BIOTECH STOCKS CONTINUE TO STUMBLERecording its seventh straight loss, the AMEX BiotechnologyIndex dropped 2.06 on Friday to close at 144.07, inchingtoward its April 28 low of 131.52. The index was down 12.02for the week.

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 2.85 on Friday to3,354.36.

Xoma Corp. (NASDAQ:XOMA) dropped $1.13 to close at $13. Thestock was easily the most heavily traded biotechnology issue,with more than 1.7 million shares changing hands. RivalCentocor Inc. (NASDAQ:CNTO) closed at $13.88, down 38 cents.

Deprenyl USA Inc. was the big gainer among stocks in thebiotechnology sector Friday, closing at $26.50, up $2. The stock(NASDAQ:DUSAU) closed up $6.50 for the week. Only threeother stocks gained at least $1 on Friday. Aramed Inc.(NASDAQ:ARAMZ) closed up $1 to $39; MedImmune Inc.(NASDAQ:MEDI) gained $1 to close at $20.75; and NorthAmerican Vaccine Inc. (AMEX:NVX) gained $1.25 to close at$11.88.

Epitope Inc. was the biggest loser, closing at $16, down $2.63.The stock (AMEX:EPT) was down $4.13 for the week. ChironCorp. (NASDAQ:CHIR) closed at $49.50, down $1.25 on Fridayand $5 for the week. DeKalb Genetics Corp. (NASDAQ:SEEDB) lost$1.50 a share to close at $29.50, and Immunex Corp.(NASDAQ:IMNX) lost $1.88 to close at $29.13. Glycomed Inc.(NASDAQ:GLYC) ecorded a loss of $1.75 to close at $10.

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