Agouron Pharmaceuticals Inc. has begun a Phase I trial of itsrationally designed drug for topical treatment of psoriasis, thecompany said on Monday. The drug, AG-85, halts the abnormalproliferation of skin cells characteristic of psoriasis byinactivating the enzyme thymidylate synthase. The study isbeing conducted at the Skin Research Foundation of Californiain Los Angeles. Shares of San Diego-based Agouron(NASDAQ:AGPH) closed up 25 cents at $15.

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