13 Biotechnology Law Report 521 (Number 4, July-August 1994)

FINANCIAL AND SHAREHOLDER AFFAIRS

{BLR 1807} AIDS-

Dr. Ronald Desrosiers-

NIAID-

Therion Biologies.

NIAID AWARDS $11 MILLION FOR AIDS VACCINE DEVELOPMENT— Therion, Harvard Working on Attenuated Virus Products

BETHESDA, MD. 4/20/94—

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseaseshas awarded two grants totalling $11 million for the further development of AIDS vaccinesbased on live attenuated viruses.

The $5 million grant to Therion Biologies Corp. (Cambridge, Mass.) is a continuationof a previous five-year grant and will be used to further the development of a recombinantvaccine containing multiple HIV antigens. A candidate vaccine developed during the first grantperiod is now in Phase I clinical trials. The new funding will be used for four projects aimed atdefining the combination of antigens most important for an effective immune response.

Therion is the exclusive licensee of Harvard University for AIDS vaccines based onlive attenuated viral technology.

The other NIAID grant, for $6 million, was made to Dr. Ronald Desrosiers of HarvardMedical School and New England Regional Primate Center, who is trying to develop vaccinesbased on HIV having genetic deletions that render it non-pathogenic. The utility of thisapproach is suggested by his results in primates with a genetically altered simianimmunodeficiency virus.

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{BLR 1808} Apax Partners-

Biocode, Inc.-

Mabs-

Venture Capital.

BIOCODE COMPLETES EQUITY FINANCING— London Venture Capital Firm Provides $4 Million

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 5/11/94—

Biocode, Inc. has completed a $4 million privatingequity financing deal with the venture capital firm of Apax Partners (London, U.K.). Thecompany is involved in product identification techniques based on patented and proprietarymonoclonal antibody technology. These techniques can help foil counterfeiters, protectmanufacturers against liability claims, and facilitate manufacturing control. The EnvironmentalDiagnostic Solutions division provides diagnostic tests for agricultural contaminants andenvironmental pollutants.

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