Genica Pharmaceuticals Corp. of Worcester, Mass., said Tuesdaythat it closed on a $1.6 million, third round of venturefinancing, bringing its total to $4.35 million.

Genica intends to acquire and introduce diagnostic tests forneurological diseases, said James Hobbs, Genica's president. Italso plans to expand marketing operations.

Participating in this round were Quest Ventures, OxfordPartners, Aetna, Jacobs and Ramo, Matuschka VenturePartners, and Venca Management.

Genica, founded in 1987, markets a muscular dystrophydiagnostic, licensed from Children's Hospital of Boston, andneural autoantibody tests licensed from Columbia University.

Genica expects to sign several licensing or other agreementswithin the month, said Genica spokeswoman Nancy Wetherbee.-- Carol Talkington Verser

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