Life Sciences News Brief
Vol. 5 No. 6 – March 23, 2005
　

AnorMED initiates enrollment into phase I/II study for HIV entry inhibitor

AnorMED Inc. (Vancouver) announced initiation of enrollment into a Phase Ib/IIa trial to evaluate the potential of AMD070, an oral CXCR4 HIV entry inhibitor, in HIV-infected patients. The Company's clinical program for AMD070 is being conducted by leading investigators at the U.S. Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), which is supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health. "This clinical study in HIV patients will determine if AMD070 has the potential to become a new and important anti-HIV drug. AMD070, a member of a new class of HIV drugs called entry inhibitors, prevents the virus from infecting healthy cells by blocking the CXCR4 receptor. Clinical data to date shows that up to 40% of HIV patients may be infected with a type of HIV that uses the CXCR4 receptor to enter and infect healthy cells. We are very pleased to have initiated patient enrollment and to have the support of the ACTG and the leading clinical investigators involved in this important clinical study," said Dr. Gary Calandra, Vice President Clinical Development, AnorMED Inc.

AEterna to Continue Development in Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in Japan

AEterna Zentaris Inc. (Quebec City) announced the decision of its Japanese partners Shionogi & Co., Ltd., and Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., to push ahead with the development of cetrorelix, a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) antagonist, in the benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) indication. The decision comes on the heels of the earlier announcement by Solvay Pharmaceuticals, the Company's worldwide (ex-Japan) exclusive development and marketing partner for cetrorelix, to conduct its upcoming Phase III development in endometriosis as a primary indication. Cetrorelix, AEterna Zentaris' lead drug in the class of LHRH antagonists, has successfully completed a broad seven Phase II trial program in endometriosis, BPH and uterine myoma in 2004.

Chemokine reports 67% decrease in metastatic nodules with compound

ID Biomedical to pursue accelerated approval process for influenza vaccine

ID Biomedical Corporation (Vancouver) announced that it has been advised by the United States Food and Drug Administration's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) that the Company's injectable influenza vaccine is eligible for accelerated approval and priority review mechanisms, allowing possible licensure of the vaccine in time to manufacture product for the 2006/07 season. Accelerated approval and priority review are specific regulatory programs developed by FDA to expedite the availability of products addressing important needs. ID Biomedical and CBER have outlined a clinical trial program that will allow the Company to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) later this year.

Vasogen Granted European Patent in Chronic Heart Failure

Vasogen Inc. (Toronto), a leader in the research and commercial development of technologies targeting chronic inflammation underlying cardiovascular and neurological disease, announced that it has been granted a European patent covering the use of its Celacade(TM) technology for the treatment of chronic heart failure, and has completed the registration procedure to bring it fully into force in all the major countries of Europe including the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Sweden. Chronic heart failure is estimated to affect more than five million people in Europe.

Innexus Announces Achieving Business Milestone

InNexus Biotechnology Inc., (Vancouver) an innovative antibody-driven drug development company, announces the achievement of a business milestone in the development of intracellular SuperAntibody(TM) therapeutics. With the receipt of the first of three high affinity anti-apoptosis monoclonal antibodies from its co-development partner, Epitomics, Inc., InNexus has established an important foundation on which to advance SuperAntibody(TM) platform based drugs from early-stage testing to eventual commercialization. Commenting on the announcement, Dr. A. Charles Morgan, President of InNexus, said: "The antibody transfer marks an early and critical milestone in the development of intracellular SuperAntibody(TM) therapeutics. Utilizing our TransMAb(TM) technology platform, the newly enhanced TransMab antibodies will be able to enter inside cells to either turn on or turn off the apoptotic process, leading to the creation of new, useful and never before seen medications in areas as stroke and cancer."

