The National Cancer Institute has awarded a Phase 1 smallbusiness innovation research grant to Immunomedics Inc. todevelop a lymphoma therapeutic using rhenium attached to anantibody fragment, the company said Wednesday.

The company is conducting Phase I/II trials aimed atlymphomas, using ImmuRait-LL2, a MAb labeled with iodine-131.

The company also said that the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice has allowed a patent application covering two methodsfor producing antibody fragments and rapidly radiolabeling thefragments with technetium-99m or rhenium.

The Warren, N.J., company (NASDAQ:IMMU) isn't currentlyusing the method described in the patent to produce itsradiolabeled antibody fragments, but the patent will widen thescope of protection for the company's technology, said AmyFactor, vice president of finance.

Immunomedics shares closed at $14.63, up 88 cents.

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