IN BRIEF

     Lilly gains rights
     to gene technology
     
      INDIANAPOLIS -- Eli Lilly and Co. will purchase rights to new gene technology that could someday reverse diabetes, the disease that launched Lilly and made it $1 billion last year.
      Lilly will pay initial fees, milestone payments and royalties on potential product sales to Eastern Virginia Medical School, in Norfolk, Va., and to McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec.
      Researchers at the schools have identified a new gene that appears to stimulate regeneration of islet (pronounced "I-lit") cells, which produce insulin in the pancreas.
      The insulin hormone allows the body to convert sugar and starches in the blood into energy.
      Diabetics don't get enough insulin or can't use the insulin the body produces. That can result in a buildup of glucose, which can cause grave harm, including blindness, cardiac disease and nerve and kidney damage.
      Most diabetics can control the disease by taking injections of insulin, medication or regulating the foods they eat.
      Lilly is the world's largest insulin producer. In 1996, it sold a total of $982 million of the insulin products Humulin, Humalog and Isletin.
      As for therapies the gene could spawn, "it's too early to determine the nature of products," said Lilly spokesman James P. Kappel.
     
     
     Online company
     files for offering
     
      Las Vegas-based DBT Online Inc. has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed offering of 1.6 million shares of common stock.
      The offering will be managed by Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. and Invemed Associates.
      DBT is an online provider of integrated database services and related reports primarily for law enforcement and other governmental agencies, law firms, insurance companies and licensed investigation companies.
     
     Hecla Mining gets
     favorable ruling
     
      COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- The Idaho State Supreme Court ruled in Hecla Mining Co.'s favor in the Star Phoenix Mining Co. lawsuit, reversing the judgment against Hecla made in 1994 in Idaho district court.
      Star Phoenix had challenged Hecla's right to terminate Star Phoenix's lease of the Star-Morning mine in North Idaho in 1990. The Supreme Court held that Hecla acted properly, according to the terms of the lease agreement with Star Phoenix.
      Hecla Mining operates the Rosebud Mine near Winnemucca in Northern Nevada.
     
     Refrigerant company
     reports finances
     
      HILLBURN, N.Y. -- Hudson Technologies Inc., which has one of its eight regional facilities in Sparks, reported revenues for the year ended Dec. 31 totaled $19.6 million, compared with $22 million for the prior year.
      Net loss for the year was $2.1 million, or 47 cents a share, compared with net earnings of $1.8 million, or 46 cents, for 1995.
      The company attributed the revenue and net earnings decline from 1995 mainly to a discontinued program of reselling imported refrigerants.
      Founded in 1991, Hudson provides refrigerant reclamation and management services, in addition to reclaimed refrigerant products.
     
     Innovative Gaming
     gets good response
     
      RENO -- Innovative Gaming Corp. of America announced strong initial response to its recently approved games in Colorado and Nevada.
      Edward Stevenson, chief executive of Innovative Gaming, said introduction of the games "is running ahead of our expectations." The company will begin placement of at least 35 multistation games representing over 180 player stations during April, May and June.
      Innovative Gaming develops, manufactures and distributes gaming machines to the gaming market and through licensed distributors.
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      The Business Calendar will appear in Monday's newspaper.