The South San Francisco company from 1992 through 2002 paid Germain $352,000 and provided stock options that he has listed as worth up to $250,000. During this period, Cell Genesys collaborated on research with the institute, although not directly with Germain's lab.
Germain said he has "reviewed and provided advice" regarding Cell Genesys' overall research programs.
* MedImmune Corp., a Maryland biotech company that makes treatments for viral diseases and other maladies. MedImmune over the last 11 years has paid Germain $163,350 in fees -- plus up to $500,000 in vested stock options.
MedImmune's top-selling product, an antibody for preventing a respiratory infection in infants, was developed jointly throughout the 1990s with the allergy and infectious disease institute. Germain's lab was not involved.
* Hybridon Inc., a Massachusetts pharmaceutical company that develops medicines and diagnostics based on synthetic DNA.
In October 2001, Hybridon's chairman, Dr. James B. Wyngaarden, a former NIH director, announced the hiring of Germain, saying his "expertise and experience in the area of immunology will be extremely helpful."
Hybridon paid Germain $30,000 last year.
In October 2002, Hybridon said it and the NIH had clashed over three agency-held patents, triggered by Hybridon's application for its own patent. The matter, related to synthetic DNA, is pending before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Both Germain and the chief executive of Hybridon, Stephen E. Seiler, said that Germain's consulting had not involved the patents.
"The only point of contact between us and the NIH is we share Ron's time," Seiler said.
As of last month, Germain no longer must publicly disclose his outside income. He instead will file reports that are kept confidential. Germain said he did not request the change, which was made by the NIH.
-- David Willman
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CASE STUDY | JEFFREY M. TRENT
A Government Accolade From a Paid Consultant
BETHESDA, Md. -- Until late last year, Jeffrey M. Trent was the scientific director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.
He led efforts to find applications for discoveries from the Human Genome Project, the historic mapping of the genetic code that his federal institute completed on the government's behalf.
