NEWS: JANUARY 2004

-1/30/2004-

SuperGen Inc.'s CSO Craig Rosenfeld resigns. To read article click here.

FDA requests from Inspire Pharmaceuticals Inc. more data on Diquafosol for dry eye treatment to consider its approval. To read article click here.

-1/29/2004-

Press Release: Available from LC Services Ltd. is new literature describing a range of services to extend the useful working life of older chromatographs and mass spectrometers from manufacturers including Waters, HP (Agilent), Gilson and Spectra Physics (TSP). To read press release click here.

Tripos Inc. announces that Pfizer Inc. will reduce by 10% their $100-million collaboration. 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.

Researchers from Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. publish the first crystal structure of the receptor tyrosine kinase Flt-3 in the journal Molecular Cell. To read article click here.

Eyetech Pharmaceuticals Inc. goes IPO. To read article click here.

-1/28/2004-

The Strategic Research Institute (SRI) will host the 2nd "Protein Phosphorylation Drug Discovery World Summit" conference on April 21-23, 2004, in San Diego, CA. To read article click here. SRI promotes and hosts a broad range of scientific oriented conferences. For more information on SRI here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Aventis SA rejects unsolicited $60 billion takeover bid from Sanofi-Synthelabo SA. To read article click here.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s Phase IIb clinical trials of eculizumab for rheumatoid arthritis gives mixed results. To read article click here.

FDA approves Provigil®, the first and only drug to treat excessive sleepiness associated with two serious sleep disorders. To read article click here.

Allos Therapeutics Inc. initiates Phase I clinical trials of RSR13 (efaproxiral) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To read article click here.

Gilead Sciences Inc. terminates HIV research collaboration with Emory University and the University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc. To read article click here.

Pharmacyclics Inc. initiates Phase I clinical trials of Xcytrin® (motexafin gadolinium) in combination with Temodar® (temozolamide) for refractory brain tumor treatment. To read article click here.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc. selects syk kinase inhibitor R406 as lead therapeutic compound for rheumatoid arthritis. To read article click here.

-1/27/2004-

Sanofi-Synthelabo to sell or shut down its Notre-Dame de Bondeville plant in Normandy. To read article click here.

Curis Inc. receives U.S. patent 6,683,192, entitled "Small Organic Molecule Regulators of Cell Proliferation." To read article click here.

Sirna Therapeutics Inc. and Eli Lilly & Company form RNA-interference (RNAi) research collaboration. To read article click here.

-1/26/2004-

Press Release: Leading supplier of solvent removal systems for drug discovery, Genevac Ltd, has reached an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline pIc under which Genevac will become a Preferred Supplier of such technology to all GSK sites in Europe. To read press release click here. Genevac Ltd. provides high-throughput centrifugal evaporation systems for combinatorial chemistry, high-throughput screening (HTS) and drug discovery. To read a review of Genevac's systems here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Press Release: Genetix, a leading supplier of microarraying instrumentation and supplies, has launched aQu pins - a new range of tungsten microarray pins. To read press release click here.

Press Release: Viscotek, the leader in multiple detector characterisation of polymers and proteins, have recently expanded their specialist technical support team with staff appointments in their German, French and UK offices. To read press release click here.

ArQule Inc. reaches milestone in research collaboration with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Wyeth files Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the FDA. To read article click here.

-1/23/2004-

Sanofi-Synthelabo SA is considering hostile bid for Aventis SA. To read article click here.

U.S. Federal Trade Commission requests additional information for the proposed Cephalon Inc.-Cima Labs Inc. merger. To read article click here.

-1/22/2004-

Press Release: In January 2004, INTEGRA Biosciences expects to ship its 100,000th PIPETBOY acu precision pipette. To mark this notable landmark INTEGRA Biosciences is introducing a new purple PIPETBOY acu. To read press release click here.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. acquires Sicor Inc. for $3.4 billion. To read article click here.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center sells stake in Amgen Inc. for $263 million. To read article click here.

European committee gives thumbs up to Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc's drug Velcade for multiple myeloma treatment. To read article click here.

