While most sectors took a hit on Tuesday stocks in the Healthcare sector managed to inch forward 0.24% on the day and there were a number of companies that posted double-digit percentage gains. Topping that list was XOMA Limited (NASDAQ: XOMA) which jumped 37.83% on the day to close at 7.31 after news that they had signed a development and licensing deal with Les Laboratoires Servier potentially worth more than $500 million for an anti-inflammatory drug candidate. Trading volume was more than 20x its average as shares reached a six-month high of 7.71 to move it well beyond the 50-day moving average of 3.03 and 200-day moving average of 5.73.
Shares in Adeona Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: AEN) surged 37.04% on Tuesday to close at 1.85 after nearly 10x its average trading volume moved hands. AEN, which operates as a pharmaceutical company that develops medicines for central nervous systems and autoimmune diseases, reached a six-month high of 1.90 during trading and remains above the 50-day moving average of 0.85 and 200-day moving average of 1.07.
Following a news release that acknowledged the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) had contacted Radient Pharmaceuticals Corporation (AMEX: RPC) in regard to unusual market activity shares in the company climbed 29.46% to close at 1.67 with more than 15.1 million shares trading hands. The pharmaceutical company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of diagnostic and skin care products, reached 1.69 during the day to set a six-month high and shares remain above the 50-day moving average of 0.55 and 200-day moving average of 0.79.
Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPRX), a development-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development and commercialization of prescription drugs targeting diseases of the central nervous system with a focus on the treatment of drug addiction and epilepsy, saw shares climb 13.27% on Tuesday to close at 1.28. The strong day kept shares above the 50-day moving average of 1.05 and 200-day moving average of 1.12.
After news that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had lifted a clinical hold on its Phase II, double-blind, adaptive-design, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging study of Alferon(R) LDO [oral interferon alfa-n3 (human leukocyte derived)] for the prevention and treatment of influenza hit shares in Hemispherex BioPharma, Inc. (AMEX: HEB) climbed 11.76% to close at 0.548. The push forward moved shares past the 50-day moving average of 0.50 and closer to the 200-day moving average of 0.57.
