ALSO NOTED: San Diego biotechs hiring; New River begins Phase III; and much more...

> Some of San Diego's biotech companies are hiring new staffers as rapidly as they can lay their hands on qualified candidates. Article

> New River Pharmaceuticals has begun a pivotal clinical trial of NRP 104 for ADHD. Report

> ALZA says the FDA has approved its needle-free system for post-operative pain control. Release

> Schering-Plough has begun a large clinical trial of a combination therapy of Peg-Intron with Rebetol for liver transplant patients with reoccurring hepatitis C. Release

> Tanox has begun dosing patients in a Phase I trial of TNX-650 for Hodgkin's disease. Release

> XOMA will collaborate with Schering-Plough to develop new monoclonal antibodies. Release

And Finally… Some patients taking Mirapex for Parkinson's say they experienced a host of odd obsessions, such as buying things or gambling compulsively. Article