Seattle Genetics Inc. initiates Phase II clinical trials of SGN-30 for Hodgkin's disease. To read article click here.

Tepnel Life Sciences PLC acquires certain assets of Orchid BioSciences Inc. diagnostics unit. To read article click here.

Maxim Pharmaceuticals's MX128533 small molecule compound series found to inhibit the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). To read article click here.

-1/21/2004-

Press Release: Porvair Sciences, specialists in microplate technology, have introduced a new range of low volume 384-well assay plates. To read press release click here.

OSI Pharmaceuticals Inc. begins NDA filing process for its HER1/EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug candidate Tarceva™ (erlotinib HCl). To read press release click here.

Cyprotex PLC and Altana Pharma AG form drug discovery collaboration. To read press release click here.

-1/20/2004-

Progen Industries Ltd. initiates Phase II clinical trials of PI-88 for melanoma treatment. To read article click here.

Targeted Genetics Corp. initiates Phase I clinical trials of TgAAC94 for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. To read article click here.

Axonyx Inc. acquires 53% of OXIS International Inc. To read article click here.

Abgenix Inc. and Amgen Inc. move monoclonal antibody ABX-EGF to clinical trials. To read article click here.

Medarex Inc. and Xerion Pharmaceuticals AG form antibody research collaboration. To read article click here.

Myriad Genetics Inc.'s compound MPC-6827 found to have a good profile against cancer. To read article click here.

-1/19/2004-

Press Release: ASINEX Announces 1 year extension to Lead Optimization program with Avalon Pharmaceuticals. 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.

Press Release: Produced under class 10,000 clean room conditions from ultra-pure grade polypropylene, Porvair Sciences sterile deep-well plates contain no contaminants that may leach out and affect bacterial or cell growth. To read press release click here.

Press Release: Guava Technologies, Inc. has unveiled a new corporate identity that connects its logo with the company's core business - cells and science. To read press release click here.

-1/16/2004-

Press Release: The GreenHouse Parallel Synthesiser from Radleys Discovery Technologies (RDT) brings the benefits of multiple parallel synthesis to the individual chemist and speeds up the research process - at a fraction of the cost of automated systems. To read press release click here. Radleys has a line of workstations and also offers the Lollipop Phase Separator for the removal of aqueous layers for parallel synthesis, combinatorial chemistry and drug discovery. To read a review of Radleys' systems and the Lollipop Phase Separator here at CombiChem Lab click here and here, respectively.

Press Release: Scitegic's Pipeline Pilot chosen for cheminformatics applications at Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research. To read press release click here.

CytRx Corp. moves away from investing in genomics companies to go after therapeutics with larger market indications. To read article click here.

Sanofi-Synthelabo denies rumors on merger talks. To read article click here.

Neurogen Corporation and Merck & Co. Inc. complete successfully research collaboration for next-generation of drugs for pain treatment. To read article click here.

-1/15/2004-

Press Release: Radleys have announced new literature describing their expertise in the design and manufacture of glass reaction vessels, from 100ml to 50 litres - including a full range of reaction system accessories such as frame-works, overhead stirrers, lids, Huber thermoregulators and probes. To read press release click here. Radleys has a line of workstations and also offers the Lollipop Phase Separator for the removal of aqueous layers for parallel synthesis, combinatorial chemistry and drug discovery. To read a review of Radleys' systems and the Lollipop Phase Separator here at CombiChem Lab click here and here, respectively.

Chiron Corporation initiates Phase I clinical trials of its HIV vaccine candidate. To read article click here.

Pain Therapeutics Inc. initiates Phase I clinical trials of Remoxy for pain treatment. To read article click here.

-1/14/2004-

Accelrys Inc. to host AccelrysWorld 2004. To read article click here. Accelrys Inc. provides software packages for molecular modeling, drug discovery, life science, material science, combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening. For a review of Accelrys Inc.'s software here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s former chief patent counsel Andrew Marks sentenced to jail for insider trading. To read article click here.

