Genocea sinks on Phase IIa miss

Genocea Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:GNCA) slumped $2.06 (28%) to $5.17 on Monday after GEN-004 missed the primary endpoints in a Phase IIa study to vaccinate against Streptococcus pneumoniae.

In the 98-patient trial, the vaccine candidate reduced pneumococcal colonization rate by 22-25% vs. placebo as measured by microbiological culture; it reduced the presence of pneumococcal DNA by 18-36% vs. placebo. The median density of colonization, measured by microbiological culture, was 0-2 colony forming units (CFUs) per mL of nasal wash in GEN-004-treated patients vs. 1-11 CFU/mL in patients who received placebo. The results were not statistically significant. ...