Aeterna rises on plans to discontinue early-stage vaccine development program

COSCIENS Biopharma

17/01/2023 14:08

** U.S.-listed shares of Canadian biopharma Aeterna Zentaris
Inc  AEZS.O  jump ~5% to $3.93 before the bell 
    ** AEZS announces plans to streamline drug development
program, will discontinue its early-stage vaccine development
program 
    ** Adds that decision to discontinue early-stage vaccine
program extends AEZS cash runway into 2025 
    ** Says it has not been able to choose a clinical
development candidate for a COVID-19 vaccine to date after
conducting lab studies 
    ** AEZS says will focus on advancing recruitment for ongoing
late-stage study of diagnostic drug for a childhood hormone
deficiency 
    ** Also accelerating efforts to look for partners for its
diagnostic drug for adult growth deficiency Macrilen in the U.S.
and Canada
    ** Co had previously reported cash and equivalents of $53.8
mln as of Sept. 30, 2022 
    ** Up to last close, AEZS shares had fallen 58.3% in the
last 12 months 
 (Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru)
 ((Bhanvi.Satija@thomsonreuters.com; Outside U.S. +91
9873062788;))