Sangamo buoyed by positive mid-stage data

Shares of Sangamo BioSciences were buoyed by positive preliminary data from a small mid-stage study of SB-509. The drug is being tested as a therapy for severe diabetic neuropathy. In the study, five of the eight patients being treated with the experimental therapy reported better nerve potential after about six months of treatment. One of four patients in a control arm reported the same improvement. Analysts saw it as a positive indication of what they may see in the fourth quarter, when Sangamo will deliver results for a study of SB-509 involving 110 patients.

"Such early improvement in severely affected population has never been reported and suggests that SB-509 has novel regenerative potential for the reversal of nerve damage in severe (diabetic peripheral neuropathy)," the company said.

- read the AP report

Related Articles:
Sangamo readies HIV tech for human trials
Sangamo targets gene manipulation
Sangamo shares leap on stem cell tech advance