(Reuters) June 04 - Cleveland BioLabs Inc said its experimental anti-radiation drug improved survival of animals in a preclinical trial, sending its shares up 89%. The drug, CBLB502, was tested in 179 primates who received a 70% lethal dose of total body radiation. The animals were then either given a single injection of the drug or a placebo.
The results showed that a single dose of the drug given 25 hours after radiation exposure led to a nearly three-fold increase in overall survival in the animals, the company said in a statement.
CBLB502 is an injectable protein that aims to prevent cell damage resulting from acute radiation exposure.
"In addition to demonstrating CBLB502's effect on survival, we believe this study supports our methodology for dose conversion between animals and humans," EVP Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance Ann Hards said.