Tuesday's Health Winners & Losers

Shares of GeoPharma(GORX) sank after the company said Schering-Plough(SGP), the maker of allergy drug Clarinex, is suing the company for patent infringement. GeoPharma's shares fell 9.4% to $3.55.

Gentium(GENT) rose 2.9% to $14 after a positive independent study on its drug Defibrotide was published in the medical journal Bone Marrow Transplantation. According to the study, the drug effectively prevented a condition known as hepatic veno-occlusive disease in patients with infantile osteoporosis.

Epicept Pharmaceuticals(EPCT) submitted an application for European marketing approval of its proposed cancer drug Ceplene for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. The application is supported by data from a trial using the drug in conjunction with a treatment known as interleukin-2. Shares were up 14.2% to $1.93.

Generex Biotechnology(GNBT) jumped 17.2% to $2.59 after the company said its RapidSpray will be available in Meijer, Kerr Drug, Hy-Vee and Fruth Pharmacy stores. Last week, Generex said the glucose spray would be available Shoppers Drug Mart stores across Canada and Pharmaprix in Quebec.

Among other health stocks rising were New River Pharmaceuticals(NRPH), up 7.8% to $45.64; CombinatoRx(CRXX), gaining 7.7% to $7.02; Avanir Pharmaceuticals(AVNR), 9.7% higher to $7.84; NitroMed(NTMD), whose shares rose 4.9% to $2.59; and Pharmion(PHRM), up 3.4% to $23.

Stocks declining included Pfizer(PFE), down 1.1% to $27.34; AstraZeneca(AZN), 1.2% lower to $61.36; Abbott(ABT), off 1.2% to $46.13; Eli Lilly(LLY), 1% lower to $56.94; Vernalis(VNLS), 5.9% lower to $2.40; Tercica(TRCA), 1.7% lower to $5.30; and Third Wave Technologies(TWTI), down 2.8% to $4.24.

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