Helixmith struggling to explain Phase III gene therapy results

Helixmith will press forward with more studies of its lead gene therapy to treat diabetic peripheral neuropathy, despite the candidate’s miss in a Phase III trial in which DNA from the therapy was inexplicably found in patients who were in the placebo group.

Early Tuesday in Korea, shares of Helixmith Co. Ltd. (KOSDAQ:084990) were off W51,400 (30%) to W120,000. The move shaved about W1.1 trillion ($981.3 million) from its market cap...