* Biocircuits Corp., of Sunnyvale, Calif., began clinical trialsof its IOS system and the system's initial two assays. IOS is designedto diagnose thyroid disorders.

* First Medical Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., completed a$7 million round of venture financing. The company's first target is asystem for diagnosis of chest pain that may be symptomatic of a heartattack. It measures the level of critical molecular markers to helpphysicians manage patients with potentially life-threateningconditions.

* Gen Trak Inc., of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., received FDAmarket clearance for its CQuentials DR DNA Typing Kit, which isused to analyze the DNA code of tissue to match donors withrecipients for bone marrow and kidney transplants. The companycurrently is developing a test based on the same technology for betathalassemia.

* Medco Research Inc., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., saidits licensee got marketing clearance in the U.K. for Adenoscan(adenosine injection), a coronary vasodilator for use with radioactivethallium imaging in patients unable to exercise adequately.

* Quidel Corp., of San Diego, received market clearance inthe U.S. for its QuickVue Chlamydia Test. The company also filed a510 (k) premarket approval notification with the FDA for a one-step,whole blood Helicobacter pylori test.

* Somanetics Corp., of Troy, Mich., received certificationsallowing it to begin selling and marketing activities in France andCanada. The company's Cerebral Oximeter identifies changes inadult brain oxygen supply and demand.

* Raggio-Italgene S.p.A., of Italy, said Oncor Inc., ofGaithersburg, Md., and Medical and Biological Laboratories Co.Ltd., of Japan, will exclusively distribute C-TRAK kits for lymphomaand leukemia in the U.S. and Japan, respectively. C-TRAK allows forthe detection of target genetic sequences from DNA and RNA.

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