Also

* Gilead Sciences Inc. won Food and Drug Administration approval for Hepsera, a treatment for the liver-attacking disease hepatitis B.

* Dell Computer Corp. said 3Com Corp. won’t allow Dell to sell 3Com’s computer-network switches because Dell has begun marketing its own brand of networking gear.

* The creditors committee of WorldCom Inc. denied media reports of a rift with management, saying it appreciated the manner in which top officials have worked on the restructuring and search for a new chief executive.

* Beleaguered French telecom equipment group Alcatel cut its sales outlook and announced plans to eliminate about 20,000 more jobs in its drive to return to profit in a deteriorating market. The cuts come on top of some 30,000 job losses already earmarked for 2001 and 2002 as spending on equipment by cash-strapped telecom firms remains low.

* Ciena Corp., the third-biggest U.S. maker of fiber-optic network equipment, cut about 450 jobs, or 17% of its work force, to lower costs.

* Viacom Inc.’s MTV Networks is acquiring CTN Media Group Inc.’s College Television Network for $15 million in cash, to broadcast news, music, sports and other college-specific programs to about 8.2 million students at 750 U.S. campuses.

* Irvine-based Yard House Restaurants entered into a joint venture with Y.H. Developments to open six new restaurants in the West during the next four years.