fb-pixelSynta soars as trial lifts hope for new drug - The Boston Globe Skip to main content
Mass. Movers

Synta soars as trial lifts hope for new drug

A radiologist views images from mammography, used to detect breast cancer.Wichita Times-Record-News/AP

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. gained the most in four-plus years after a small trial of its drug for breast cancer met the goals, warranting expansion of the study. Ganetespib helped enough patients see a reduction in tumors to move to a second stage of the trial. The drug was tested in patients with newly diagnosed HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer. “The results easily surpassed the [study] expansion criteria,” wrote analyst George Zavoico, at MLV & Co. The drug also is being tested for lung and other cancers.