HEALTH

Astra Signs Pact for Ulcer Research: The Swedish pharmaceutical maker said it signed an agreement with Genome Therapeutics Corp. to research new treatment methods for a bacterium believed to be a cause of peptic ulcers. Research will concentrate on the H. pylori bacterium, Astra said. Waltham, Mass.-based Genome specializes in identifying and characterizing genes, with a major program focused on the H. pylori gene, Astra said. Under the pact, Astra will pay up to $20 million related to joint research work and for marketing rights to products created under the pact that are based on Genome’s technology. Genome will receive royalties on sales of such products, Astra said. Genome shares closed up 25 cents at $8 on the Nasdaq.