Top Health Care Stocks
MSFT -0.15%
AAPL -0.09%
IBM +0.62%
CSCO +0.89%
GOOG +0.10%
Health care stocks were trying to extend their earlier gain this afternoon, with the NYSE Health Care Index climbing about 0.4% this afternoon while shares of health care companies in the S&P 500 also were up more than 0.5% as a group.
In company news, Catalyst Biosciences ( CBIO ) jumped to a nearly 40% gain on Wednesday, topping out at $4.74 a share after the early-stage biotech company today reported positive clinical data from the first cohort of an ongoing, proof-of-concept trial of its CB2679d drug candidate in individuals with severe hemophilia B.
CB 2679d contains the next-generation coagulation Factor IX variant and is being evaluated for its ability to spontaneous bleeding below the skin in individuals with hemophilia B.
Based on the initial Phase I/II results, an intravenous dose of CB 2679d is about 22 times more potent than an intravenous dose of another hemophilia treatment, BeneFIX, as measured by activity levels using a one-stage clotting assay. The drug candidate also remained in circulation for 34 hours compared with just 25 hours for BeneFIX, the company said.
In other sector news,
(+) VSTM, Duvelisib drug candidate meets primary endpoint during Phase III testing in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma, demonstrating superiority extending progression-free survival compared with another drug, ofatumumab.
(-) PULM, Licenses its PUR0200 drug candidate to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the U.K.'s Vectura Group (VEC.L), which will now be responsible for all future development costs. Pulmatrix also receives $1 mln technology-access fee.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Copyright (C) 2016 MTNewswires.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
