Shares of Allergy Therapeutics tumbled 22 percent after the FDA froze two late-stage studies of a hayfever vaccine after one of the volunteers in a trial fell ill. The patient reported neurological side effects including numbness and weakness. Pollinex Quattro is already in use in Europe and one of the analysts quickly shrugged off the announcement, saying the ailment was probably not caused by the vaccine. Others, though, noted that the sudden research suspension could seriously delay the vaccine's commercial rollout. CEO Keith Carter says that one of the trials will have to be resumed in a week or risk being seriously compromised. The company is seeking "urgent" talks with regulators to clarify the situation. A significant delay could force researchers to scrap its ongoing study and begin a new trial.
- check out the release on the suspension
- here's the report from Hemscott