* Metra Biosystems Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., got U.S.regulatory clearance for its Pyrilinks-D urinary assay, which providesa quantitative measure of the excretion of deoxypyrinoline crosslinksas an indicator of bone loss. Also, Metra entered into a definitiveagreement to acquire Osteo Sciences Corp. for stock worth about $10million. Osteo Sciences uses ultrasound technology in developinghand-held products that evaluate characteristics of bone associatedwith bone weakness.

* Sugen Inc., of Redwood City, Calif., said it will develop smallmolecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) totreat psoriasis. A drug candidate, SU5271, has been selected andfiling of an investigational new drug application is expected in thefourth quarter. It's Sugen's first extension into dermatology.

* Texas Biotechnology Corp., of Houston, will provide data from itsNovastan (brand of argatroban) trials in heparin-inducedthrombocytopenia to Synthelabo, of Paris, which will pay TexasBiotechnology up to $2.5 million for the information. Synthelabo isdeveloping argatroban in Europe for use with thrombolytics in acutemyocardial infarction and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

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