Biotech Week articles from March 2003

Biotech Week archives from March 2003

Research in poxvirus production to speed up vaccines.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Oxford University's Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics have developed a method for the rapid generation of nonreplicating poxviruses expressing recombinant proteins for use in...

Effexor XR gets FDA approval for social anxiety.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Wyeth (WYE) has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Effexor XR (venlafaxine HCl) for the treatment of patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD), which may affect up to...

Gene transfer may avert rejection of transplanted animal tissues in humans.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Gene transfer may improve the use of animal tissues in human transplantation procedures, according to researchers at Alexion Pharmceuticals Inc. "The use of xenogeneic cells or tissues for tissue...

Growth hormone binding protein eliminates injury to liver cells.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "acute liver failure caused by viral hepatitis or toxic damage involves both apoptotic and necrotic pathways. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) binding...

Worm model could yield new drugs.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has awarded one of its competitive fast track grants to Vanderbilt neuroscientist Richard Nass, PhD, to fund his search for drugs that will prevent...

Structure of key receptor determined.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A team of scientists from Johns Hopkins and the biotechnology company Genitope has unlocked the 3-D structure of a receptor that goes awry in 20-30% of breast cancers. The scientists also figured...

Epidermal powder immunization a safe and effective vaccination method.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Researchers at PowderJet Vaccines, Inc., have announced that hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen can be delivered as a powdered formulation to the skin and generate...

Bioethicists say backlash already building in new field.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- With scientists and activist groups on a collision course over the rapidly emerging field of nanotechnology, experts at one of the world's leading medical ethics think-tanks warn that the coming...

Extension of research funding granted on thrombin collaboration.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- 3-Dimensional Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (3DP) (NASDAQ:DDDP), a drug discovery and development company, announced that the research term under its thrombin collaboration with Centocor, Inc., and Johnson &...

Company launches new corporate identity, emphasizes quality.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ABR-Affinity BioReagents, Inc., has announced the launch of its new corporate identity. The direct result of candid customer suggestions and input, this new identity encompasses the use of a new...

Abbott Labs stops tests on key drug.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abbott Laboratories halted a trial of a key drug after it failed to slow the progression of prostate cancer, the company said February 10, 2003. The drug Atrasentan was in a study for the treatment...

Progress towards pharmacologic inhibition of hepatic glucose production reviewed.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "A number of therapeutic targets are currently under investigation for inhibition of hepatic glucose production with small molecules. Antagonists of the glucagon receptor, glycogen phosphorylase,...

Survivin enhances Aurora-B activity and localization in human cells.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "survivin, one of the most tumor-specific gene products, has been implicated in both anti-apoptosis and cytokinesis. However, the mechanism by which...

Longest-surviving recipient dies.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The longest-living recipient of a self-contained artificial heart died February 7, 2003, after nearly 17 months with the plastic-and-titanium device pumping in his chest. Tom Christerson was 71 and...

Peroxisome proliferator fenofibrate inhibits growth of human hepatoma cells.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of hypolipidemic agent fenofibrate (FF), a peroxisome proliferator (PP), on human HepG2 cells and to characterize the intracellular events involved,"...

Information technology firm names new chief science officer.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Accelrys, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmacopeia, Inc. (NASDAQ:PCOP), announced the appointment of Dr. Scott Kahn as the chief science officer of Accelrys' worldwide operations. Under Dr. Kahn's...

Drug discovery partner announces fourth quarter 2002 financial results.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aclara BioSciences (NASDAQ:ACLA) has reported financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2002. Revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2002, were $752,000, compared...

Stent & delivery system to treat bifurcation lesions receives CE Mark approval.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced Stent Technologies, Inc. (AST) announced that it has received CE Mark approval to market its SLK-View DSX Stent and Delivery System to treat cardiovascular disease at bifurcation points in the...

Respiratory disorders specialist reports 2002 fourth quarter, year-end results.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aerogen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEGN) announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2002. The net loss for the quarter ended December 31, 2002, was $5.1 million, or $0.25 per share...

FDA grants Fast Track designation for investigational oral mucositis drug.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aesgen, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track designation to the company's investigational new drug,...

Feasibility of an HA2 domain-based periodontitis vaccine.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "In a rat periodontitis model, preinoculation with the Porphyromonas gingivalis HA2 binding domain for hemoglobin provided protection from disease," researchers in the United States and Australia...

