Bellus Health soars as cough therapy succeeds in study

BELLUS Health

13/12/2021 13:07

** U.S.-listed shares of Canadian drug developer  BLU.O 
rise 29% to $7.22 premarket- set to open at highest in a month
    ** Stock is among top pct gainers and third most actively
traded across U.S. exchanges before the bell
    ** BLU reports data showing two doses of its drug candidate,
BLU-5937 achieved statistical significance on main goal in
mid-stage study testing it in patients with chronic cough that
continues despite prior treatment  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nBw4H51gYa
    ** The trial, which tested three doses of the drug,
demonstrated a 34% reduction in 24-hour cough frequency at the
mid and high dose levels by day 28, company says 
    ** Says the lowest dose demonstrated a 21% reduction in
24-hour cough frequency 
    ** BLU-5937 was generally well-tolerated, with low rates of
taste-related adverse events reported at all doses - company
    ** Co plans to request a meeting with the U.S. FDA to to
discuss the Phase 3 study program expected to start in H2 2022
    ** Stock had surged 83% YTD, up to the last close

 (Reporting by Amruta Khandekar)
 ((Amruta.Khandekar@thomsonreuters.com;))