NEWS: APRIL 2004

-4/26/2004-

Sanofi-Synthelabo improves offer for Aventis. Aventis accepts offer. Sanofi-Aventis merger is a go. To read article click here.

Novartis stops negotiations to merge with Aventis. To read article click here.

MedImmune Inc. and Wyeth terminate partnership on influenza vaccine FluMist. To read article click here.

Anti-cancer drug candidate Tarceva gives positive results in clinical trials for lung cancer treatmet. To read article click here.

Evotec OAI AG and Oxford Bioscience Partners expand collaboration. To read article click here.

CV Therapeutics Inc. begins second Phase III clinical trials of A2A-adenosine receptor agonist Regadenoson (CVT-3146). To read article click here.

-4/23/2004-

FDA approves Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd.'s generic form of depression drug Remeron. To read article click here.

Bio-Rad Laboratories introduces VARIANT II™ TURBO Hemoglobin Testing System and Hemoglobin A1c test kit for monitoring diabetes. To read article click here.

-4/22/2004-

Novartis AG to enter merger talks with Aventis. To read article click here.

Paradigm Genetics Inc. receives U.S. patent 6,723,529, entitled "Methods for the Identification of Inhibitors of Alpha-Aminoadipate Reductase as Antibiotics." To read article click here.

Curis Inc. receives U.S. patent 6,723,698, entitled "Methods and compositions for the treatment of motor neuron injury and neuropathy." To read article click here.

VIVUS Inc. initiates Phase II clinical trials of of avanafil (TA-1790) for erectile dysfunction treatment. To read article click here.

-4/21/2004-

FDA approves Bertek Pharmaceuticals's Apokyn to treat immobility in patients with Parkinson's disease. To read article click here.

Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc. initiates Phase II clinical trials of INS37217 Ophthalmic (denufosol tetrasodium) for the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. To read article click here.

MedImmune Inc. and Cerus Corp. form alliance to co-develop anti-cancer vaccine. To read article click here.

CuraGen Corporation initiates Phase I clinical trials of CG53135 for oral mucositis in cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation. To read article click here.

Roche licences Elan Pharma International Ltd.'s NanoCrystal™ technology. To read article click here.

-4/20/2004-

Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc. initiates Phase II clinical trials of R112 for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. To read article click here.

Boston Biomedica Inc. appoints Mr. Richard T. Schumacher as CEO. To read article click here.

Anika Therapeutics Inc. initiates Phase I clinical trials of INCERT®-S for the prevention of internal adhesions or scarring post spinal surgery. To read article click here.

Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc to sell its vaccines business to ID Biomedical Corporation. To read article click here.

Nanobac Pharmaceuticals Inc. changes its name to Nanobac Life Sciences Inc. To read article click here.

Cell Therapeutics Inc. initiates Phase I/II clinical trials of polyglutamate-20S-camptothecin conjugate (CT-2106) for colorectal cancer treatment. To read article click here.

Myriad Genetics Inc. to initate Phase II clinical trials of Neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonist MPC-4505 for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. To read article click here.

-4/19/2004-

Discovery Partners International Inc. (DPII) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. form drug discovery chemistry collaboration. To read article click here.

Bentley Pharmaceuticals Inc. wins lawsuit against Merck & Co. Inc. over generic version of Zocor®. To read article click here.

Southern Research Institute and Gilead Sciences Inc. form drug discovery research collaboration. To read article click here.

ZymoGenetics begins Phase II clinical trials of recombinant human Thrombin (rhThrombin). To read article click here.

-4/16/2004-

Press Release: ASINEX and SIENABIOTECH announce Lead Generation Collaboration. To read press release click here. ASINEX offers a large collection of highly pure and diverse small organic compounds for CombiChem and HTS as well as its services for chemistry and drug discovery. For a review of ASINEX's compound collections and services here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Prana Biotechnology Ltd.'s drug candidate Clioquinol (PBT-1) found to be safe and efficacious in Phase II clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease treatment. To read article click here.

Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation names Dr. Edward M. Rudnic CEO. To read article click here.

A.P. Pharma Inc. initiates Phase I clinical trials of APF530 for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. To read article click here.

-4/15/2004-

Tripos Inc. announces the North American and European recipients of its Hits-to-Leads Awards Program. To read article click here. Tripos Inc. provides a suite of software tools for combinatorial chemistry and drug discovery. For a review of Tripos' software tools here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Xcyte Therapies Inc. initiates Phase II clinical trials of Xcellerated T Cells for the treatment of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. To read article click here.

