* Aronex Pharmaceuticals Inc., of The Woodlands,Texas, started a Phase I trial of AR177 for the treatmentof AIDS and HIV. The compound is an oligonucleotidebelieved to act by inhibition of HIV integrase andinhibition of cell fusion.

* Cambridge NeuroScience Inc., of Cambridge, Mass.,completed enrollment of its 120-patient Phase II dose-response study of Cerestat for stroke. A dose-rangingPhase II almost is complete.

* DepoTech Corp., of San Diego, said its underwritersexercised a 450,000-share overallotment option inconnection with its Sept. 28, 1995, initial public offering,bringing gross proceeds to $41.4 million.

* Deprenyl Animal Health Inc., of Overland Park, Kan.,received regulatory approval to market Anipryl for canineCushing's disease in Canada. The company also has filedwith the FDA the final report from its Phase IIIequivalent studies of the drug for that indication.

* Genentech Inc., of South San Francisco, began Phase Itrials of thrombopoietin for thrombocytopenia, orreduction in platelets, in cancer patients undergoingchemotherapy.

* MedImmune Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., licensedexclusive worldwide rights to human papillomavirusvaccine technology developed at the University ofRochester, in New York.

* Receptagen Ltd., of Edmons, Wash., said it signed aletter of intent with a unnamed Japanese drugmanufacturer to jointly develop drugs that inhibitapoptosis. Receptagen also completed a privateplacement of 1.4 million shares that grossed $1.7 millionCanadian.

* Zonagen Inc., of The Woodlands, Texas, closed the saleof a 319,750 shares of Series A Convertible Preferredstock, at $10 per share.

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