Phase II clinical data reported for 7-day patch.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Agile Therapeutics, Inc., announced that an analysis of data from the Phase II clinical trial of its seven-day translucent contraceptive patch indicates that ovulation was suppressed by more than 95%...

Patents awarded for densitometer.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alara, Inc., announced that two patents (U.S. Patents No. 6,490,339 and No. 6,510,197) were issued for its MetriScan peripheral bone densitometer. The MetriScan, a self-contained, table-top device,...

Cancer therapeutics company names new board member.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alfacell Corporation (Bulletin Board: ACEL) announced the appointment of Paul Weiss, PhD, MBA, to its Board of Directors. Dr. Weiss is president of Gala Design, Inc., a privately-held Wisconsin...

Drug company announces organizational changes.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alpharma Inc. (NYSE:ALO), a global pharmaceutical company, announced a realignment of the Human Pharmaceuticals arm of its organization and other related actions to better execute its business strategy...

Further progress reported on LAX-101 clinical development.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ:AMRN) and its partner, Laxdale Ltd., announced their intention to conduct an additional Phase III study to support a New Drug Application (NDA) for LAX-101. This was...

Agreement covers analysis of NCI tumor databases for gene markers of disease.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In the quest to discover better predictive models for cancer diagnostics and treatment, life sciences company AnVil, Inc., announced an agreement with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component of...

Pharma company announces debt financing agreement.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antares Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANTR) announced that it has an agreement in principal to retire its outstanding 10% convertible debentures issued in July 2002. Under the pending agreement, the company...

IND application filed for chlamydia vaccine.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antex Biologics Inc. (AMEX:ANX) has filed an initial investigational new drug (IND) application for its TracVax vaccine with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). TracVax is a recombinant...

Agreement grants access to clinical human disease tissue samples.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ardais Corporation, a privately held clinical genomics company, announced that AstraZeneca, one of the five top global pharmaceutical companies, has licensed access to Ardais' library of...

Biopharma company reports fiscal 2003 second quarter results.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Array BioPharma Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY) reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2003, ended December 31, 2002. During that period, Array reported total revenue of $9.5 million, up...

Fulvestrant submitted for approval in Europe.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AstraZeneca announced the submission in Europe of a Marketing Authorization Application for the use of Faslodex (fulvestrant) in the treatment of advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women whose...

Mania indication sought for Seroquel (quetiapine) in Europe.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AstraZeneca announced that it has submitted an application to the 14 European Member States involved in the Mutual Recognition Procedure for Seroquel (quetiapine) to be granted a license for the...

Mania indication sought for Seroquel in Europe.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AstraZeneca has submitted an application to the 14 European Member States involved in the Mutual Recognition Procedure for Seroquel (quetiapine) to be granted a license for the treatment of manic...

Drug company releases fourth quarter and full year 2002 results.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AtheroGenics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AGIX), a pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ending December 31, 2002....

Biopharmaceutical company names new CEO.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Auxeris Therapeutics, Inc., a St. Louis, Missouri-based seed-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced the appointment of Laurent Fischer, MD, to the position of president and chief executive officer...

Testosterone gel launched for treatment of deficiency in men.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced the launch of Testim, a patented testosterone gel. Auxilium received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market Testim on October 31, 2002,...

Drug firm reports full-year results for 2002.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aventis reported consolidated group net sales of EUR 20.622 billion (US$19.500 billion) for 2002 compared with EUR 22.941 billion (US$21.693 billion) in 2001. This decline in group sales is...

Company specializing in gene therapy reports year-end financial results.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Avigen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGN), a specialist in adeno-associated virus gene delivery technology, reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2002. At year end, Avigen had $120 million in...

Investigation continues into particulates found in blood pack units.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Baxter Health Care Corporation announced results of its preliminary investigation into particulate or cellular matter reportedly found in approximately 100 blood pack units in some areas of the...

Investigational factor VIII therapy gets brand name: Advate.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) announced that Advate is the proposed proprietary name for its investigational factor VIII therapy - Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Plasma/Albumin-Free Method...

Mystery of white clumps in donated blood partially explained.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The mysterious white globules found in bags of donated blood in the South were identified by the American Red Cross as clumps of normal blood components. But why the clumps are forming in such large...

