Xoma Corp.'s E5 drug to treat gram-negative sepsis will bereviewed on Sept. 4 by the Food and Drug Administration'svaccine advisory committee, according to sworn testimony onTuesday by Xoma President Patrick Scannon.

Scannon was testifying at the patent infringement trialbrought by the Berkeley, Calif., company against Centocor Inc.The companies are fighting for the market to treat gram-negative sepsis, a bacterial infection that can lead to septicshock and death.

Analyst Robert Kupor of Kidder, Peabody said he expectedCentocor's Centoxin to be reviewed at the same time, based onstatements made by the Malvern, Pa.-based company. "Centocorhas said it's delighted the FDA schedule will soon be madepublic," Kupor said.

Judge Robert H. Schnacke has ordered both companies not tocomment on the case during the trial. The FDA has not yetpublished its review schedule. -- Karen Bernstein

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