Beckman Coulter Picks Up Testing System Out of Bankruptcy
Allergan, Aurora Work on Biotech Test; Sicor Looking at Hormone Compounds
HEALTHCARE
by Vita Reed
Beckman Coulter Inc., the Fullerton-based biomedical testing company, has paid $3 million for a testing system used to monitor patients undergoing anticoagulation therapy.
Beckman acquired the prothrombin time testing system from Avocet Medical Inc. of San Jose, which filed for bankruptcy. The deal gives Beckman rights to Avocet’s AvoSure system, a hand-held device.
Beckman said it plans to market AvoSure, which has Food and Drug Administration approval, to clinics, doctors and home health service providers. Beckman plans to transfer production of the meter and disposable test strips to its own facilities and is set to begin marketing the system later this year.
AvoSure’s fluorescent technology could be adapted to a variety of tests, according to Albert Ziegler, president of Beckman’s clinical diagnostics division.
“It also complements the laboratory-based coagulation systems we currently distribute for instrumentation laboratories,” Ziegler said.
Allergan Working on Biotech Test
Allergan Inc., Irvine, said it is working with San Diego-based Aurora Biosciences Corp. to develop a set of biotechnology tests.
The two companies plan to develop cell-based assays for several so-called G protein-coupled receptor targets with the hopes of screening out lead drug candidates. The receptor targets may play key roles in cellular activity and hold potential as treatments for diseases.
Under the deal, Aurora is developing and screening cell-based assays to pursue protein targets identified and provided by Allergan. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the companies said the deal included an up-front payment to Aurora and payments upon achievement of certain research performance milestones.
This deal is not the only tie between Allergan and Aurora. The companies also have expanded an existing collaboration for ion channels, which was originally signed a year ago.
Sicor Studying Hormones
Sicor Inc., Irvine, struck a licensing and development pact with Epic Therapeutics Inc., a drug delivery company in Norwood, Mass. Contract terms weren’t disclosed.
Under the deal, the companies’ initial project involves developing a “depot formulation” of leuprolide acetate, a hormone used to treat prostate cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
Figures from Fairfield, Conn.-based IMS Health Inc., a market researcher, show that the U.S. market for lutenizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists,the category which leuprolide acetate belongs,was expected to exceed $1 billion in 2001.
Sicor said it and Epic intended to develop additional compounds during the contract term, using Epic’s ProMaxx drug delivery system. Epic said its technology could be used with proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and small molecules.
Ista Kicks Off Application Process
Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc., an Irvine-based eye drug developer, has submitted the initial section of its new drug application for its Vitrase medication to the Food and Drug Administration. Vitrase is intended to treat patients with severe vitreous hemorrhage, or eye bleeding.
Ista has “fast-track” designation for Vitrase, which allows the company to submit complete new drug application sections prior to submitting the full application. Ista’s initial submission included Vitrase’s non-clinical pharmacology and toxicology section.
Phase three clinical trial results for Vitrase, including preliminary efficacy results, are expected to be released Jan. 30. Officials said that assuming favorable results, Ista expects to complete the filing of other required sections of the new drug application in 2002.
Bits and Pieces:
Six California health plans, including PacifiCare of California, Cypress, said they were going to launch a program they bill as “an unprecedented healthcare quality initiative” Jan. 15 in San Francisco. The effort also involved the Integrated Healthcare Association, a trade group, the Pacific Business Group on Health and Hill Physicians Medical Group, a Northern California independent practice association Micro Therapeutics Inc., Irvine, named James Corbett chairman of its board, succeeding George Wallace, who remains a company director. Corbett is president of ev3 International, which distributes Micro Therapeutics’ interventional neurology devices in Europe and other parts of the world The California Healthcare Association, which represents hospitals, criticized a proposal it says would cut $255 million specifically allocated to settle three lawsuits concerning MediCal reimbursement from the upcoming state budget. The lawsuit settlement came about in December 2000, after a decade of litigation between the hospital trade group and the California Department of Health Services.
