* Gets FDA clearance on mid-stage hepatitis C study
* Q2 loss/shr 21 cents vs est loss/shr 28 cents
* Shares up 22 pct
July 30 (Reuters) - Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc said U.S. health regulators cleared the parameters for a mid-stage study of its hepatitis C drug, sending its shares up 22 percent.
The drug, ANA598, is the company's key product candidate and has faced safety concerns earlier this year after three patients dropped out of a safety study as they developed a rash.
Anadys said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the study protocol and patient dosing is expected to commence within the next several weeks.
Ninety patients are planned to be enrolled in the study, with 30 patients receiving the drug, ANA598, and 15 receiving a dummy drug at each dose level. The study would test 200 mg and 400 mg doses of the drug.
The company, which has two other drugs in the pipeline for hepatitis C and cancer, also posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss and said its cash reserves are expected to fund operations into 2011.
For the second quarter, the company posted a net loss of $6.5 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $7.1 million, or 25 cents a share, a year ago.
Research and development expenses fell 16 percent to $4.6 million, while general and administrative expenses rose 28 percent.
As of June 30, the company's cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale totaled $30.6 million, Anadys said in a statement.
Shares of the company were up 17 percent at $2.10 in trading after the bell. They closed at $1.80 Thursday on Nasdaq.
(Reporting by Esha Dey in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott) Keywords: ANADYS/ (esha.dey@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: esha.dey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
* Q2 loss/shr 21 cents vs est loss/shr 28 cents
* Shares up 22 pct
July 30 (Reuters) - Anadys Pharmaceuticals Inc said U.S. health regulators cleared the parameters for a mid-stage study of its hepatitis C drug, sending its shares up 22 percent.
The drug, ANA598, is the company's key product candidate and has faced safety concerns earlier this year after three patients dropped out of a safety study as they developed a rash.
Anadys said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the study protocol and patient dosing is expected to commence within the next several weeks.
Ninety patients are planned to be enrolled in the study, with 30 patients receiving the drug, ANA598, and 15 receiving a dummy drug at each dose level. The study would test 200 mg and 400 mg doses of the drug.
The company, which has two other drugs in the pipeline for hepatitis C and cancer, also posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss and said its cash reserves are expected to fund operations into 2011.
For the second quarter, the company posted a net loss of $6.5 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $7.1 million, or 25 cents a share, a year ago.
Research and development expenses fell 16 percent to $4.6 million, while general and administrative expenses rose 28 percent.
As of June 30, the company's cash, cash equivalents and securities available-for-sale totaled $30.6 million, Anadys said in a statement.
Shares of the company were up 17 percent at $2.10 in trading after the bell. They closed at $1.80 Thursday on Nasdaq.
(Reporting by Esha Dey in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott) Keywords: ANADYS/ (esha.dey@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: esha.dey.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.