AQXP Goes Sprinting, ARGS On Watch, BIOC Adds New Product, An Insight On RECAP

(RTTNews) - Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AQXP) is expanding its ongoing phase II clinical trials with its lead product candidate, AQX-1125.

Accordingly, the company's phase II trial of AQX-1125 in reducing pain and urinary symptoms in patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC), known as the LEADERSHIP trial, which has been enrolling patients at clinical sites across Canada and is now active at sites in the United States.

The company is also expanding its phase II study of AQX-1125 in the treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dubbed the FLAGSHIP trial, to Australia. The FLAGSHIP trial has been enrolling patients at clinical sites across Northern and Central Europe.

AQXP closed Monday's trading at $9.74, up 9.56%.

Argos Therapeutics Inc. (ARGS) said that long-term was survival was observed in patients with unfavorable risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma when treated with Sunitinib combined with the company's drug candidate AGS-003, in a phase II study.

According to the trial results, intermediate risk mRCC patients had a median overall survival of 57.1 months, with 23 percent surviving for more than five years to date, including two patients in long-term remission following continued AGS-003 dosing.

ARGS closed Monday's trading 4.35% higher at $8.39.

Shares of Biocept Inc. (BIOC) rose 6.32% to $4.71 on Monday following the launch of Estrogen Receptor Testing, which marks a new addition to the company's blood-based OncoCEE-BR platform.

The Estrogen Receptor Testing will offer health care providers an additional testing option when a tumor biopsy is unavailable or unsafe. For patients with recurring or newly diagnosed metastatic breast cancer, accurate identification of hormone (ER) and HER2 receptors status plays a major role in treatment outcomes.

BSD Medical Corp. (BSDM) has shipped another BSD-2000 Hyperthermia System to its exclusive Taiwan distributor, Linden Bioscience Co., Ltd, thereby taking the total to 3. The company shipped the first two BSD-2000 systems to Linden in February 2014 and plans to ship the fourth BSD-2000 to Linden by August 31, 2014.

BSDM closed Monday's trading at $1.02, down 1.92%.

Eli Lilly and Co's (LLY) approved stomach cancer drug CYRAMZA in combination with chemotherapy in patients with second-line non-small cell lung cancer has demonstrated improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone in a global phase III study.

The study, dubbed REVEL, is the first positive phase III study of a biologic in combination with chemotherapy to demonstrate improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone in second-line non-small cell lung cancer, or NSCLC.

Cyramza was approved by FDA as recently as April 21, 2014 to treat patients with advanced stomach cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, a form of cancer located in the region where the esophagus joins the stomach.

LLY closed Monday's trading at $59.49, down 0.62%.

Incyte Corp.'s (INCY) experimental drug Ruxolitinib in combination with approved chemotherapy drug Capecitabine demonstrated prolonged survival in patients with second-line metastatic pancreatic cancer and elevated C-reactive protein compared to Capecitabine alone in a phase II trial, dubbed RECAP.

A pivotal phase III clinical program of Ruxolitinib in pancreatic cancer is underway.

INCY closed Monday's trading at $48.89, down 1.33%.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc's (JAZZ) phase 2b study of JZP-110 as a potential new treatment for the symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in adults with narcolepsy has met all primary and secondary endpoints.

According to the trial results, patients treated with JZP-110 experienced statistically significant improvements in objective and subjective symptoms of EDS.

Based on the encouraging data, Jazz Pharma plans to evaluate JZP-110 in phase III clinical studies in patients with EDS associated with narcolepsy and in patients with EDS associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), pending discussions with regulatory agencies.

JAZZ closed Monday's trading at $142.97, up 0.78%.

Omeros Corp.'s (OMER) Omidria for use in cataract and other intraocular lens replacement procedures has been approved by FDA. The U.S. launch of the drug is planned for late summer/early fall 2014.

The company noted that the approval comes with no post-marketing commitments other than the previously agreed study of Omidria for use in pediatric patients, which, if successfully completed, makes the drug eligible for an additional six months of marketing exclusivity in the U.S.

OMER closed Monday's trading 1.20% higher at $11.83.