZT formulation, Aztec, resulted in significantly reduced sideeffects compared to AZT. Also, only one of 72 Aztec patientsdeveloped resistance compared to 10 of 76 AZT patients.

* Alpha Therapeutic Corp., of Los Angeles, said the FDA licensed itsAlphaNine SD, Solvent Detergent Treated/Virus Filtered,Coagulation Factor IX product for prevention and control of bleedingin hemophilia B patients. The product includes a filtration process forremoving viruses.

* Matritech Inc., of Newton, Mass., is withdrawing a proposed publicoffering of 2 million shares. The company cited a downturn in themarket, its strong cash position and the recent approval of its firstproduct as reasons for the move. (See BioWorld Today, July 9, 1996,p. 1.)

* Sibia Neurosciences Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., filed a lawsuit allegingCadus Pharmaceutical Corp., of Tarrytown, N.Y., infringed a patenton its functional drug screening technology. The patent is titled,"Assay Methods and Compositions Useful for Measuring theTransduction of an Intracellular Signal." It relates to a method ofusing reporter gene technology to detect whether certain cellularevents have occurred. Cadus denied infringing valid claims of anySibia patent.

* Somatogen Inc., of Boulder, Colo., and development partner, EliLilly and Co., of Indianapolis, began enrollment in a Phase II studyof the intraoperative use of Optro to deliver oxygen and restore bloodvolume to treat blood loss during surgery. Optro is a first-generationrecombinant human hemoglobin.

* Interferon Sciences Inc., of New Brunswick, N.J., started treatingchronic hepatitis C patients in a Phase III trial of Alfa-n3, thecompany's natural-source alpha interferon. The study is randomizedand controlled. The company recently started a Phase III trial of theproduct in HIV patients.

* Targeted Genetics Corp., of Seattle, said underwriters of its recentpublic offering exercised options on 525,000 shares at $4 each,bringing the total offering to 4.25 million shares at $4 per share.

* Tularik Inc., of South San Francisco, said researchers from Tularikand Harvard University established an essential role for the Stat4gene in controlling immune responses. The gene encodes a specificprotein from a family of signal transducer and activator oftranscription (STAT) proteins. Findings, published in the July 11,1996, Nature, show Stat4 is essential in mediating the signalingmolecule interleukin-12.

* The Liposome Co., of Princeton, N.J., said its board adopted ashareholder rights plan to discourage any person or group fromacquiring more than 15 percent of the company's stock. Thecompany said the move was not made in response to any takeoverattempt.

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