BMP-2 MIXED WITH BONE MATRIX HEALS DEFECTSA pre-clinical study of bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2)has shown that BMP-2 mixed with inactive bone matrix canheal a large segmental bone defect that otherwise would notheal. Dr. Tobin Gerhart, assistant clinical professor in orthopedicsurgery at Harvard Medical School, on Saturday presented thedata to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeonsmeeting in Anaheim, Calif.

Gerhart is collaborating with Genetics Institute, which iscontinuing pre-clinical trials of BMP-2 for orthopedic,periodontal and cranial-facial applications. The company hopesto begin clinical trials in early 1992.

Creative Biomolecules Inc. of Hopkinton, Mass., is also workingon bone healing. Creative and its partner, Stryker Corp. ofKalamazoo, Mich., have osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) in pre-clinicals and hope to move into human clinicals this year, saidJohn Smart, Creative's vice president of research. He said OP-1corresponds to another of GeneticLs InstituteLs bonemorphogenic proteins, BMP-7. -- Karen Bernstein

JAPAN CLOSE TO APPROVING t-PA

Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) is nearing marketingapproval in Japan, more than three years after receiving U.S.marketing approval. The Pharmaceuticals and Chemical SafetyDivision of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan hasrecommended approval of t-PA to treat heart attacks. Formalapproval is expected in April. Companies then must receivepricing approval from the ministry.

The companies receiving approval will be Kyowa Hakko KogyoCo. Ltd. and Mitsubishi Kasei Corp., both of Tokyo, and ToyoboCo. Ltd. of Osaka. Kyowa and Mitsubishi are licensing t-PA fromGenentech Inc. of South San Francisco, Calif. Toyobo is licensingt-PA from Genzyme Corp. of Boston.

Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd., which licenses t-PA fromWellcome Biotechnology of London, is still awaiting marketingapproval.

XYTRONYX TO EXPORT GUM DISEASE TEST

Xytronyx Inc. of San Diego said Monday that the Food and DrugAdministration will allow the company to export its PerioGardPeriodontal Tissue Monitor Kit to Italy and Denmark. Xytronyx(AMEX:XYX) will start exporting the kit next month to Colgate-Palmolive European subsidiaries. Colgate paid $2 million forworldwide marketing rights for the kit, which detects gumdisease by measuring enzymes secreted by infected gums. TheFDA has not yet approved the kit for marketing in the UnitedStates.

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