Hybridon Inc. entered a collaboration with Sweden-based PharmaciaBiotech AB for development of a manufacturing system to producecommercial quantities of Hybridon's antisense oligonucleotide,GEM 91.

Under terms of the agreement, Pharmacia will bear the costs ofbuilding the system, called OligoProcess. Hybridon, of Worcester,Mass., will not contribute funding.

The manufacturing process is being developed with technology fromHybridon and Pharmacia. Both will share in royalties from anyfuture sales of the instruments, which are designed to greatly boostproduction of antisense oligonucleotide compounds.

The collaboration does not cover GEM 91, which is being developedby Hybridon for HIV and AIDS. The drug is in Phase II trials in theU.S. and France. _ Charles Craig

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