* Macronex Inc., of Morrisville, N.C., said preclinical studies of itslead compound, MNX160, revealed the drug prevented death inmice injected with toxins. MNX160 is a designed to inhibit theproduction of tumor necrosis factor-a.* Cel-Sci Corp., of Alexandria, Va., received a $1 million loan fromSilicon Valley East in Wellesley, Mass. The funds are being usedfor Cel-Sci's new facility, called PRA Laboratories, in Baltimore.The laboratory is designed to provide validated testing to quantifycytokines.* Geneic Sciences Inc., of Menlo Park, Calif., a subsidiary of SouthSan Francisco-based Titan Pharmaceuticals Inc., said its researchhas identified bone marrow cells, called facilitating cells, that arekey elements in successful bone marrow transplantation. Thecompany's findings, published in the Oct. 18 issue of Blood, showhow facilitating cells permit the engraftment of purified allogeneicbone marrow stem cells without provoking graft-versus-hostdisease.* Cortecs International Ltd., of London, has signed a worldwidedistribution agreement with Germany-based Boehringer MannheimDiagnostics, a division of Corange Ltd, of London, for Cortecs'immuno sorbent assay. The test is used for the detection ofantibodies to Helicobacter pylori in blood serum. The agreementcovers exclusive rights to all countries, except Canada and the U.K.Abaxis Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., has raised $9.4 million throughthe sale of 2.35 million shares of common stock. Proceeds from thestock sale will be used to fund commercialization of the company'sVetScan and to seek regulatory approval for its Piccolo bloodanalysis system.* Deprenyl Animal Health Inc., of Overland Park, Kan., filed aregulatory application with the Canadian Health ProtectionBranch's Bureau of Veterinary Drugs to market Anipryl for canineCushing's disease. The new drug submission is the company's first.* Avid Therapeutics Inc., Philadelphia, was issued U.S. patent No.5,334,524, which includes covering a composition of mattercomprising a Hepatitis B Polymerase gene product and an RNAtemplate for hepadnavirus minus strand DNA synthesis; and No.5,334,492 covering a herpes gene product.

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