* Innovir Laboratories Inc., of New York, entered a collaborationwith The Scripps Research Institute, of La Jolla, Calif., to evaluate inanimal models a new drug candidate for chronic hepatitis B. The leaddrug comes from a class of compounds developed using Innovir'ssite-specific External Guide Sequence technology, and will bedelivered by the company's new system to facilitate entry into livercells.

* Interferon Sciences Inc., of New Brunswick, N.J., said its low-doseoral alpha interferon, Alferon LDO, and two other low-dose alphainterferon products will be compared to placebo in a study testing theeffectiveness in reducing the symptoms of AIDS. Enrollment hasbegun in the 560-patient study sponsored by the National Institute ofAllergy and Infectious Diseases.

* Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., of Collegeville, Pa., said Rilutek wascleared for marketing as a treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosisin the European Union's 15 member countries.

* Scios Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., said the Opposition Divisionof the European Patent Office (EPO) ruled in its favor in anopposition related to Fiblast trafermin, the company's recombinantbasic fibroblast growth factor. The ruling confirms an earlier EPOdecision to issue a patent to Scios and rejects the opposition filed byChiron Corp., of Emeryville, Calif., and Pharmacia S.p.A., ofSweden.

* Somatogen Inc., of Boulder, Colo., began a Phase I trial of itsrecombinant hemoglobin, rHb1.1, as an agent for stimulating redblood cell formation. The study will evaluate safety andhematopoietic activity in about 50 patients with anemia resultingfrom end stage renal disease.

* The Liposome Co., of Princeton, N.J., received marketing approvalfor Abelcet (amphotericin B lipid complex injection) in Sweden totreat severe, invasive fungal infections in refractory and otherpatients.

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