Hemagen, Sheffield Medical Technologies Inc. deal

HMGN will develop for SHM an ELISA assay for an antibody associated with nonprogression to AIDS from HIV. SHM has a majority interest in the technology under a 1994 license from INSERM, the French national research organization.

The antibody appears in virtually all of the 5-10 percent of HIV-positive individuals who are considered to be long-term nonprogressors, SHM said. The antibody is directed to a cryptic epitope on beta 2 microglobulin ( B2M), a common protein present on the surface of many human cells. The epitope normally is concealed, but is exposed whenever the protein is found on HIV, SHM said. ...