ImClone Systems Inc. said Tuesday that it has received a noticeof allowance for a patent on its interleukin-6 mutein (IL-6m),which is central to the regulation of the blood system and isone of the major growth factors responsible for the generationand differentiation of mature platelets. The New York companybelieves this is the first patent allowance in the U.S. coveringany form of IL-6. ImClone expects to file an investigationalnew drug application on its IL-6m within four months.

Transcell Technologies Inc. announced that it has been issued anotice of allowance for a patent covering key components of itscore drug transport technology. The patent is assigned toPrinceton University and licensed exclusively by Transcell, aPrinceton, N.J., majority-owned subsidiary of InterneuronPharmaceuticals Inc.

Nucleic Assays Corp. of Amelia Island, Fla., said it was issued akey patent for rapid molecular diagnostics. Patent No.5,279,955 enables development of rapid DNA/RNA diagnosticsfor the detection of infectious diseases and genetic mutations.

Spectral Diagnostics Inc. said it has been issued patent No.5,290,678, which refers to the company's diagnostic kit CardiacPanel. The Toronto company said the panel will diagnose anddistinguish cardiac from non-cardiac chest pains and unstableangina from myocardial infarction within several minutes.

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