OncoGenex and Isis Expand Antisense Drug Development Partnershp

OncoGenex Technologies Inc., (Vancouver) and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS) announced they have broadened their antisense drug development partnership to allow for the development of two additional second-generation antisense anti-cancer drug candidates. OncoGenex and Isis initiated a partnership in December 2001 to co-develop OGX-011, a drug currently in Phase 1/2 development for the treatment of prostate, breast and lung cancers. In 2003, OncoGenex and Isis added a second drug to their collaboration, OGX-225, which is in the research phase of development. OncoGenex has not yet selected the molecular targets for drug development under this new agreement. Specific financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Chondrogene receives funding support from NRC-IRAP

ChondroGene Limited (Toronto) reported that it has received a contribution from National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) in support of the development of a blood-based molecular diagnostic assay that will be able to detect early, asymptomatic osteoarthritis as well as stage the severity of the disease. ChondroGene will use its proprietary approach, the Sentinel Principle, to identify blood-based biomarkers that are associated with osteoarthritis. Once validated, these biomarkers will form the basis of a diagnostic test.

AEterna Announces Cetrorelix Development

ART and GE Healthcare Expand the eXplore Optix(TM) Imaging Product

ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc.(Montreal), a leading developer of optical imaging technologies, and GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), announced the global launch of the multiwavelength system module and the expansion of ART's eXplore Optix(TM) time-domain small animal molecular imaging system product line. "This launch reflects ART's focus on customer needs with an eXplore Optix product line offering greater flexibility with hardware system and software modules that address important new market segments, as growth in the emerging market of molecular imaging accelerates", declared Ms. Micheline Bouchard, President & CEO of ART. "We are very pleased to have worked effectively in close collaboration with GE Healthcare to ensure the successful launch of our new multiwavelength system", added Ms Bouchard.

Nexia Announces Completion of Sale of All Assets of Protexia(R)

• BioAxone (Montreal) announced that it has appointed Dr. Frank Bobe President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as a member of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dr. Bobe joins BioAxone from Novartis Pharma where he served as President and CEO of their South Korea affiliate before coming to Canada in December 2003. He succeeds the interim CEO, Dr. Denis Gauvreau, who remains Chairman of the Board of Directors…..
• Chromos Molecular Systems Inc (Burnaby) announced it has entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire Anosys Inc. Chromos will issue shares, warrants and /or convertible notes to acquire all outstanding shares of Anosys. Chromos expects to finalize a definitive agreement for the transaction before March 25th. Completion of the acquisition is subject to satisfactory due diligence, execution of definitive agreements, and approval by Anosys shareholders and regulatory authorities……
• YM BioSciences Inc. (Mississauga) announced that the FDA has approved the use of TheraCIM h-R3 as a monotherapy in the treatment of a child with advanced glioma under an IND……
• Biophage Pharma (Montreal) announced that it is seeing increased interest from large industrial clients for beryllium sensitization testing of their employees. This test identifies people with elevated risk of developing chronic beryllium disease, and is useful in medical surveillance. Risk assessment in a given workplace is the first step toward controlling beryllium exposure and introducing specific intervention safety attitudes…….
• TOPIGEN Pharmaceuticals Inc., (Montreal) a developer of anti-inflammatory respiratory products that inhibit multiple pathways, announced that its board of directors has appointed two experienced executives, effective immediately. Joining the board are Gary Lessing and Michael Atkin, both as directors……
• ALDA Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Vancouver) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. William F. McCoy to its Board of Directors……
• Inex Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Vancouver) announced that it has reached an agreement with Enzon Pharmaceuticals Inc. to terminate the development and commercialization agreement for Marqibo (vincristine sulfate liposomes injection) effective immediately……
• HBM BioVentures (Cayman) Ltd. (Montreal) announces that it has purchased an additional 3,964,615 common shares of Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation, or approximately 12% of such shares outstanding based on the 32,948,378 common shares outstanding on March 3, 2005 in connection with the initial public offering of Aspreva which closed on March 9, 2005……
• Cardiome Pharma Corp. (Vancouver) announced that it entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters in connection with its previously announced public offering of 8,500,000 common shares. The common shares will be sold at US$6.00 per share and all common shares will be offered by the company. The total gross proceeds to the company will be US$51 million.

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