Today's Health Winners and Losers

Shares of Vical(VICL) were among the best-performing health-related stocks Friday, climbing 14% after the biotechnology company said its influenza vaccine protected mice against two different strains of human flu virus.

"The study was part of the company's program to develop a DNA vaccine that could ultimately protect humans against emerging strains of avian flu that could cause a pandemic," the company said. Vical said that Vaxfectin-formulated vaccines showed strategically superior protection in mice, especially at low doses, against two lethal strains of human influenza. The company's program has moved ahead to testing in mice and ferrets with the H5N1 strain of the bird flu. Results should be available during the second half of 2005. Shares were trading up 73 cents to $6.12.

American Oriental Bioengineering(AOB) fell 3% even after the producer of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products posted higher fourth-quarter results. The company earned $4.2 million, or 8 cents a share, on revenue of $19.8 million. During the year-earlier period, the company earned $2.8 million, or 8 cents a share, on revenue of $12.7 million. The company attributed the big jump in sales to growth to its plant-based products.

"We continue to grow out top line results by further expanding our distribution channels and product offering while increasing consumer awareness surrounding the benefits of traditional Chinese herbal remedies," the company said. Shares, which had jumped 16% since the beginning of the week, were recently down 16 cents to $5.07.

Shares of eDiets.com(DIET) fell 4% after the company, which operates an online diet and health site, announced the resignation of its chief executive. The company said that Ciaran McCourt's resignation was due to "personal reasons." Robert Hamilton, chief financial officer, will assume McCourt's position on an interim basis.

eDiets also backed its first-quarter and full-year sales guidance. The company continues to project first-quarter sales growth of 4% to 6%, while it expects 2006 sales growth of 8% to 10%. For the full year, the company expects to post earnings that will be at least double that of earnings in 2005. Shares were down 21 cents to $5.29.