Cepheid gets FDA nod to market test, shares rise
(Adds details, share movement)
April 18 (Reuters) - Shares of Cepheid Inc. (CPHD.O) rose more than 7 percent after it won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market a test that quickly detects a bacterium that is resistant to several common antibiotics.
The pathogen, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA), affects those with weakened immune systems and is resistant to antibiotics including methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin.
MRSA is one of the leading causes of hospital acquired infections and can cause serious skin infections, critical blood infections, pneumonia and even death.
The test results help healthcare organizations apply infection control measures, leading to lower hospital acquired infection rates, Cepheid said in a statement. The company added it was working with several healthcare organizations interested in initiating MRSA surveillance programs.
In March, U.S. health officials had approved Cepheid's test for meningitis, an infection of fluid in the spinal cord and around the brain, to determine more quickly whether a patient has the viral form of the condition or the more dangerous type caused by bacteria.
Shares of the company rose were up 88 cents at $12.66 in morning trade on the Nasdaq.
(Reporting by Shikhar Balwani, Dhanya Skariachan in Bangalore)
((Editing by Jarshad Kakkrakandy, Anupama Dwivedi; Reuters messaging: dhanya.skariachan.reuters.com@reuters.net; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800)) Keywords: CEPHEID SHARES/
(C) Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution ofReuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expresslyprohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuterssphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group ofcompanies around the world.nBNG187699
- Tweet this
- Link this
- Share this
- Digg this
- Reprints
Follow Reuters