Aeterna Zentaris' stock soars toward 8-month high after Macrilen granted marketing approval

Shares of AEterna Zentaris Inc. rocketed 66% in premarket trade, putting them on track to open at an eight-month high, after the biopharmaceutical company said Macrilen, used in the diagnosis of patients with adult growth hormone deficiency, was granted marketing approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The company plans to make Macrilen available commercially in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2018. "Clinical studies have demonstrated that growth hormone stimulation testing for AGHD with oral Macrilen (macimorelin) is reliable, well-tolerated, reproducible, safe and a much simpler test to conduct than currently available option," said Kevin Yuen, clinical investigator of the Barrow Neuroendocrinology Clinic. The stock had plunged 44% year to date through Wednesday, while the iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF had rallied 21% and the S&P 500 had climbed 20%.

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