Vestar Inc. (NASDAQ:VSTR) announced that its licensee,Fujisawa USA Inc., has filed an investigational new drug (IND)application with FDA for AmBisome, Vestar's liposomalformulation of the anti-fungal drug amphotericin B, for patientswith systemic fungal infections.

"This IND filing represents the first step in the clinicalevaluation of this product in the U.S.," said Roger Crossley,president and chief executive officer of the San Dimas, Calif.,company. AmBisome already has marketing approval inGermany, the United Kingdom and several other Europeancountries.

Vestar licensed exclusive marketing rights for AmBisome in theU.S., Canada and Asia to Lyphomed Corp. in 1987. FujisawaUSA, located in Deerfield, Ill., subsequently acquiredLyphomed.

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