* CytRx Corp., of Atlanta, said its corporate partner, BurroughsWellcome Co., of Research Triangle Park, N.C., began Phase I trialsof RheothRx injection as an adjunct to the chemotherapeutic agent,Alkeran, in treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. RheothRx isexpected to enhance the effect of Alkeran, whose generic name ismelphalan, by improving tumor blood flow and exposure to the anti-cancer drug.

* Genta Jago Inc., a joint venture of San Diego-based Genta Inc. andSwitzerland-based Jagotec AG, filed an investigational new drugapplication with the FDA to begin clinical trials of its Geomatrixcontrolled drug release technology with AZT to treat HIV and AIDS.

* Receptagen Ltd., of Seattle, Wash., began clinical development ofits growth blocker drugs to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Thecompany's drugs are monoclonal antibodies designed to depletecancer cells of vitamin B12, which is involved in cell growth.

* Xoma Corp., of Berkeley, Calif., entered into a collaboration withIsrael-based Peptor Ltd. to develop anti-fungal peptides derived fromXoma's bacterial permeability increasing protein.

* Gensia Inc., of San Diego, signed a distribution agreement withArmour Pharmaceutical Co., a subsidiary of Collegeville, Pa.-basedRhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc., to sell generic pentamidine isethionate inthe U.S. Gensia will market the drug under the name, Pentacarinat. Itis used to treat pneumonia due to pneumocystis carinii bacteria.

* Neurogen Corp., of Branford, Conn., said Phase I trials of itsdopamine D4 antagonist, NGD 94-1, showed the drug was safe andwell tolerated. NGD 94-1 is being tested as a treatment forpsychoses, including schizophrenia. The company also said it hasdeveloped another compound, a neuropeptide Y antagonist, to treatobesity and bulimia.

* Martek Biosciences Corp., of Columbia, Md., and NeuromedicaInc., of Cambridge, Mass., signed a manufacturing agreement inwhich Martek will supply at least 50 percent of Neuromedica'sDoprexin in the U.S. Doprexin is being developed as a treatment fortardive dyskinesia.

* ESCAgenetics Corp., of San Carlos, Calif., was told by theAmerican Stock Exchange the company's stock was being delistedbecause of failure to meet certain financial criteria. ESCAgeneticssaid it is considering an appeal and will seek to have its stock listedon the over-the-counter market if it is not traded on the AmericanStock Exchange.

* Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd., of Vancouver, Canada, enteredinto a research collaboration with Mount Sinai Medical Center at theUniversity of Miami to study Inflazyme's anti-asthma drug, IZP-94005 in an animal model of asthma utilizing sheep.

* Advanced Tissue Sciences Inc., of La Jolla, Calif., and U.K.-basedSmith & Nephew plc said preclinical studies of tissue engineeredmeniscus cartilage showed the technology successfully healedmeniscus defects. Advanced Tissue Sciences and Smith and Nephewformed a joint venture to develop orthopedic applications of tissueengineered cartilage.

* IMRE Corp., of Seattle, began discussions with Baxter HealthcareCorp., of Deerfield, Ill., to renegotiate their distribution agreementfor IMRE's Prosorba column. The talks were prompted by an FDAdecision not to change Prosorba's label to include immunethrombocytopenic purpura. The product is approved for idiopathicthrombocytopenic purpura. IMRE also said it will postpone a secondround of private placement financing until the renegotiations withBaxter are complete.

* Ecogen Inc., of Langhorne, Pa., said the Environmental ProtectionAgency approved its Aspire biofungicide for post-harvest diseasecontrol in citrus fruits and apples.

* Bio-Technology General Corp., of Iselin, N.J., received approvalin The Netherlands to market Silkis, a vitamin D derivative used totreat psoriasis. Switzerland-based Cilag AG International, asubsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, of New Brunswick, N.J., hasworldwide distribution rights for Silkis, except in Japan, Israel andthe U.S.

* Oncor Inc., of Gaithersburg, Md., acquired rights to technology fordetecting small numbers of metastatic cancer cells in surgicalsections and lymph nodes. The company purchased the cancer testfrom Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore,which will receive royalties on net sales.

* Oxford Glycosystems, of Oxford, England, acquired theelectrophoresis business of Millipore Corp., of Bedford, Mass.Financial terms were not disclosed.

* NeoRx Corp., of Seattle, said its Avicidin cancer agent, in a PhaseI/II trial, produced a 10-fold improvement in patients' tumor-to-blood ratios over conventional radioimmunotherapy. The companyalso said it received clearance to start a Phase I trial of Biostent,which is designed to prevent vascular remodeling.

* Alteon Inc., of Ramsey, N.J., exercised its option and licensed theglucagon receptor antagonist that was doctors at RockefellerUniversity. The peptide has been shown to inhibit events that lead toa rise in blood sugar.

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