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The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission today announced the following actions.

Applications for approval of transactions: The FTC has received applications for approval for transactions from the following. The FTC is seeking public comments on the applications for 30 days, until March 24.

• The Upjohn Company, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Pharmacia Aktiebolag, a Swedish firm, have applied for FTC approval to divest to IDEC Pharmaceuticals Company, of San Diego, California, the assets related to "9-AC," a chemotherapeutic agent undergoing research and development for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Divestiture of the 9-AC assets is required under a February 1996 consent order designed to restore competition for the development of the drug that allegedly was injured when Upjohn and Pharmacia merged. (See Oct. 27, 1995 news release for more details regarding this case; Docket No. C-3638.) Staff contact is Elizabeth Piotrowski, 202-326- 2623.

• Baxter International, Inc., of Deerfield, Illinois, has applied for FTC approval to divest its Autoplex assets to NABI, of Boca Raton, Florida. Autoplex is a plasma product used for the treatment of Factor VIII inhibitors in hemophiliacs. Divestiture of these assets is required under a proposed consent order settling FTC charges that Baxter’s acquisition of Immuno International AG, which markets the only other such product on the market, would violate federal antitrust laws by creating a monopoly for these products (the case also challenged the acquisition as to a fibran sealant product, which is used to stem bleeding during surgery.) The divestiture requirements in the proposed consent order are intended to restore competition in both markets. (See Dec. 19, 1996 news release for more details regarding the proposed consent order; File No. 971 0002). Staff contact is Daniel Ducore, 202-326-2526.

Petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders: The FTC has received a petition from the following entity seeking changes in, or termination of, an FTC order. The FTC is seeking public comments on the newly-received petition for 30 days, until March 24.

• Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, of Nashville, Tennessee, has petitioned the FTC to reopen and modify an October 1995 consent order to end Columbia/HCA’s obligation to divest a commercial lease for office space in a building next to Pioneer Valley Hospital in West Valley City, Utah. Divestiture of the lease agreement is required under a 1995 consent order that settled charges that Columbia/HCA’s acquisition of Healthtrust, Inc. would violate federal antitrust laws by substantially reducing hospital competition in several areas, including Utah. (See April 5, 1995 news release for more details regarding the consent order; Docket No. 3619.) Staff contact is Elizabeth Piotrowski, 202-326-2623.

Comments on the applications and petition should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC’s Public Reference Branch, Room 130, at the same address; 202-326-2222; TTY for the hearing impaired 202- 326-2502. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710. FTC news releases and other materials also are available on the Internet at the FTC’s World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov

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