Shares of Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) rose more than 10% to $98.82 on Thursday following the announcement of better-than-expected Q1 results. The company has also boosted its revenue and non GAAP EPS outlook for 2013, taking into account the continued global growth of its only marketed product Soliris, a therapeutic product for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, a blood disorder; and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, a genetic disease.
Ampio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMPE) has completed patient enrollment in a dose-escalation run-in study to a phase III pivotal trial evaluating its biologic drug candidate Ampion in the treatment of moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee.
In the run-in trial, dubbed SPRING trial, Ampion is being evaluated for its effect on reducing pain as a single intra-articular injection into the knee in 4 milliliter (mL) and 10 milliliter (mL) volumes as compared to placebo at twelve weeks. The results from the SPRING trial are expected in the third quarter of 2013.
AMPE closed Thursday's trading at $5.19, up 0.58%.
Derma Sciences Inc. (DSCI) has commenced patient screening in the second of two phase III clinical trials with its investigational topical drug candidate DSC127 for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The first phase III trial of DSC127 commenced in February of this year. The top-line phase 3 results are expected to be released in the first quarter of 2015. If approved, the company expects DSC127 to garner peak global sales of $900 million.
DSCI closed Thursday's trading at $11.35, down 2.74%.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (EBS) has agreed to acquire the Healthcare Protective Products Division of Bracco Diagnostics Inc. for $26.0 million in cash. The acquisition, which will broaden Emergent's biodefense franchise into chemical countermeasures, is expected to contribute to the company's revenue and net income, exclusive of transaction costs, beginning in 2013. The transaction is said to close in the third quarter of 2013.
EBS closed Thursday's trading 1.55% higher at $15.73.
Endocyte Inc. (ECYT) touched a new high of $14.47 on Thursday before closing at $14.30 after the company announced that the investigational molecular imaging agent Etarfolatide (EC20) may identify and differentiate inflammatory from non-inflammatory disease states of osteoarthritis. Etarfolatide is being developed as a non-invasive method to identify cells that over-express folate receptors, which allows imaging of activated macrophages that are associated with inflammatory diseases.
LipoScience Inc. (LPDX) has begun clinical development of NMR-based cardiovascular diagnostic test for novel gut flora metabolite, Trimethylamine-N-oxide.
Trimethylamine-N-oxide, or TMAO, is believed to be a predictor of cardiovascular risk. The company has a licensing agreement in place with Cleveland Clinic to develop and commercialize the diagnostic test for cardiovascular disease based upon TMAO.
LPDX closed Thursday's trading at $8.18, down 1.56%.
Medgenics Inc. (MDGN) on Thursday reported positive interim results from an ongoing phase IIa study in Israel of EPODURE Biopumps to treat anemia in dialysis patients.
The phase IIa study is evaluating the administration techniques and dosing to determine how long a single treatment using EPODURE Biopumps can replace the periodic injections of EPO (erythropoietin) or other erythropoietic stimulating agents currently used in the standard care of patients on dialysis with end-stage renal disease, while maintaining the patient's hemoglobin within the desired range.
The company plans to implement a larger phase II trial of EPODURE Biopumps in the U.S. in the second half of 2013.
MDGN closed Thursday's trading at $4.22, up 0.72%.
Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) rheumatoid arthritis drug XELJANZ has been rejected by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use on the grounds that the drug does not demonstrate a favorable risk/ benefit profile. Pfizer said it will seek a re-examination of the CHMP's opinion.
XELJANZ was approved by FDA last November for rheumatoid arthritis.
PFE closed Thursday's trading at $30.26, down 1.11%. In extended trading, the stock shed another 2.28% to $29.57.
Theravance Inc. (THRX) has decided to separate its businesses into two independent publicly traded companies in order to unlock potential value, facilitate return of capital to stockholders and further its strategy of advancing medicines that address unmet medical needs.
Accordingly, one company will continue to manage the late-stage partnered respiratory assets and associated potential royalty revenues while the other company will be a separate biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development and commercialization of small-molecule medicines in areas of significant unmet medical need.
THRX closed Thursday's trading 1.24% higher at $30.92. In the after-hours the stock jumped more than 5% to $32.75.
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