VaxGen Inc. initiates Phase II trial of recombinant anthrax vaccine rPA102. To read article click here.

Organon USA Inc. to close its West Orange injectable drug manufacturing facility around June 15, 2004. To read article click here.

-4/14/2004-

Sigma-Aldrich Corporation acquires Ultrafine. To read article click here. Sigma-Aldrich offers a broad range of supplies for combinatorial chemistry. For a review of Sigma-Aldrich's chemicals here at CombiChem Lab click here.

MacroChem Corp.'s clinical trials of experimental topical cream Topiglan® to treat erectile dysfunction gives disappointing results. To read article click here.

Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Archemix Corp. form R&D collaboration of aptamers for ophthalmic indications. To read article click here.

Neurochem Inc. to initiate Phase III clinical trials of Alzhemed™ for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. To read article click here.

Myriad Genetics Inc. licenses Mut Y Homolog (MYH) gene for the detection of colon cancer. To read article click here.

-4/13/2004-

Genome Therapeutics Corp. changes its name to Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corporation. To read article click here.

IVAX Corp. plans to acquire rival company Polfa Kutno. To read article click here.

Sanofi-Synthelabo SA to sell its blood-thinning drugs Arixtra® and Fraxiparine® to GlaxoSmithKline PLC for $547 million. To read article click here.

Trinity Biotech plc acquires Adaltis US Inc. for $3.5 million in cash. To read article click here.

Pharmaceutical Resources acquires Kali Laboratories for $135 million. To read article click here.

-4/12/2004-

DuPont to cut 3,500 jobs by the end of 2004. To read article click here.

Sanofi-Synthelabo initiates its U.S. offer for Aventis. To read article click here.

-4/09/2004-

No news. Easter holidays.

-4/08/2004-

Schering-Plough Corp. launches generic version of its hepatitis C drug Ribavirin. To read article click here.

Entropin Inc. to initiate Phase I clinical trials of ENT-103. To read article click here.

FDA accepts NDA filing for Connetics Corporation's Extina™. To read article click here.

-4/07/2004-

Pharmacopeia Inc. to spin-off Pharmacopeia Drug Discovery Inc. (PDD) by the end of April 2004. To read article click here. Pharmacopeia Inc. provides services for drug discovery R&D. For a review of Pharmacopeia's services here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Cadus Corporation's CEO resigns. To read article click here.

Senesco Technologies Inc. publishes studies indicating that its proprietary gene Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 5A1 induces apoptosis in lung cancer tumors of mice. To read article click here.

eXegenics Inc. names David E. Riggs President and CEO. To read article click here.

Prana Biotechnology Ltd. publishes in the Journal of Neuroscience findings indicating that zinc plays a central role in the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's Disease. To read article click here.

-4/06/2004-

Chemical Diversity Labs, Brigham and Women's Hospital form research collaboration. To read article click here. Chemical Diversity Labs Inc. (ChemDiv) offers diverse compound libraries and services for drug discovery research. For a review of ChemDiv's compound libraries and services here at CombiChem Lab click here and here, respectively.

Genentech Inc. wins patent dispute on its cancer drug Herceptin against Chiron Corp. To read article click here.

Prolexys Pharmaceuticals and Arizona Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University form research collaboration. To read article click here.

Eon Labs Inc. wins patent dispute on its generic cyclosporine product against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. To read article click here.

Targeted Genetics Corporation terminates formally join venture with Elan Corporation. To read article click here.

-4/05/2004-

Chemical Diversity Labs and DuPont Crop Protection sign partnership for a Small Molecule Library Project. To read article click here. Chemical Diversity Labs Inc. (ChemDiv) offers diverse compound libraries and services for drug discovery research. For a review of ChemDiv's compound libraries and services here at CombiChem Lab click here and here, respectively.

Memory Pharmaceuticals Corp. goes IPO. To read article click here.

Sanofi-Synthelabo files bid offer for Aventis with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. To read article click here.

Affymetrix Inc. launches expanded genomic technologies licensing program. To read article click here.

Array BioPharma Inc. and Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd. form small molecule drug discovery collaboration against a Takeda target. To read article click here.

ZymoGenetics will initiate Phase I clinical trials of Interleukin 21 (IL-21) for cancer treatment. To read article click here.

FDA grants Fast Track status to Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s RAF kinase and VEGF inhibitor compound BAY 43-9006 for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer. To read article click here.