Corcept moves higher on study goals. Micro-cap stock, MicroFluidics acquired by IDEX. After the bell: Vermillion shares gain on patent award |
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By Staff and Wire Reports |
Tuesday, 11 January 2011 19:32 |
![]() After the bell, shares of Vermillion, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRML), moved higher after the molecular diagnostics company, announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued the company a patent for Beta-2 microglobulin and biomarker combinations that include Beta-2 microglobulin for the diagnosis and management of peripheral artery disease and to the measurement of the biomarkers by a variety of methods, including mass spectrometry and immunoassay. The studies underlying the patent were conducted with Dr. John P. Cooke, M.D., Ph.D., a Professor and Associate Director of the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Cooke is a founder and past President of the Society for Vascular Medicine, and an author of over 350 scientific articles in vascular medicine and biology. "The issuance of this PAD biomarker patent will help our efforts to develop and commercialize our VASCLIR test for PAD. We continue to progress our PAD program, including the initiation of our intended use study," said Gail S. Page, CEO and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Vermillion. In extended trading, shares jumped 7.5% or 59 cents to $8.49.
In December 2010 the drug was reported to have met the study's primary endpoints of improving blood pressure and glucose tolerance. Corcept anticipates an NDA submission for Corlux to the FDA sometime in Q1 2011. The drug was previously granted orphan drug designation, giving it 7 years of exclusive marketing rights. Shares of Corcept jumped 40 cents or 10.28% to close Tuesday tradin at $4.29. Shares of micro-cap stock, Microfluidics International Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board:MFLU.ob), soared more than 55% Tuesday after the company reported that it has agreed to be acquired by IDEX Corporation (NYSE:IEX) for $1.35 per share in cash. Microfluidics is a global leader in the design and manufacture of laboratory and commercial equipment used in the production of micro and nano scale materials for the pharmaceutical and chemical markets. Microfluidics is the exclusive producer of the Microfluidizer family of high shear fluid processors for uniform particle size reduction, robust cell disruption and nanoparticle creation. Microfluidics’ product and service offerings will enhance IDEX’s micro fluidics and micro particle technology position. Headquartered in Newton, MA, Microfluidics achieved $16M in revenue in 2009. Microfluidics will operate as a stand-alone business within the IDEX Fluid and Metering segment and is expected to be accretive to IDEX’s earnings in 2011. IDEX Corp manufactures a broad range of fluid handling and industrial products, including pumps, meters, and hydraulic rescue systems. MicroFluidics surged more than 55%, gaining 47 cents to close the day at $1.32. Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (OTCBB:ACTC) reported that its hemangioblast-based technology can be used to generate functional platelets from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The research, which appears online in Cell Research − a Nature Group journal − by scientists at ACT’s joint venture "Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine International" (SCRMI) and colleagues at Harvard Medical School, Cha University, and the University of Illinois, shows that it is feasible to generate functional megakaryocytes and platelets from hESCs on a large scale. The hESC-platelets displayed features that were indistinguishable from those of normal blood platelets, and participated in clot formation and retraction in vitro. High-speed video microscopy showed that the platelets contributed to thrombi after vascular injury in mice, providing the first evidence for in vivo functionality of hESC-derived platelets. Complete Genomics Inc. (Nasdaq:GNOM) announced today the signing of an agreement with The Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) that calls for Complete Genomics to sequence 615 complete human genome samples as part of an ISB study on neurodegenerative diseases. Shares of Complete Genomics jumped more than 5% on the news. Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ: DYAX) and Defiante Farmaceutica S.A., an affiliate of the pharmaceutical group Sigma-Tau (Sigma-Tau), announced today the expansion of their partnership to commercialize KALBITOR (ecallantide) for the treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE) throughout Australia and New Zealand. Defiante already has rights to KALBITOR for Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Russia, while Dyax retains the rights to develop and commercialize KALBITOR in the U.S. and in other un-partnered territories. KALBITOR was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2009 and is marketed by Dyax for the treatment of acute attacks of HAE in patients 16 years of age and older. Also Tuesday: AstraZeneca (NYSE:AZN) and Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), an international leader in advancing therapies for cancer patients through clinical research, today announced that SCRI will lead the clinical development of a novel targeted oncology compound from AstraZeneca. BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq:BMRN) today announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 trial for BMN 673, a poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor in development for the treatment of genetically-defined cancers. "Featured Content" profiles are meant to provide awareness of these companies to investors in the small-cap and growth equity community and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy, sell or hold these securities. BiomedReports is not paid or compensated by newswires to disseminate or report news and developments about publicly traded companies, but may from time to time receive compensation for advertising, data, analytics and investor relation services from various entities and firms. Full disclosures should be read in the 'About Us Section'. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |