* Advanced Tissue Sciences Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., said the FDAhas agreed to an expedited review of the company's premarketapproval (PMA) application for Dermagraft for treatment of diabeticfoot ulcers. Advanced Tissue said it expects to file the PMA in late1996. Dermagraft is a skin covering placed permanently in a wound.Dermagraft-TC is a transitional covering for treatment of severeburns. It also will receive expedited review of its PMA, which isexpected to be filed in the first half of 1996.

* Genzyme Corp., of Cambridge, Mass., submitted a premarketapproval application to the FDA for Sepracoat, a coating solutionaimed at preventing post-surgical adhesions. Sepracoat is a liquidform of Seprafilm, a bioresorbable membrane. Genzyme filed formarket approval for Seprafilm in October 1995. The products arederived from hyaluronic acid, a natural lubricant for connectivetissues and joints.

* Human Genome Sciences Inc., of Rockville, Md., will receive $16million over three years from Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., ofDes Moines, Iowa, for a collaboration aimed at discovering genes ofthe corn genome. Pioneer intends to use the information to boostagronomic performance of corn crops and develop pest resistance.

* Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., said it developed a drugdiscovery technology for use with its combinatorial chemistry. Thesmall molecule technology, called accelerated intelligent drug design,is being used by Neurogen to search for neuro-psychiatric drugcandidates.

* NeXstar Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Boulder, Colo., said Australianregulatory authorities approved AmBisome for treatment of systemicfungal infections and for prevention of infections in liver transplantpatients. AmBisome is a liposomal form of the anti-fungal agentamphotericin B.

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