* Alpha Therapeutics Corp., of Los Angeles, a subsidiaryof Japan-based Green Cross Corp., began a Phase IIIstudy of Oncolym to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.Oncolym combines the radioisotope 131-iodine with amonoclonal antibody targeting the disease.

* Biomedical Research Group Inc., of Hartford, Conn.,and National Medical Research Corp., of Austin, Texas,two contract research organizations, merged. Financialterms were not disclosed.

* Bristol-Myers Squibb Inc., of New York, and Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., of Collegeville, Pa., are embroiled ina patent dispute over production of Bristol-Myers' anti-cancer drug, Taxol. Both have filed lawsuits. Bristol-Myers said it doesn't infringe Rorer's patents. Roreralleged otherwise. The court actions coincided with arecommendation for approval of Rorer's Taxotere, whichis similar to Taxol, by the FDA's Oncologic DrugsAdvisory Committee.

* Helix BioMedix Inc., of Baton Rouge, La., saidpreclinical studies of its anti-infective compounds, calledcytoporins, demonstrated they were effective in killingbacterial pathogens while not damaging healthy cells.Cytoporins are described as "synthetic designer peptides"derived from the immune systems of the giant silk moth,Hyalophora cecrpia, and are being developed asalternatives to antibiotics no longer effective because ofbacterial resistance.

* Matrix Pharmaceuticals Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif.,raised another $6.6 million to bring the total of its Oct.17, 1995, public offering to $54 million and 4.1 millionshares sold. The additional funds were generated throughthe sale of 497,000 shares to underwriters exercisingoptions to cover overallotments. Cowen & Co., Dillon,Read & Co. and UBS Securities Inc., all of New York,managed the offering.

* North American Vaccine Inc., of Beltsville, Md., filedfor approval in Denmark of a combined diphtheria,tetanus, acellular pertussis and inactivated polio vaccinefor inoculation of infants and children. North Americandeveloped the drug in collaboration with Denmark-basedStatens Seruminstitut.

* Theratechnologies Inc., of Montreal entered a licensingagreement with Harlan Sprague Dawley Inc., ofIndianapolis, to breed and sell transgenic mice alteredwith genes to induce HIV for AIDS research. Financialterms were not disclosed. Theratechnologies estimatedthe market for the animal models at $30 million annually.

* Vaxcel Inc., of Atlanta, a subsidiary of CytRx Corp.,also in Atlanta, signed an option agreement for evaluationof its Optivax vaccine delivery system by London-basedMedeva plc for use with one of its viral antigen. Financialdetails were not disclosed.

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