FUJISAWA CUTS PRICE OF AIDS DRUGFujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., the research division of FujisawaUSA Inc., said it has reduced by 20 percent the price ofpentamidine, which is used to treat a life-threateningpneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, prevalent in AIDSpatients. The price for pentamidine will fall from $99.45 to $79a vial. Injectable Pentam 300 and aerosolized NebuPent, bothpentamidine products, are marketed under the Lyphomedlabel, which Deerfield, Ill.-based Fujisawa acquired in 1989.

QUIDEL ASSAY DETECTS LYME DISEASE

Quidel (NASDAQ:QDEL), of San Diego on Friday announced it hasexclusive marketing rights to a rapid enzyme immunobindingassay for the detection of antibodies to Borrielia burgdorferi,the principal cause of Lyme disease. The seven-minute test,manufactured by Medical Diagnostic Technologies of Augusta,Ga., allows physicians to detect the often debilitating tick-bornedisease during its early stages, when it is readily treatable withantibiotics.

BTGC CONCLUDES DISTRIBUTION PACT

Bio-Technology General Corp. of New York last week said that ithas concluded an agreement with Nimrod AB of Sweden todistribute BTGC's hyaluronic acid-based ophthalmic products inSweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Nimrodexpects to receive marketing approval by year-end.Phadechem International AB, a Nimrod affiliate, will helpmarket the product. Hyaluronic acid is used to maintain fluid inthe eye during surgery.

INVITRON STOCKHOLDERS OK LIQUIDATION

Invitron Corp. said its stockholders last week approved thepreviously announced sale of most of the company's assets toCentocor Inc. and adopted a plan to liquidate the remainder ofthe company. Net assets remaining for distribution toshareholders are estimated at $3.5 million. About 6.5 millionshares of common stock (NASDAQ:INVN) are outstanding.

The St. Louis company said it would be removed fromNASDAQ's National Market System on or about June 12, butexpects to continue to be included on the regular NASDAQ list.The stock closed unchanged at 31 cents on Friday.

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