Favrille Inc. said it has received a delisting notice from the Nasdaq Stock Market because its common share price has been below the minimum $1 requirement and the company has not maintained the $5 million minimum market value.

The San Diego company, whose personalized cancer therapy failed in June to show effectiveness in late-stage clinical trials, has until Oct. 7 to regain compliance with the minimum market value requirement. It has until Jan. 5 to meet the $1 share price requirement to avoid delisting.

International Stem Cell, Novocell team up

International Stem Cell Corp. of Oceanside said that it would collaborate with Novocell Inc. of San Diego to try to create human pancreatic islet cells using International's human parthenogenetic stem cell lines. International creates the parthenogenetic stem cells by using unfertilized human eggs.

Novocell has developed technology to direct embryonic stem cells to become pancreatic islet cells that have been shown to be effective in treating diabetes in animals. The companies said they hoped their combined technologies will result in therapeutic cells with improved immune properties for eventual treatment of larger segments of the diabetic population.

Hollis-Eden diabetes drug in Phase 2 testing

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals said it began a Phase 2 clinical trial with its oral drug candidate Triolex for type 2, or adult-onset, diabetes. The company is expanding the number of clinical sites for the trial to accelerate enrollment. The trial to determine dosing will enroll about 90 people whose diabetes is stable on metformin, the first-line treatment for the disease.

The San Diego-based company hopes the drug will be a first-in-class insulin sensitizer, which acts by modulating inflammatory pathways. Ongoing studies have shown the drug is well-tolerated, improved insulin sensitivity and lowered fasting blood sugars.

Etc.

Verenium Corp., a biofuel and enzymes company with a large research presence in San Diego, said it has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy under a $40 million program to support development of small-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefineries. The company will meet with the department to determine the amount of the grant. Verenium, one of two companies selected for the grant, will use the funds to support ongoing activities at its demonstration-scale facility in Jennings, La.

Isis Pharmaceuticals said Dr. Martin P. Bedigian will become the company's vice president and chief medical officer, taking the lead for all medical aspects of the Carlsbad-based company's clinical development programs. Bedigian most recently worked at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where he was the global director of its Cardiovascular Assessment Group.