CLINICALS ON GENETECH'S AIDS VACCINEThe National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases willbegin human clinical trials next Monday of a new AIDS vaccinedeveloped by Genentech Inc. of South San Francisco, Calif.Trials on 28 healthy HIV-negative volunteers will be carriedout at NIAID's AIDS vaccine evaluation units at the Universityof St Louis and Johns Hopkins University. The vaccine is arecombinant form of the the gp120 protein found on the outersurface of HIV. Last June, Genentech reported in the journalNature that the vaccine protected two chimpanzees frominfection with HIV. Genentech is currently running trials of thevaccine in healthy HIV-positive patients to see if the vaccinecan delay the onset of symptoms. -- Rachel Nowak

CANADA'S IAF BIOCHEM STARTS TRADING ON NASDAQ

IAF BioChem International Inc. of Montreal on Wednesdaybegan trading on the U.S. over-the-counter market with theNASDAQ symbol BCHXF. IAF BioChem, the largest publicly heldCanadian biotechnology company, has been listed on bothToronto and Montreal exchanges since 1986.

CAL BIO COMPLETES OFFERING

California Biotechnology Inc. (NASDAQ:CBIO) of Mountain View,Calif., on Tuesday completed a previously announced publicoffering of 2.5 million shares of common stock at $14.66 pershare, raising $36.6 million, less underwriting fees. There is anoverallotment of 375,000 shares.

RCT WANTS TO LICENSE CHICKEN POX VACCINES

Research Corporation Technologies (RCT) of Tucson, Ariz., islooking for potential licensees of a new method to producepeptide chicken pox vaccines and diagnostics. Dr. Abbas Vafaiat the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Rockford hasidentified peptides from viral coat proteins that stimulate theimmune system to produce antibodies against the virus. He hasgenetically engineered mammalian cells to produce thepeptides. RCT has filed for patent protection to cover Vafai'stechnology. RCT estimates the U.S. market for chicken poxvaccines and diagnostics at $56 million.

CIBA MAY SELL ALZA CLASS A STOCK

Alza Corp. of Palo Alto, Calif., (ASE:AZA) said on Wednesdaythat Ciba-Geigy Corp. is considering the sale of an undisclosedportion of its Alza class A common stock through an investmentbanker. In connection with the transaction, Ciba has convertedits Class B shares into 2.9 million class A shares. Ciba holds 9percent of Alza class A common stock and warrants.

SCHERING DROPS INTERFERON SUIT

Interferon Sciences Inc. said on Wednesday that as it expected,Schering-Plough Corp. has agreed to dismiss a lawsuit broughtby Schering against Interferon Sciences over the use ofinterferon. Earlier this month, Interferon Sciences(NASDAQ:IFSC) announced it had broadened the terms of itslicense to F. Hoffmann-La Roche Inc.'s patent on interferonalfa-n3. Interferon Sciences said at the time that it expectedSchering's lawsuit to be dropped because Schering and Rochehave cross-licensed their products.

CAMPBELL SOUP SELLS EQUITY IN DNAP

Campbell Soup has sold its 8 percent equity stake, 1.6 millionshares of common stock worth about $6.6 million, in DNA PlantTechnology Corp. of Cinnaminson, N.J. Campbell had had aninterest in DNAP since 1981. DNAP (NASDAQ:DNAP) had beendeveloping a fresh market tomato for Campbell until lastsummer, when Campbell decided to put its fresh producebusiness on the block. DNAP has a non-exclusive license totechnology developed during the collaboration and plans tonegotiate with Campbell to convert that into an exclusivelicense, said Richard Laster, DNAP's chief executive officer.

(c) 1997 American Health Consultants. All rights reserved.