GALE On The Radar, CALA Surges After-Hours, Capricor Uplisted, CPRX On A High

By RTT News, March 05, 2015, 09:16:00 PM EDT

(RTTNews.com) - Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc. ( AST ) has commenced enrollment for its phase 1/2a clinical trial of AST-OPC1 (oligodendrocyte progenitor cells) in newly injured patients with sensory and motor complete cervical spinal cord injury.

This trial follows the successful completion of a phase 1 trial of AST-OPC1, which met its primary endpoints of safety and feasibility when administered to five patients with neurologically complete, thoracic spinal cord injury.

AST closed Thursday's trading at $4.85, up 9.98%.

Shares of Calithera Biosciences Inc. ( CALA ) were up nearly 39% in extended trading after the company gained exclusive, worldwide license to TransTech Pharma's portfolio of hexokinase II inhibitors.

Hexokinase II is the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway that enables cancer cells to convert glucose to energy and building blocks that feed cancer cell growth.

TransTech will receive an upfront payment from Calithera and will be eligible to receive future development and commercialization milestones as well as royalties on sales of approved products.

Calithera went public on the Nasdaq last October pricing its shares at $10 each. The stock closed Thursday's trading at $13.31, down 5.06%. In after-hours, the stock was up 36.66% to $18.19.

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners Inc. ( CPRX ) has been granted orphan drug designation by FDA for Firdapse for treatment of patients with Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes.

Catalyst licensed the exclusive North American rights to Firdapse from BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. ( BMRN ) in October 2012.

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GALE On The Radar, CALA Surges After-Hours, Capricor Uplisted, CPRX On A High