InKine Pharmaceutical Company Inc. to being Phase II clinical trials of colon cleansing tablets. To read article click here.

Isis Pharmaceuticals identifies SARS antisense drug candidates from research collaboration with ITRI of Taiwan. To read article click here.

Chiron Corporation and CSL Limited form research collaboration to develop hepatitis C vaccine. To read article click here.

Corixa Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline ready to initiate Phase I clinical trials of new tuberculosis vaccine. To read article click here.

Genzyme Corp. to open new research facility in Cambridge, England. To read article click here.

-1/13/2004-

Press Release: NADAG and SiREEN announce merger to form SIRENADE Pharmaceuticals AG and launch  20 million financing round. To read press release click here.

Tripos Inc. and Chronogen Inc. sign 3-year small-molecule research collaboration for cardiovascular disorders. 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.

Adolor Corp.'s drug Entereg™ to speed post-operative bowel recovery fails Phase III clinical trials. To read article click here.

Neurogen Corp.'s experimental drug NGD 2000-1 for asthma fails Phase II clinical trials. To read article click here.

Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. launches Azasan® (azathioprine tablets) for the treatment of mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis. To read article click here.

Federal Trade Commission gives thumbs up to proposed acquisition of Applied Molecular Evolution Inc. by Eli Lilly & Co. To read article click here.

Curis Inc. and Wyeth form CNS research collaboration. To read article click here.

Lexicon Genetics Inc.'s Genome5000™ program gives birth to more than 40 drug discovery programs. To read article click here.

Cephalon Inc. initiates Phase III clinical trials of PROVIGIL® (R-modafinil). To read article click here.

-1/12/2004-

Press Release: The QPix2XT from Genetix is the latest addition to the proven technology and performance of the QPix automated colony picking system range. To read press release click here.

Collaboration between Pharmacopeia Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation affords candidate going to clinical trials for a respiratory indication. 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.

Transkaryotic Therapies Inc. drops efforts to get FDA approval for its drug Replagal for Fabry disease. To read article click here.

Genentech Inc.'s Her-2 inhibitor drug Herceptin® (Trastuzumab) fails Phase II clinical trials for lung cancer treatment. To read article click here.

Curis Inc. licenses its Hedgehog proteins and small molecule Hedgehog pathway agonists to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. To read article click here.

Archemix Corp. and Nuvelo Inc. form collaboration for the commercialization of thrombin inhibitor ARC183. To read article click here.

Dyax Corp. and Baxter International Inc. form antibody research collaboration. To read article click here.

Seattle Genetics Inc. and Protein Design Labs expand antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) research collaboration. To read article click here.

AtheroGenics Inc. and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. form collaboration to develop compound AGI-1096 for the prevention of organ transplant rejection. To read article click here.

Gilead Sciences Inc. files investigational new drug application (IND) to the FDA for GS 9005 (GS 4338) for HIV treatment. To read article click here.

-1/09/2004-

Genome Therapeutics Corp. terminates bone disease research pact with Amgen Inc. To read article click here.

ImClone Systems Inc. receives $5 million milestone from Merck KGaA for the approval of ERBITUX™ in Switzerland. To read article click here.

-1/08/2004-

Press Release: Available from Tecan the Ultra Evolution is an advanced multi-functional microplate detection system offering the highest levels of detection performance without compromising operational flexibility. To read press release click here. Tecan provides the ChemSystem workstation and the TECAN MiniPrep systems for combinatorial chemistry and drug discovery. To read a review of TECAN's systems here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Press Release: Guava Technologies, Inc., a biomedical products company focused on developing and commercialising cell-based analysis systems for life science R&D and clinical diagnostics, today announced it doubled revenues from sales of its innovative products during 2003 for the second consecutive year. To read press release click here.

Applied Molecular Evolution Inc.'s shareholders to vote in February on the proposed $400 million acquisition by Eli Lilly & Co. To read article click here.

InterMune Inc.'s drug Actimmune fails late-stage clinical trials for pulmonary fibrosis treatment. To read article click here.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. to acquire Access Oncology Inc. To read article click here.

