Benzinga | Mar 9, 2021 06:11AM EST

Aytu BioScience Stock Is Trading Higher After Healight Therapy Shows Improved Outcome In COVID-19 Patients

Aytu BioScience Inc (NASDAQ: AYTU) rises sharply in the premarket after first-in-human data with endotracheal UVA light catheter therapy show positive outcome in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

* Known as Healight, light catheter therapy is an investigational medical device being studied as a prospective treatment for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

* Data indicate that the therapy reduces SARS-CoV-2 viral load and improves clinical outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients.

* Five critically ill, mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients underwent UVA light therapy for five consecutive days.

* The endotracheal treatment resulted in a significant logarithmic reduction of the SARS-CoV-2 viral load.

* Average log changes from baseline to day five and day six were -2.41 and -3.2, respectively.

* WHO clinical severity scores improved by an average of 1.6 and 3.6 points on day 15 and day 30, respectively.

* Excluding subject two with an undetectable viral load, WHO clinical severity scores improved by 4.75 points on day 30.

* The treatment did not result in any serious adverse device effects and was well tolerated.

* Price Action: AYTU shares are trading 12.1% higher at $8.65 in the premarket trading on the last check Tuesday.