AMPE Takes Ampion In Stride, GLMD For The Long Haul, MSLP On Watch

(RTTNews) - Ampio Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMPE) will be reporting 20-week data from the 7-patient 'open label' phase of the 47 patient STRUT study in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Each patient in the open label phase of the study received three 4ml intra-articular injections of Ampion, one at baseline, the second at 2 weeks and the third at four weeks. Every patient also received a high resolution MRI prior to the first injection and eight weeks after the last injection.

The STRUT study results of the remaining 40 patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee, who received either 3 intra-articular injections of Ampion or saline into the knee, are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2015.

Another study, dubbed STRIDE, is scheduled to conclude in the second quarter of 2015. The STRIDE is a placebo controlled study which has enrolled 320 patients. This study follows the same protocol as the STRUT study but without MRIs.

AMPE closed Wednesday's trading at $3.27, down 9.92%.

Galmed Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GLMD) said it is currently prepared to initiate a phase IIb trial of Aramchol in NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis) patients as scheduled. The company expects to report interim results of this trial in the second half of 2015, and final results in the second half of 2016.

GLMD closed Wednesday's trading 0.33% higher at $6.03.

MusclePharm Corp. (MSLP.OB) is scheduled to report financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014 on November 14, 2014, after market close.

In the second quarter ended June 30, 2014, the company's net sales were up 83 percent to $46.7 million from $25.5 million last year, primarily as a result of new sales channels, new product lines, and increased brand awareness.

Will MusclePharm present an encore performance in the third quarter?

MSLP closed Wednesday's trading 1.93% higher at $13.20.

Vitae Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VTAE) has had a huge run, rising more than 126%, since its IPO at $8 per share on September 24, 2014.

The company's most advanced product candidate is VTP-34072 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, being developed in collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim. A phase II trial of VTP-34072 was started in July 2014 by Boehringer Ingelheim, with data from this trial expected in the first half of 2015.

Another compound discovered by Vitae and is being developed under the Boehringer Ingelheim collaboration is BI1181181 / VTP-37948 in Alzheimer's disease.

The company announced positive top-line results from two phase I trials of BI1181181/VTP-37948 last month. The trials included a single rising dose study and a proof of mechanism study, both of which involved a total of 68 healthy volunteers.

Another product candidate in the pipeline is VTP-43742 to treat autoimmune disorders. The company expects to file an Investigational New Drug Application and initiate phase 1 clinical trials with VTP-43742 in the first half of 2015.

VTAE touched a high of $18.79 on Wednesday before closing the day's trading at $17.21.