Glaxo shares gain on rotavirus trial data

GlaxoSmithKline's rotavirus drug candidate Rotarix protected infants through two consecutive rotavirus seasons, study finds.

Shares of GlaxoSmithKline PLC rose Friday after a medical journal published data showing its rotavirus drug candidate Rotarix provides protection against the five most commonly circulating forms of the virus.

Rotavirus causes diarrhea in infants. The drug candidate is already under review by the Food and Drug Administration. The new data, from a late-stage study involving almost 4,000 European infants, was published in The Lancet.

Rotarix was created by Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc. and licensed to GlaxoSmithKline. The drug is already available in more than 90 countries.

The late-stage study data show that two doses of Rotarix provided protection through two consecutive rotavirus seasons, or until subjects were about 2-years-old.

Shares of GlaxoSmithKline increased 6 percent in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange Friday. The stock has traded between $47.49 and $59.98 during the last 52 weeks.
(Source money.cnn.com)