Pancreatic islets isolated in one facility can be transplanted at another.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, senior medical writer - Pancreatic islets can be isolated at regional centers and then transplanted successfully at remote medical facilities, according to a report in the...

Pharmaceutical company releases fourth quarter and year-end 2002 results.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:BCRX) announced financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2002. The company reported revenues of $363,000 in the fourth quarter of 2002,...

Sonic hedgehog-Ig fusion protein increases adipose and total body weight.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States and Canada, "Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a member of a family of proteins that are involved in embryonic development. The receptor signaling pathways for Shh...

Interferon beta-1a formulation approved by FDA for early stage disease.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biogen, Inc. (NASDAQ:BGEN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Avonex (Interferon beta-1a) to include treatment of patients with a first multiple sclerosis (MS)...

First FDA clearance received for laser apicoectomy and flap surgery.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biolase Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:BLTI), a medical technology company focused on pain-free medical and dental procedures, announced that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug...

Global Phase III clinical trials launched for non-peptidic protease inhibitor.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of the Phase III RESIST clinical trial program designed to further study the efficacy and safety of tipranavir for use in combination therapy for HIV-1...

Testing for DDABs reduces incidence observed with roxifiban.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research in the United States, "Thrombocytopenia is a relatively common side effect observed during glycoprotein (GP) Ilb/Illa antagonist therapy. With the oral antagonist roxifiban,...

Early use of atazanavir may increase susceptibility to other PIs.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) presented resistance data at the Conference on Retroviruses in Boston from several Phase II and Phase III studies of atazanavir, an investigational protease inhibitor (PI)...

Letter of intent for research collaboration announced.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CMI Holdings Group (OTC Pink Sheets: CMIH) and DNAPrint announced Letter of Intent for Joint Colon Cancer Research using a new approach called "Mapping by Admixture Linkage Disequilibrium" (MALD) for...

Imaging technology firm announces first quarter results.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTMI), a provider of positron emission tomography (PET) equipment, molecular probes, and services, announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended...

Two biotech companies propose merger.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Boards of Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc (CAT) and Oxford Glycosciences plc (OGS) announced that the documents relating to the recommended merger of CAT and OGS were posted to shareholders...

FDA approves digoxin, generic of Lanoxin.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd. (Bulletin Board: CARA) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manufacture and market digoxin, a generic form of Glaxo...

FDA fast track status granted for Revimid in relapsed or refractory disease.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) announced that Revimid (CC-5013) received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple...

Patent expands broad intellectual property estate for JNKinase pipeline.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) announced that its extensive intellectual property estate for JNK (c-Jun N-terminal Kinase) has been further strengthened with U.S. Patent No. 6,514,745 issued February...

Canadian patent issued for high content screening of receptor internalization.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cellomics, Inc., specializing in high content screening, announced that the Canadian Intellectual Property Office issued Cellomics' Canadian Patent No. 2,328,194 titled "A System for Cell-Based...

Orthopedic implant firm reports 2002 sales from continuing operations rise 7%.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Centerpulse (NYSE: CEP; Swiss Stock Market symbol: CEPN) reported total sales for continuing operations in 2002 of CHF 1,240.7 million, an increase of 7.0% over 2001. When adjusted for negative...

Company establishes grant for minimally invasive surgery research.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Centerpulse Orthopedics Inc., a subsidiary of Centerpulse (NYSE:CEP), announced that it has created a new grant in conjunction with the Orthopedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) that will fund...

Abbreviated new drug application filed for Provigil generic (modafinil).
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cephalon, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEPH) reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for a generic form of modafinil, the active ingredient...

Antigen 85A expression enhances immunogenicity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "The immunogenicity of a plasmid DNA vaccine incorporating Sindbis virus RNA replicase functions (pSINCP) and expressing antigen 85A (Ag85A) from...

Joint research initiative announced.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Technion - Israel Institute of Technology are establishing a joint research and education program in molecular medicine and biomedical engineering. The...

Drug development company appoints vice-president of global regulatory affairs.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Covalent Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:CVGR) announced the appointment of Patricia A. Cleveland, PhD, to the position of vice-president, Global Regulatory Affairs. Cleveland will oversee the regulatory...

Company refutes allegations regarding cord blood stem cell storage.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (NASDAQ:CCEL) stated in early February 2003 that all umbilical cord blood stem cells stored at its Clearwater, Florida, facility are secure and are stored in an...

