Genta Inc. on Monday confirmed that it has done a "quiet" filingfor an initial public offering of up to 2.5 million shares ofcommon stock. The developer of antisense products declined toreveal further details.

Genta raised $8.4 million in a venture financing round inAugust, bringing to $17 million the total raised since itsfounding in 1989.

The San Diego-based company in August filed to begin PhaseI/II clinical trials of its antisense compound to treat chronicmyelogenous leukemia. If approved, those trials would makeGenta the first antisense company to enter the clinic.

Antisense technology uses chemical derivatives of DNA andRNA to block the production of specific proteins.

In October, Genta signed a drug development deal withconsumer products giant Proctor & Gamble Co. Neither companywould reveal the therapeutic targets or financial terms of thedeal, but William Albright, director of business development atGenta, said it was one of the larger agreements of its type.

Rival Gilead Sciences of Foster City, Calif., in July 1990signed a $25 million deal with Glaxo Holding plc. Carlsbad,Calif.-based Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc., another antisensecompany, in October 1990 signed a $30 million deal with Ciba-Geigy Ltd. -- KB

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