Myogen Inc. initiates Phase III clinical trials of Ambrisentan for pulmonary arterial hypertension. To read article click here.

Targeted Genetics Corporation extends its AIDS vaccine research collaboration with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and Columbus Children's Research Institute (CCRI) at Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. To read article click here.

Human Genome Sciences Inc. initiates Phase II clinical trials of LymphoStat-B™ for rheumatoid arthritis. To read article click here.

Gene Logic Inc. and Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. renew information service agreement. To read article click here.

Infinity Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Amgen Inc. form 3-year small molecule research collaboration for multiple targets. To read article click here.

-1/07/2004-

Press Release: ESA has announced a new CD updating and considerably expanding the scope of its popular Handbook on oxidative metabolism. To read press release click here.

Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd and Andrx Corp sign diabetes agreement. To read article click here.

Elan's drug candidate Prialt for diabetes gives positive results from Phase III clinical trials. To read article click here.

Aventis and Crucell N.V. form collaboration to develop new influenza vaccines. To read article click here.

Tularik Inc. begins Phase II clinical trials of experimental drug T131 for type 2 diabetes. To read article click here.

Myriad Genetics Inc. and Abbott Laboratories Inc. expand pharmacogenetics collaboration. To read article click here.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. withdraws application for SYMLIN® in in Switzerland. To read article click here.

-1/06/2004-

Press Release: Genevac, specialists in solvent removal, will be showing its latest products for solvent evaporation, concentration and parallel synthesis at Pittcon 2004 due to be held in Chicago, USA (7-12th March 2004). To read press release click here. Genevac Ltd. provides high-throughput centrifugal evaporation systems for combinatorial chemistry, high-throughput screening (HTS) and drug discovery. To read a review of Genevac's systems here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Press Release: Viscotek, the leader in multiple detector characterisation of polymers and proteins, has announced its presence at Pittcon 2004 with the latest additions to its range of leading GPC and viscometry products. To read press release click here.

Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. stops Phase II clinical trials of Velcade for colorectal cancer. To read article click here.

Integrated BioPharma Inc. and The Institute for Cancer Prevention Inc. form research and development collaboration for cancer. To read article click here.

Celltech Group plc begins Phase III clinical trials of CDP870 for Crohn's Disease. To read article click here.

Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc. receives U.S. Patent 6,623,961 entitled "Method for selective inactivation of viral replication." covering any cell comprising the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribozyme entry site (IRES target) linked to a reporter gene. To read article click here.

-1/05/2004-

Press Release: Tecan UK has announced the implementation of two special Robotic Workstations in the new DNA bank and Population Genetics laboratory that has been built in the shell of the old Bristol Children's Hospital (UK). To read press release click here. Tecan provides the ChemSystem workstation and the TECAN MiniPrep systems for combinatorial chemistry and drug discovery. To read a review of TECAN's systems here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Thermo Electron completes the acquisition of Jouan SA. To read article click here. ThermoQuest-Finnigan, a division of Themo Corp., offers a wide line of LC/MS systems for analysis in diverse areas and applications of drugd discovery. For a review of ThermoQuest-Finnigan's LC/MS systems here at CombiChem Lab click here. Jouan, a division of Thermo Electron, offers a line of rotors and evaporators for high-throughput applications. For more information about Jouan here at CombiChem Lab click here.

Roche Holding AG and Trimeris Inc. stop clinical trials of second-generation fusion inhibitor T-1249 for HIV treatment. To read article click here.

Array BioPharma Inc. and Genentech Inc. form oncology research alliance. To read article click here.

Repligen Corp.'s experimental drug RG1068 for autism found not effective in a late-stage clinical trials. To read article click here.

Prometheus Laboratories names Joseph M. Limber as President and CEO. To read article click here.

Federal court finds Purdue Pharma's patents for Oxycontin invalid. To read article click here.

Corixa Corporation receives $11.6 million 5-year contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to develop TLR4 targeted compounds. To read article click here.

XenoPort Inc. and Pfizer Inc. for collaboration to improve drug delivery to the brain. To read article click here.