ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 11, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) (PRIMEZONE) -- At the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), XOMA Ltd. (Nasdaq:XOMA), along with Novartis, announced pre-clinical and preliminary Phase 1 clinical trial results of the use of the experimental drug HCD122, an anti-CD-40 monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). The development of HCD122 (formerly known as CHIR-12.12) began in 2004 as part of XOMA's collaboration with Chiron Corporation, which Novartis acquired earlier this year. Chiron is now known as Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc.