BioGlue effective in pituitary tumor surgery, heart VAD implantation.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE:CRY), a human tissue processing and medical device company, announced that a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience reported that using BioGlue Surgical Adhesive in...

Exclusive distribution agreement signed for resorbable bone graft substitute.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE:CRY), a human tissue processing and medical device company, announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with curasan AG, located in Kleinostheim, Germany, for U.S....

Expression of ssDNA in mammalian cells.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- "Antisense therapy involves the use of antisense oligonucleotides for altering targeted gene function. However the low efficiency of cell delivery of antisense oligonucleotides has limited the efficacy...

Wrong protein implicated in autoimmunity.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The evidence seemed convincing that a protein called interleukin-12 is a major contributor to autoimmune disorders. But a new report argues that interleukin-12 has been wrongly accused, at least in the...

Acute rejections common in patients with inherited thrombophilia.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to recent research from Germany, "Inherited prothrombotic risk factors predispose patients to thromboembolic events. In kidney transplant recipients, thrombophilia may manifest itself with...

Metagen Pharmaceuticals announces distribution agreement for Sparkling White.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Metagen Pharmaceuticals, a privately held company in Pompano Beach, Florida, announced an integrated sales and marketing agreement with Dexcel Pharma, Inc. Through its OTC division, Stellar...

Agreement signed to deliver next generation chemistry synthesis platform.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Discovery Partners International, Inc. (NASDAQ:DPII) has entered into an agreement with Glaxo SmithKline for the delivery of a next generation IRORI Combinatorial Chemistry Synthesis Platform. Over...

Cardiovascular disease specialty firm announces CFO transition.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW), which specializes in products and technologies to treat advanced cardiovascular disease, announced that outside director Corinne H. Lyle will succeed Bruce J....

Liver X receptor agonist demonstrates antidiabetic action.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "The oxysterol receptors LXR (liver X receptor)-alpha and LXR-beta are nuclear receptors that play a key role in regulation of cholesterol and fatty acid...

Angiogenesis research firm appoints new board chair.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- EntreMed, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENMD), a biopharmaceutical company focusing on angiogenesis research and product development, announced that Michael Tarnow has been named chairman of the company's Board of...

Protein Design Labs plans acquisition.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Protein Design Labs (PDL), Inc., (PDLI) and privately held Eos Biotechnology, Inc., (Eos) announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which PDL would acquire 100% of the...

Data reported from Phase II trial on amitriptyline plus ketamine.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- EpiCept Corporation, a specialty pharma company using topical drug delivery technologies to develop novel products for the treatment of pain, announced positive results from a Phase II...

RWJ-54428 effective against several forms of drug resistance.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in California have provided new information about a novel antibiotic active against several drug-resistant pathogens. RWJ-54428 "is a new...

Proprietary diamond technology applied to hip prostheses.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Exactech, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXAC) announced that the company has signed an agreement with Diamicron Corporation of Orem, Utah, to develop and market diamond technology for total hip implants. The...

Current techniques allow many women to choose conservative surgical therapy.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to a study from the United States, "Surgical treatment of breast cancer has changed significantly in recent years. Fine-needle aspirations or core-needle biopsies can be used in the diagnostic...

Micrologix completes full enrollment in pivotal phase III trial of MBI 226.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Micrologix Biotech, Inc., (MGIXF), in collaboration with Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc., has completed patient enrollment in the phase III clinical trial of MBI 226, a novel, topical, antimicrobial peptide...

License agreement expands patent estate for reverse genomics platform.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- GPC Biotech AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: GPC; Prime Standard Segment) announced it has licensed intellectual property to further expand the patent estate for its reverse genomics technology platform....

New family of digital imaging solutions announced.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Galen Orthopedic Technologies announced that it has entered into agreements with Sectra-Imtec and Konica Medical Imaging to create and distribute a family of digital imaging solutions specifically...

Company increases focus on cancer, eliminates broad-based gene therapy research.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cell Genesys, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEGE) announced its decision to decrease further resource investment in broad-based gene therapy programs in order to increase the focus on the company's clinical programs...

New HuMax-CD20 and HuMax-EGFr preclinical data presented.
March 5, 2003... 2003 MAR 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genmab A/S announced that its HuMax-CD20 human antibody appears to kill tumor cells that are resistant to rituximab, a marketed antibody directed to the same disease target. In preclinical testing,...